1. 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.

2. • 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..

3. More analysis
• The contrast between birds is highlighted not only
The poem is ultimately positive, because
by physicalthe caged but mental ones. The free
although freedoms, bird has no freedom, his
bird can vividly imagine „fat worms‟ and „sighing
hope cannot be dimmed by his ‘bars of rage’
trees‟, howeverwings’. Hisbird dreams loud that it
and ‘clipped the caged song is so not from
experience, but longing. hill’, perhaps forcing the
is ‘heard on a distant
The words „fat‟ and „sighing‟ sum up the free bird;
free bird to take notice.
• he has all of be material desires tended in the USA,
This could his compared to Slavery to, but
internally still craves more.slave,cagedthe free bird
the caged bird being a The and bird is
imprisoned, but Importantly, African-American
a white man. free of such greed. He can find
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.

4. 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.

5. • S4- “ breeze” and “trees”. And “lawn “ and “own” this the
The first two stanzas are 7 lines each. This represents how
writer may be trying to evenly more flowing effect. two birds.
sibilance gives the stanza a contrast between the
Structure: is again created in stanzas 4 and 5, they have slightly
This effect
longer lines but both are 4 lines each.at the end of the line. This
• The stressed syllables tend to fall
The repetition in a regular rhythm and beat, like that of a length of
gives the poem the lengths of the stanzas and the the slow
the lines create a tempo forrepetition of Stanza 3 has the effect
beating tribal drum. The the poem , and the different tempos
that are created work together with the words used tolines of
of making it like a chorus to a song. Also, the longer create
stress on different sections ofthe tempo to draw more attention
Stanzas 4 and 5 slow down the poem.
to what is happening.
Again the poem seems like a song in itself with its own beat and
even a chorus.

6. About Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou once said, “If you don't like something, change
it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”
• In a way, this really sums up the poem, ‘Caged Bird’, and
her autobiography, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’.
Angelou was born in 1928 and lived with either her mother
or grandmother for most of her early years. At aged eight
she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend, who was then
killed by her uncles. She became mute for six years after
this.
• Angelou, after leaving home, worked in many jobs,
including as a streetcar conductor, a professional dancer, a
madame . As a single, black mother in the 1950s and 1960s,
she worked hard, gaining acclaim with the publication of ‘I
Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’. She has since published
many other works, and in 1993 read a poem at President
Clinton’s inauguration.

7. •Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)
‘Caged Bird’ was published in the volume
Sympathy
‘Shaker, theiscageddon’tupland slopes; in 1983. It draws
I KNOW what why bird feels, alas! sing?’
When the sun bright on the
you
inspiration heavily from a poem by Paul
When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
Dunbarfirst bird sings and the first bud opes, called
When the Lawrence (1872-1906)
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals —
‘Sympathy’, almost to the point of plagiarism.
I know what the caged bird feels!
ItTill itswhy theiscagedonsimple,wing is surprisingly
I know
appearsred bird beats his but
blood
as the cruel bars;
effective.back to his perch and cling
For he must fly
When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
• And theypain still throbs inathe old, old scars
And a
pulse again with 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!