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May 6, 2024 · The poem begins by contrasting the freedom of a bird that can soar with the wind and claim the sky with the restricted life of a caged bird. The free bird can “leap on the back of the wind” and “claim the sky,” signifying the ability to pursue dreams and aspirations without hindrance, a stark contrast to the constrained life of the caged bird.
The poem uses the image of a caged bird to explore issues of confinement, oppression, and restriction. You can read ‘Caged Bird’ here before proceeding to our analysis of Angelou’s poem below. Summary. The poem is divided into six stanzas. In the first stanza, Angelou describes a free bird leaping in the wind, floating through the air ...
- Summary
- Themes
- Structure and Form
- Literary Devices
- Caged Bird Metaphor
- Analysis, Stanza by Stanza
- Similar Poetry
‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelouis an incredibly important poem in which the poet describes the experience of two different birds, one free and one caged. The free bird flies around the wind currents, feeling like the sky belongs to him. On the other hand, the caged bird can barely move in its prison. It’s angry and frustrating. Its wings are clipped, ...
‘Caged Bird’ is filled with powerful themes. These include racial oppression, freedom/captivity, and happiness/sorrow. These themes are all wrapped together in ‘Caged Bird’ through Angelou’s depiction of the two birds, one free and one caged. The caged bird is an extended metaphorfor the Black community in America and worldwide. Angelou is alluding...
‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou is a six-stanza poem that is separated into stanzas that range in length. Angelou chose to write the poem in free verse. This means that there is no single rhyme scheme or metrical pattern that unites all the lines. But, there are some examples of an iambic meter. This adds to the overall musicality of the poem. Iambs a...
Angelou makes use of several literary devices in ‘Caged Bird.’These include but are not limited to: 1. Alliteration: another form of repetition, but one that is solely focused on the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of multiple words. For example, “sun” and “sky” at the end of stanza one and “cage / can” in lines three and four of st...
In Maya Angelou’s ‘Caged Bird,’ the poet uses two bird metaphors. The free bird symbolizes white Americans or all free people who enjoy equal rights. The caged bird is a metaphor for/symbolizes oppressed Black Americans who are kept captive through racist policies.
Stanza One
In the first stanza, Maya Angelou refers to nature. She describes how “a free bird leaps on the back of the wind.” She describes the bird’s flight against the orange sky. The free bird has the right “to claim the sky.” The way she describes the “orange sun rays” gives the reader an appreciation for the natural beauty of the sky, and her description of howthe bird “dips his wing” helps the reader to appreciate the bird in his natural habitat enjoying his freedom.
Stanza Two
This stanza of ‘Caged Bird’ contrasts sharply with the first. By using the word “but” to begin this stanza, the speaker prepares the reader for this contrast. Then she describes the “bird that stalks his narrow cage.” The tone is immediately and drastically changed from peaceful, satisfied, and joyful to one that is dark, unnerving, and even frustrating. She describes that this caged first “can seldom see through his bars of rage.” While the free bird enjoysthe full sky, the caged bird rarely...
Stanza Three
The third stanza reverts back to the free bird, further cementing the difference between the free bird and the caged bird in the readers’ minds. She writes that a “free bird thinks of another breeze” that he can enjoy the “sighing trees” and be free to find his own food. The tone with which she writes the first and third stanzas so sharply contrasts with the second stanza that readers can feel the difference. The first and third stanzas give the reader a sense of ecstasy and thrill, makingthe...
Readers who enjoyed ‘Caged Bird’ should also consider reading some other Maya Angelou poems. These include: 1. ‘Phenomenal Woman‘ – defies the stereotypes women often face today. It is a poem filled with strength and determination. 2. ‘Still I Rise‘ – describes, through positive and joyful language, a speaker’s allure as a woman. She has irresistib...
Where allusion appears in the poem: Line 1: “A free bird”. Line 7: “and dares to claim the sky”. Line 14: “so he opens his throat to sing.”. Line 15: “The caged bird sings”. Lines 21-22: “for the caged bird / sings of freedom.”. Line 23: “The free bird thinks of another breeze”. Line 24: “and the trade winds”. Line ...
Mar 20, 2024 · March 20, 2024 by Ted Hannah. Maya Angelou famously wrote a poem titled “Caged Bird”, which addresses the life of a caged bird from a metaphorical perspective. The poem is an expression of the struggles of oppression, restrictions and inequality that one might experience in life. Through this poem, Angelou conveys a powerful message about ...
When performing a poem, you should make informed decisions about the pace, volume, and tone of your voice. Your pace, volume and tone could be very different at different moments of the poem. Experimenting with different ways of saying a poem can be a good way to decide on how you ultimately want to perform it.
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In 'Caged Bird', the idea of a bird in a cage is an extended metaphor for the unjust experiences of the Black community. In 'Caged Bird', Angelou is perhaps referencing the racial segregation enforced by the 19th-20th century Jim Crow laws. When comparing two poems, it can be useful to first think about what connects them.
