I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Introduction :
5- Do you think the author has a positive or negative attitude toward the subject? (Or a different feeling toward the subject of the poem) Explain.
The author has a negative attitude because she is discussing a topic that a lot of living organisms do not have. The poet is contrasting the life of a free bird and the life of the caged bird based upon freedom. When the poet describes the difficulties the caged bird lives without independence nor freedom and tries to look for it, we can realize that the poet has a negative attitude.
6- Do you think the poem has a purpose? What do you think it is? What do others (expert) think it is?
Speaking of myself, I believe that this poem has a purpose. It compares life with and without freedom, and this problem is found in our life like the past. A lot of different people lose their liberty, and by missing it, they can't live their life. So the purpose of this poem is to discuss a topic people live and needs to be solved.
Also, experts do believe that this poem has a purpose. An expert says "Angelou writes a story that others can relate to, and is able to give a voice, not only to herself, but to others who suffer atrocities while growing up, and who face endemic racial prejudice."
4- What is the poem about? (What is the theme or subject of the poem?)
The poem is comparing between the caged bird and the free bird. Where the free bird is living his life and on the other hand, the caged bird is singing for freedom. This indicates that the caged bird is looking for his freedom and at the same time trying to look for help by singing. Even though a lot of people are like the caged birds miss their liberty, it is everyone's right. Where everyone can find their freedom only if their is hope.
3-What is your first impression of this poem? Do you like it? Why or why not?
My initial impression was feeling pathetic and miserable for the bird. Even though I pitied the bird, I liked the poem because it touched my feelings and I enjoyed reading it. Adding to this reason, I loved the poem because it mentions a problem found in life whether nowadays or long time ago.
2- What does the title tell you about the poem?
When I first read the title "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" I was able to infer that the poem is talking about a bird that is caged and is singing to look for something he desires.
1- Why did you select this poem?
I choose this poem because I like poems written by the poet "Maya Angelou." Furthermore, I felt that the topic of the poem considers all the details I enjoy reading and analyzing.
Body 1 ; Context
9- When was the poem written and/or published (year)?
(search)
1969
10- What do you know about that time period?
(search)
It was written in the time where she suffered problems with segregation. She wrote this poem to express her and others feelings and stand up for people's freedom.
8- Does the author write about certain things from the past?
(search)
She speaks to many other issues she faced growing up in the past, such as the relationships between parents and children, child abuse, and the search for one’s path in life. Adding to this she wrote about all the disabilities she faced after the separating black from white people.
11- Where was the poet living and what was he /she doing (working,going to school,etc.) at that time? (History about the poet)
While writing this poem which is her first autobiography, at the age of forty, in 1968, Angelou had a long and varied career, holding jobs such as poet, singer, actor, civil rights worker, and educator.
7- Does the author write about a person or event from history? Explain (search)
The poet wrote the poem at a time when autobiographies of black women, had begun to show women’s significance and importance in the mainstream as thinkers and activists. The poet describes the early and tough years in America. She wrote about the difficulties and challenges she encountered as a black girl after segregation. When black people were separated from white people, she as a black woman struggled in an abundance of problems.
12- Do you think what was going on during that time period had anything to do with this poem? Explain.
(explain in your own words/share your opinion)
I believe that the period had to do with the poem. The bird in the writing that is singing for freedom is signifying Maya being discriminated but still stand for human rights. Even though she faced difficulties and problems in her life like the caged bird that lost his freedom, she still stands up for the liberty and freedom of her people.
Body 3 ; Word Choice
Body 2 ; Structure
Conclusion :
15- If yes, how (every line, every other line, etc.)? Does it follow a particular rhyme scheme? If so, explain.
(Rhyme scheme)
16- How does the form of the poem contribute to the meaning of it? (For example, does the rhyming contribute, or lack of a rhyme contribute to the meaning or the imagery?)
The lack of rhyme contribute to less imagery and makes it harder to understand the meaning of the poem. On the other hand, when the poem has rhyme it will contribute to the meaning or the imagery.
14- Does the poem rhyme?
The poem does not have a clear rhyme. It has a free verse rhyme where some words rhyme, such as "Trill and Hill," but others don't.
13- Are they any division in the poem? (Spacing of lines, words, or letters; separate stanzas)
(structure)
Yes, the poem has separated stanzas. There are seven stanzas with different numbers of lines. Each stanza has at least two lines and at most five lines.
18- Figurative language: does the poem use any comparisons of things using the words ''like'' or ''as'' (similes).
19- Does the poem compare things without using like or as (metaphor)?
The poet used a metaphor "On the back of the wind" that compares the wind to the freedom and in the context, the back is something that provides support. Another metaphor is "His bars of rage" which is an indirect comparison where the strength of the bars equal the strength of his rage since he is very frustrated.
17- What is the mood of the poem? is it sad, remorseful, reminiscent, etc.? Which words contribute to the overall mood ?
The mood of the poem is hopeless, painful and nightmarish.The poet used words such as"wings are clipped, feet are tied, nightmare scream and caged bird sings for freedom." All of these words help me imagine a bird that is caged and is singing to find anyone that can help, which give me a hopeless and painful mood.
20- Does the poem give non-human things human characteristics (personification)
Secondly the poet used personification by using "his" instead of "it" in the poem. She also used a clear personifications " And dares to claim the sky" where the poet gives the bird a human characteristics which is "dares". People take risk and if they ignore they dare. This indicates that the free bird shows courage when it claims the open space, thus inviting the risk of becoming an easy target for predator.
23- Do you think your classmates would like this poem? why or why not.
It is not only me who enjoy reading this poem because I believe that my classmates will enjoy the poem for many reasons. My classmates like poems with imagination and poems that talks about something in real life.
24- Why is this poem relevant today? (importance/impact)
This poem is relevant to things that happens nowadays. A lot of people don't have or even can't find their freedom. Reading this poem is important and have a high impact on the society because it talks about an important topic.
22- After researching and analyzing the poem, has your opinion of the poem changed at all? if so, how? if not, why not?
Additionally, after analyzing the poem I liked it more and enjoyed reading it. The first time I read it I liked it because of the figurative language, but after analyzing I liked the reason of writing the poem, and everything in the poem.
25- How will this poem be relevant in the future
The poem can also be relevant in the future because it will remind people that everyone needs to have their freedom and no one is allowed to take choices instead of you because you are not able to do that.
21- Ask yourself ''so what?'' about the poem. What is the point of it? Why do you think the author wrote it?
After analyzing the poem by knowing the figurative languages and knowing the history of the poet, I believe that the poet wrote the poem to express her feelings and tell people about the problems she faced, not only to stand up for people's freedom.
26- How does this poem inspire readers?
So this poem will inspire people to look for their freedom.