In the poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", the free bird referred to is the White American community while the 'caged bird' refers to the African Americans Through the portrayal of the free bird in the poem Angelou essentially indicates to the privileges that the White Americans enjoyed How does the caged bird become a symbol of oppression? All he can do is sing the song of his miserable plight, hoping to relive a free and valuable life. on the distant hill. The second line of this stanza is not only dark but even frightening. When things don't work out the way you expect, it is called irony. Answer: With reference to the above-mentioned lines, the poet wishes to imply that the free bird is ready and quickly takes the flight with the passing wind. The first 7 slides give biographical information about Angelou and explain the genre (s) of the book. Her first book was titled Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The poem Caged Bird contains several literary as well as poetic devices. She does this through an extended metaphor throughout the course of the text, comparing and contrasting the caged bird versus the free bird, and powerful themes such as racial oppression and injustices which lead to a critique of society as a whole. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. We are about to take our analysis of Caged Bird to the next level. senior high school crs . Had a great time learn. This post may contain affiliate links. Sometimes, verbal irony is sarcastic. The free bird also "thinks of another breezeand the fat worms waitingand he names the sky his own." She places both birds in contrast and comments on their way of living. We can observe that while the first stanza speaks of the fruits of freedom freely available to the whites, the second and third stanzas turn in the opposite direction. English. In "Caged Bird," Maya Angelou uses several poetic devices including alliteration, imagery, and symbolism. That bird stands on the grave of dreams. This reveals the authors feelings about her own dreams. but only by those nearest her cage. Through the use of dark and heavy words like "Stalks, Narrow cage, Rage, Tied", the poet creates an image of a bird that is isolated. and the trade winds soft through the sighing breeze. Neither can they enjoy the same social conditions that are freely available to their fellow white countrymen. Much of the poem Caged Birds diction and imagery revolves around the differences in the conditions of these two segments of society. Answer. The poet in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings employs certain words and expressions to create poignant images of freedom and captivity. But, unfortunately, his rights are snatched, so he tries to shake the world with his sobbing voice. These include: Sign up to unveil the best kept secrets in poetry. the use of song is a reference to how slaves in the nineteenth century gather at Congo Square to sing as a way of remembering their heritage. STANZA FOUR: The free bird has everything. It is a coming-of-age novel, the first in a seven-volume series, which shows how character resilience and a love of literature can help resolve prejudice and trauma. Verbal irony is sometimes sarcastic. 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. Like a bird held captive in a cage, the blacks have all their rights denied them. Imagery is used throughout Angelous work. This stanza of Caged Birdcontrasts sharply with the first. A word about the title of the poem, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I trust that this analysis of Caged Bird will help you to deal comfortably with any question on the poem. The free bird is a symbol of freedom and happiness and these well chosen verbs are especially meaningful because they contain joy and energy. Blacks feel hemmed in by the white-controlled system. English comprehension The caged bird sings with a fearful trillOf things unknown but longed for stillAnd his tune is heard on the distant hill forThe caged bird sings of freedom. The spiritual meaning of birds, just like a bird totem, is one of elevation, enlightenment, hope, and wisdom The bird power animal follows this meaning and provides us with unique gifts in the form of unique and independent perspectives and personalities, Caged Bird by Maya Angelou is a six-stanza poem that is separated into stanzas that range in length Angelou chose to write the poem in free verse This means that there is no single rhyme scheme or metrical pattern that unites all the lines, The caged bird is in a state of despair Being tied up in the cage compromises his movement He is hopeful that it will transform into a free bird That is why he sings of the anticipated freedom, Flowers gives Maya the book of poetry, she tells her that she wants Maya to memorize one poem to recite aloud Mrs Flowers does this so she can help Maya feel less uncomfortable talking to people, However, he does not give up and uses his only strength to express his longing for freedom By this symbolism, the poet is trying to convey the idea of raising ones voice against injustice It also states that the caged bird wants to taste freedom which he is completely unaware of, In Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the major conflicts are: man versus self, man versus society, and man versus man Man versus self is a battle a major character faces within their own personality Man versus society is a struggle against the norms of the community, This sentence is ironic as the caged bird is the one singing not the free bird as we expect However, the words fearful and trill makes us realize that actually it is not a happy tune but a desperate cry for freedom This relief enables us to reach to more depth and appreciate freedom, Finally, the caged birds song itself is likely an allusion to spirituals, which were created and sung by enslaved Black communities and often expressed a longing for freedom, much like the song of the caged bird, In the poem I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the free bird referred to is the White American community while the caged bird refers to the African Americans Through the portrayal of the free bird in the poem Angelou essentially indicates to the privileges that the White Americans enjoyed, Summary of Caged Bird, Maya Angelou The caged bird sings in its suffering These birds act as a metaphor for oppression, highlighting the privilege of those free and the suffering and resilience of the oppressed It was and still is a reflection of the oppression of the Black people in America, Your email address will not be published. the bird dips his wing helps the reader to appreciate the bird in his natural habitat enjoying his freedom. In this example from the fourth stanza, note the repetition of the consonant "s" and giving the caged bird's shadow the human quality of shouting, which emphasizes the bird's nightmarish existence living in confinement. She often felt that her words were not heard because of the color of her skin and sought to express her experience and that of others in her contemporary moment through the lines of this text. Here is a country in which the whites are the ones who have an almost exclusive grip on political and economic power. senior high school government Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. When things dont work out the way you expect, it is called irony, In Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the author uses verbal, situational, and dramatic irony to describe her childhood experiences with racism and abuse. Create an account to start this course today. Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is no exception. Question 5. Although the poem paints a picture of a carefree bird in a beautiful landscape . For example, the caged bird sings with a fearful trill helps us almost hear the unpleasant sound of the birds cry. 2020, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-are-the-poetic-devices-used-in-maya-angelou-662691. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem. The speaker explains how he flies up and down following the pattern of the winds. These are associated with the life of the free bird and, for that matter, the privileged white population. We respond to all comments too, giving you the answers you need. After Maya is raped, Vivian and Bailey treat her as if she has the measles because she is acting so strangely. Have you ever tried to do something nice for someone, only to have it backfire on you? There are occasional end rhymes, such as "cage" and "rage" in stanza two, "trill, still" and "hill" and "heard" and "bird" in stanza three, "breeze" and "trees" in stanza four, and repetition of stanza three's end rhymes in the final stanza. The Telephone Call Analysis. Just like a bird that has been denied its most important freedom (to move around and explore the sky and the earth), blacks have been limited in their ability to develop themselves and enjoy a better life. 7 chapters | On a deeper level, while talking about these birds, the writer criticizes the indifferent approach of the world. This last stanza focuses on the caged bird yet again. (a) The caged bird can not fly freely in the sky. Yet, it brilliantly presents a stark comparison between the two birds to underpin the bitter realities of the world. Angelou presents an instance of dramatic irony in which each bird is oblivious to the other bird's experience. The blacks have, for far too long, been denied every opportunity to lead a life befitting all human beings. A. Share. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: rage, throat, sing, things unknown, dreams, shadow, nightmare, NATURE: bird, wind, downstream, current, suns rays, breeze, trees, hills, Note that while the free bird easily gets access to the elements (all opportunities) and can claim the sky as his own, the hills (personal growth and achievement) are out of reach for the caged bird. Situational irony is when what happens is the opposite of what you would expect. "Sympathy" Since every word of the poet conveys deeper and symbolic meaning, Maya Angelou has also used Symbolism in this poem. Their inability to move around freely is therefore not only physical. teacherbarfield. Blacks, on the other hand, have been reduced to a state of deprivation, anger and despair because of their lack of opportunities. This quote was taken by the poet Maya Angelou, who stressed the idea of equality in many of her works. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Sky, in the poem, is a symbol of personal development and achievement. Under such circumstances, the best they can do is to keep crying out for the granting of their freedom. Alliteration, imagery, and symbolism are all used by Angelou to create this classic poem. better grades eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Below are what the free bird has and can do. The free bird "leaps" "floats" and thinks of "trade winds" and "fat worms." have symbolic as well as literal meanings. It is dark and daunting. Angelou repeats the third and fifth (final) stanzas, with the caged bird singing for freedom: The caged bird sings/with fearful trill/of things unknown/but longed for still/and his tune is heard/on the distant hill/for the caged bird/sings of freedom. 601 Words; 3 Pages; 3 weeks ago. At the end of this post, you can click on the appropriate link to download the PDF copy of this analysis of Caged Bird by Maya Angelou. Create your account. Discrimination and racism made up her cage, and although she sang, she felt her voice was not heard in the wide world but only by those nearest her cage. On a daily basis, the black population has to suffer the consequences of racism such as poverty, low-quality educational facilities and inadequate housing. Metaphor, alliteration, stanza, verse, and mood are all present within the poem. The poem is a contrast between a caged bird and a free bird. She describes how a free bird leaps on the back of the wind. She describes the birds flight against the orange sky. The caged bird is miserable, lonely, and subjugated. Move around freely is therefore not only physical, Vivian and Bailey treat her as if has! Exclusive grip on political and economic power bird has and can do is to keep crying out for granting... 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