Here are responses to the questions about the poem: 1. The verbs "leaps", "floats", and "dares" convey the free bird's ability to move freely and boldly through the air and sky without restrictions. 2. In stanza two, the caged bird is trapped because his wings are clipped, his feet are tied, and he can seldom see through the narrow bars of his cage. He stalks down his cage because his movement is limited by the confinement of the cage. 3. The caged bird's trill is described as fearful because singing is his only means of expressing his longing for freedom in the face of being trapped. 4. The metaphor "a caged

1. CAGED BIRD Maya Angelou

2. FULL TEXT
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
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.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard

3. FULL TEXT
on the distant hill for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing
trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright
lawn
and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of
dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a 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.

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS POEM:
Maya Angelou’s poem has a musical quality to it which is particularly
apt because it reinforces the idea of singing, a central image in the
poem.
The extensive use of enjambment, repeated words, phrases and
structures, and the refrain (stanzas three and six) contribute to this
quality.
A refrain is the line or lines that
are repeated in music or in
poetry — the "chorus" of a
song.

5. INTRODUCTION:
This poem compares the different experiences of a free bird and a
caged bird and the poet highlights why it is that the caged bird sings:
it is all it can do to taste freedom.
Metaphorically, the birds represent those who are imprisoned, or
oppressed in some way (caged), and those who enjoy privilege,
opportunities and autonomy (who are free)
One interpretation links the poem to the civil rights movement in
America, where activists campaigning for justice and equality for
black people would be the caged birds sing[ing] of freedom.
The contrasting circumstances depicted could also relate to gender
inequality, or any other situation where one group is empowered and
the other is not.

6. TITLE:
Caged – indicates restrictions
Bird – a creature that has wings and is meant to fly.
- the fact that it can fly, indicates freedom
Caged is thus a contradiction with what is naturally meant for this
creature (bird)
Deeper meaning – An image of restriction is created

7. THEME:
The poem contrasts the caged bird with the free bird and their different
characteristics, emphasising the caged bird.
The bird represents people in the actual world who are restricted/
oppressed/ discriminated against.
The bars of the cage represent the things that keep people from doing what
they wish.
The poem also speaks about the hope that people have.
The speaker wants people to see and hear the difference between the free
birds and the caged bird.
Lastly the speaker wants us to take home the idea that people with similar
experiences may feel the same way; like a caged bird, who is not free, but
has hope within them.

8. ANALYSIS:
Stanza 1:
The poem begins by speaking of the free bird and the freedom it has
to go anywhere, whenever, and it can claim the sky because it is free.
The stanza implies that the free bird is lazy and would rather float on
the wind instead of making its own path.
Stanza 2:
Introduces the limitations set upon the caged bird and how it affects
the bird.
It is still proud and calls out for freedom.

9. ANALYSIS:
Stanza 3:
Emphasises the caged bird and its plight.
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.

10. ANALYSIS:
Stanza 4:
The free bird – again
The free bird ‘thinks of another breeze’ showing that although it is
free, the bird is not content and is greedy to have even more freedom
It is again implied to be lazy in that it is dissatisfied 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.

11. ANALYSIS:
Stanza 5:
The bird in its cage
The cage has become the grave for the bird’s dreams.
It still sings of freedom.
Stanza 6:
Repetition of stanza 3 which emphasizes the caged bird and the fact
that the bird’s song is to be feared and respected.

12. FURTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER
The poem is ultimately positive because although the caged bird has no
freedom, his hope cannot be dimmed by the bars of the cage and ‘clipped
wings’.
His song is so loud that it is heard on a distant hill, perhaps forcing the free
bird to take notice.
There are constant shifts in the poem:
The poem begins with a positive, joyful free bird and shifts to the viewpoint
of the caged bird.
The greatest shift is from the 3rd to the 4th stanza.
The behaviour and lives of both birds are compared throughout in very vivid
ways, so that each one is separated completely.
Finally, it shifts back to the caged bird and its song of hope which also

13. DICTION/ IMAGERY/ POETIC
DEVICES
Diction alternates between very harsh, strong words such as ‘stalks’ and
‘fearful trill’ in stanza 3 about the caged bird, to more flowing words such as
‘floats’ and ‘sighing trees’ when concerned with the free bird.
Enjambment:
 There is very little punctuation in this poem
 Most of the lines are made up of a single sentence with enjambed lines.
 This creates a fluid effect that contributes to the musical quality of the poem.
Onomatopoeia:
 ‘fearful trill’ (stanza 3)
 Adds to the ‘sound effect’ and musical quality of the poem.
 Consider the definition of the word ‘trill’ – quavering sound/ birds warbling

14. TONE/MOOD:
Stanza 1:
Tone
 Elation/ Exuberant/ Playful
 A description of the free bird enjoying the open sky.
 In the last line one can feel a shift in tone it becomes almost arrogant – ‘claims the sky’.
Mood
 Light hearted
Stanza 2:
Tone
 Anger
 Possibly bitterness

15. TONE/MOOD:
Stanza 3:
The tone is ominous/ frustrated
- Due to the extremity of difference between the free bird and the caged bird.
- The speaker expresses the hope one might still have when problems occur, by repeating the verse about the
caged bird still singing.
Stanza 4:
The tone becomes more positive and upbeat again BUT the contrast between the free and the
caged bird is now clearly contrasted with the free bird.
Stanza 6:
The tone is depressing

16. QUESTIONS:
1. Comment on the poet’s use of verbs used in stanza one: how do
they convey the experience of being a free bird? (3)
2. By referring to stanza two, write down the ways in which the caged
bird is trapped, and explain why he stalks. (5)
3. Explain why the caged bird’s trill (song) is fearful. (3)
4. Explain what is meant by the metaphor: a caged bird stands on the
grave of dreams. (3)
5. Name two ways that the refrain contributes to the overall meaning
of the poem (2)