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Background
Maya Angelou(Marguerite AnnJohnson)was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4. MayaAngelou is an American poet, memoirist, actress, Angelou is known for herseries of six autobiographies starting with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,which was nominated for a National Book Award. I Know Why the Caged Bird Singsis a 1969 autobiography about the early years of author Maya Angelou’s life.Maya Angelou’s racially centered poetry has a very powerful tone. Maya poem “IKnow Why the Caged Bird Sings” is about the repression of the African Americanrace, she uses her coming-of-age story to illustrate the ways in which racismand trauma can be overcome by a strong character and a love of literature.Asa young black woman growing up in the South, and later in war time SanFrancisco, Maya Angelou faced racism from whites and poor treatment from manymen.
Analysis
The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats down stream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
free bird – metaphor/symbol
free bird leaps on the back of the wind/ orangesun rays – kinaesthetic/visual imagery
dips his wings – assonance
rhyme – AABC (not regular)
First andsecond stanzas sharply contrast the symbols free bird and caged bird. Free birdsymbolizes physically and mentally free set of people. According to thebackground we can infer that the symbol represents the white skinned Americanpeople who possessed power and freedom without any restriction. The images‘leaps back of the wind’, ‘floats down the stream till the current ends’ showthe freedom and opportunities they experience. Their limit of power is the‘sky’.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
See AlsoI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings | Summary & FactsCaged Bird by Maya Angelou - Poem AnalysisI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou's Autobio…Published More Than 50 Years Ago, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' Launched a Revolutionhis bar of rage
his wings are clipped
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing
bird stalks in narrow cage/ opens his throat tosing – visual/kinaesthetic imagery
caged bird/bars of rage – metaphor/symbol
seldom see through – alliteration
Rhyme – AABC (not regular)
In contrast,second stanza depicts the restricted life that caged birds led. The caged birdmay be suggestive of the dark-skinned people who had experienced mental andphysical restrictions from the oppressive party. The narrow cage, clipped wingsand tied feet show their restriction of movement. The passive structure showstheir passivity as well as it is indicated that the actions are done bysomebody upon them. ‘bird stalks down his narrow cage’ creates a kinaestheticimage of movement that a bird slowly moves around his limited space. ‘The barof rage’ depicts the bottled up anger of the caged one which cannot be let out.The only way of expressing themselves is raising their voice. Knowing that thesupressed one raises his voice as a song. The song is symbolic of theirstruggle made against the powerful oppressors.
The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom
cagedbird/his tune – symbol
Rhyme –AAAB (last rhyme restricts the regularity of rhyme)
Although thecaged bird sings in a fearful trembling voice. The caged bird fears for theoppression which may result his singing. Although he does not know what isreally he is requesting, (the reason is he has never experienced such freedom)he keeps on struggling for the right which every human being should receive,the freedom. The power of that voice spreads all over the world. The reason might be it is about freedom, whichis a universal crisis which many people face due to cast, colour, religion soon. ‘his tune is heard on the distant hill’ suggests the impact of theirstruggle. The restricted rhyming scheme shows that their desire to have freedomis restricted by oppressors.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighingtrees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own
sighing trees – personification
fat worms – metaphor
Rhyme – AABB (regular)
The fourth and fifth stanzas again sharply contrastswith regard to the privileges which the free bird and caged bird indulge. Afterindulging one comfort they think of another opportunity (another breeze) andthe environment is quite favourable for them (trade wind soft). They haveenough food and opportunities waiting for them (fat worms waiting) and theyenjoy the beauty of the world (on a dawn bright lawn) claiming that all thecomforts only belong to them not anybody else (names the sky his own). ‘Sighingtrees’ may be suggestive that the nature only worries about the black people’ssuffering. Regular rhyme scheme depicts the regularity of this process.
But the 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
grave of dreams – metaphor
shadow shouts – personification/alliteration
are clipped/are tied – passive structure
opens his throat – visual/kinaesthetic imagery
Rhyme – AABC (irregular)
When the dreams are dead, there is no hope for living.First line suggests that the caged bird’s dreams are dead and buried whichmeans they have no hope for living. Even his powerless figure (shadow) suffersfrom numerous harassments (nightmare). As all the opportunities are barred forhim he starts singing which is the only thing he can do.
The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom
refrain – repetition used with a reason.
The repetition shows their continuous struggle. Theyare not ready to give up on the battle till they receive the right place tolive.
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