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Learn about the meaning and significance of 'Caged Bird', a poem by Maya Angelou that compares a free bird and a caged bird as metaphors for racial oppression and freedom. Explore the poem's structure, form, literary devices, and stanza-by-stanza breakdown.
Learn about the themes, symbols, and poetic devices of Maya Angelou's poem "Caged Bird", which compares the freedom and oppression of two birds. Explore the line-by-line explanations, context, and resources for this poem.
- The free bird leaps. on the back of the wind. and floats downstream. till the current ends. and dips his wings. in the orange sun rays. and dares to claim the sky.
- But a bird that stalks. down his narrow cage. can seldom see through. his bars of rage. his wings are clipped and. his feet are tied. so he opens his throat to sing.
- The caged bird sings. with fearful trill. of the things unknown. but longed for still. and his tune is heard. on the distant hill. for the caged bird. sings of freedom.
- The free bird thinks of another breeze. and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees. and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn. and he names the sky his own.
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LitCharts offers a comprehensive guide to Maya Angelou's memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, with summaries, analysis, themes, quotes, characters, and symbols. Learn about the historical and literary context, the biography of Angelou, and the poetic style of the book.
1. Metaphor. The hidden message in the poem is that it is not about a bird, but a person. The title is a metaphor. Also, the line "the caged bird sings" is a metaphor. It suggests more than what the meaning of the words first glances. There is a deeper meaning to the poem. This poem is not about birds, but mankind.
Nov 29, 2019 · Learn how Maya Angelou uses contrast, imagery, and rhyme to express the repression and freedom of African Americans in her poem. Explore the symbols, themes, and background of this autobiographical poem with a worksheet.
Learn how Angelou uses the image of a caged bird to explore issues of confinement, oppression, and restriction in her 1983 poem. The poem contrasts the free bird with the caged bird, and suggests the caged bird’s song as a metaphor for the Civil Rights movement.
