Caged Bird- Maya Angelou
• This poem is a contrast between a caged bird and a free bird
and their different characteristics, emphasizing on the Caged
Bird.
• The poem begins by speaking of the free bird and how it has
the freedom to go where ever, when ever, and can claim the sky
because there are no other birds to contest with. the stanza
shows us that the free bird is lazy and would rather float on the
wind instead of make its own path.
• The second stanza introduces the limitations set upon the
caged bird, and how this affects the bird ,as the bird is still proud
and cries out for freedom.
• The third stanza emphasizes the caged bird and its plight. It tells
of how the caged bird sings for freedom, as if it still has hope for
things it does not know of. The caged bird can “ be heard on the
distant hill”.The bird is shown to rebel against all that holds it
back in an attempt to be freed.
• The fourth stanza is about the free bird again , and
how the bird although free” thinks of another
breeze” showing that although the bird is free , the
bird is not content and is greedy to have even more
freedom, but again it is shown to be lazy in that is
unsatisfied with the stream of wind that it is on but
not enough to do something about it.
• The stanza then describes how easy things seem to
come to the free bird, as there are worms waiting for
it at dawn on the lawn.
• The fifth stanza depicts the bird in its cage, the
cage that has now become the grave of the birds
dreams, and once again the caged bird sings of
freedom,
• The final stanza is a repetition of stanza three
which serves as an emphasis on the caged bird. the
birds song is to be feared and respected..
More analysis
• The
The contrast
poem is between
ultimately
positive,
because
birds
is highlighted
not only
although
caged but
birdmental
has no
freedom,
his
by
physicalthe
freedoms,
ones.
The free
bird
hope
can
cannot
vividly imagine
be dimmed
‘fat worms’
by hisand
‘bars
‘sighing
of rage’
trees’,
howeverwings’.
the caged
dreams
not from
and ‘clipped
Hisbird
song
is so loud
that it
experience,
but
is ‘heard on
a longing.
distant hill’, perhaps forcing the
The
andnotice.
‘sighing’ sum up the free bird;
free words
bird to‘fat’
take
hascould
all of his
desires
tended in
to,the
butUSA,
• he
This
be material
compared
to Slavery
internally
stillbird
craves
more.
The caged
birdfree
is bird
the caged
being
a slave,
and the
imprisoned,
but Importantly,
free of such greed.
He can find
a white man.
African-American
solace in the only thing he has; song. Physically the
slaves often used to sing while working. This
bird is caged ,but internally his soul is not.
had the effect of raising their spirits and
This is the irony of the poem, and makes it relevant
maintaining unity, producing a sense of hope.
to everyday life.
Word Use
• The words that are used alternate between very
harsh, strong words such as “stalks “ and “fearful
trill” when in a stanza concerning the Caged bird, to
more flowing words such as
“floats” and “sighing trees” when concerned with
the Free bird.
Sound Devices :
• Sibilance : S1- “ leaps, floats,dips,dares”, these
are all words describing the free bird and these
words are all verbs of free actions.
• S5 –“shadow shouts on a nightmare scream”.
Rhyme
• S1 and 6 – “trill,still, hill” The rhyming in these
stanzas create a rhythm, a beat for the poem, and
the rhythm gives a more ominous air to the stanza.
•The
S4“ breeze”
and “trees”.
And
“lawn
“ and
“own” thishow the
first
two stanzas
are 7 lines
each.
This
represents
sibilance
gives
theto
stanza
a more
flowing
effect.the two birds.
writer
may be
trying
evenly
contrast
between
Structure:
This
effect is again created in stanzas 4 and 5, they have slightly
longer
but both
are 4tend
linestoeach.
• Thelines
stressed
syllables
fall at the end of the line. This
The
repetition
in athe
lengths
of the
stanzas
andthat
the of
thea length
gives
the poem
regular
rhythm
and
beat, like
slow of
thebeating
lines create
tempo
forrepetition
the poem of
, and
the different
tribaladrum.
The
Stanza
3 has thetempos
effect
that
created
together
words
tolines
create
ofare
making
it likework
a chorus
to a with
song.the
Also,
theused
longer
of
stress
on different
ofthe
thetempo
poem. to draw more attention
Stanzas
4 and 5sections
slow down
to what is happening.
Again the poem seems like a song in itself with its own beat and
even a chorus.
About Maya Angelou
Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)
•Paul‘Caged
Bird’
Sympathywas published in the volume
I KNOW what the
cageddon’t
bird feels,you
alas! sing?’ in 1983. It draws
‘Shaker,
why
When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
When the wind stirsheavily
soft through from
the springing
grass,
inspiration
a poem
by Paul
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
Dunbar
Lawrence
(1872-1906)
called
When the first
bird sings and the
first bud opes,
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals —
‘Sympathy’,
I know what the cagedalmost
bird feels! to the point of plagiarism.
I know why the caged bird beats his wing
It
appears as simple, but is surprisingly
Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
For he must fly back to his perch and cling
effective.
When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
a pain still throbs in the old, old scars
• AndAndthey
pulse again with a keener sting —
I know why he beats his wing!
I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,—
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings —
I know why the caged bird sings!