MAYA ANGELOU

April 4, 1928 - May 28, 2014

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/28/us/maya-angelou-obit/
Caged Bird by Maya Angelou

By 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
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.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT
MAYA ANGELOU?
Global Renaissance Woman
celebrated poet
memoirist
novelist
educator
dramatist
producer
actress
historian
filmmaker
civil rights activist.

WHAT IS SHE TELLING US?

A free bird leaps Who does the free bird represent?
on the back of the wind Who/what does the wind represent?
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky. What does she mean by dares to
claim?

But a bird that stalks What do you picture when you read stalks?
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage Why is this bird unable to see through its bars of rage?
his wings are clipped and What does she portray with his clipped wings?
his feet are tied How are his feet tied?
so he opens his throat to sing. Why 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.
The quotation above is a significant stanza of the poem, CAGED BIRD. The stanza explicitly displays
the true meaning of the poem and defines actions of a "caged bird." Blackness of skin acts as a
barrier for the black race; it prevents freedom for a person. The freedom, and feelings of a white
person's existence are unknown to one who is black. Here, Maya's belief for freedom and equality is
beginning to spread among the black race. She "sings" for freedom.
Do you agree or disagree? Explain and support your answer.
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
A challenge for you: Name some fat worms of this Era.
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.
What was Angelou stating with her song
represented in this poem?


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.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: MAYAS USE of METAPHORS:
"caged bird"~ the black race retaining the
disadvantaging skin color, lack of freedom
"free bird"~ the white race retaining freedom, aversion
toward blacks
"wind"~ white tradition in history, white race superior
to black
"breeze"~ hope, opportunity
"fat worms"~ opportunity
"wings are clipped and his feet are tied"~ what has
gone down through tradition, disadvantages of blacks
seldom due to their skin color
HOT Question
What has gone down through tradition,
disadvantages of blacks seldom due to
their skin color.
What does this mean?
What does tradition have to do with
prejudice?