Questions about The Tame Bird was in a Cage
1.
Why do you think Rabindranath Tagore entitled the poem The Tame Bird was in a
Cage?
2.
Give two words that describe the characters in the poem.
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3.
Compare and contrast the situation of the tame bird and free bird in the poem.
4.
In the lines …
Their love is intense with longing, but they never can fly wing to wing.
Through the bars of the cage they look, and vain is their wish to know each other.
They flutter their wings in yearning, and sing, “Come closer, my love!”
What do these lines depict?
5.
What are the advantages of the bird in the cage over the free bird? Which of the
two would you like to be?
6.
Read the line...
The free bird cries, “It cannot be, I fear the closed doors of the cage”.
What does this line reveal about the free bird?
7.
In what way did the tame bird becomes a symbol of oppression?
8.
Explain the line in the poem, “Sit by my side, I’ll teach you the speech of the
learned”.
9.
What does the tame bird and free bird represent?
10.
If you would be the free bird in the poem, would you choose to live with the tame
bird in the cage? Why or why not?
11.
Why do you think the tame bird was kept in a cage?
12.
What is the lesson in the poem?
13.
If you will be the author, would you still choose birds as the character of your
poem? Why?
14.
What do you think Rabindranath Tagore’s reason in writing this poem?
15.
If you would change the title of the poem, what would it be and why?
Prepared by:
Maureen T. Magat
BSEd Eng 3