Grade VIII

ENGLISH LITERATURE
LESSON # 1
“I know why the caged bird sings” by Maya Angelou
 Objectives

Get familiar with the poet

Connect the poem’s main idea to socio-economic
context
Analyse writer’s craft in the first four stanzas
 I know why the caged bird sings
A free bird leaps The free bird thinks of another breeze
on the back of the wind    and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and floats downstream    and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
till the current ends and he names the sky his own
and dips his wing  
in the orange sun rays But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams   
and dares to claim the sky. his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream   
  his wings are clipped and his feet are tied   
But a bird that stalks so he opens his throat to sing.
down his narrow cage  
can seldom see through The caged bird sings   
his bars of rage with a fearful trill   
his wings are clipped and    of things unknown   
his feet are tied but longed for still   
so he opens his throat to sing. and his tune is heard   
  on the distant hill   
The caged bird sings    for the caged bird   
with a fearful trill    sings of freedom.
of things unknown   
but longed for still   
and his tune is heard   
on the distant hill   
for the caged bird   
sings of freedom. by Maya Angelou
 Biography
 Born as Marguerite Johnson
in St. Louis, on April 4, 1928.

 An author, poet, historian,

songwriter, playwright, dancer,
stage and screen producer,
director, singer, performer,
African-American activist, and
civil rights activist.
 Historical context
The Civil Rights Movement played a huge role in the 1950’s and
1960’s, and Maya Angelou was greatly involved in it.
Civil rights- was a political movement in the mid 1960th that
campaigned for African-Americans to have equal rights and
proper integration with white Americans. Slavery was
abolished long time before (1865), but since that time African-
Americans were still not treated equally- they had to go to
separate schools, ride separate busses and eat in separate
restaurants. So, in 1960 many people campaigned to change it.
 Historical context cont
She wrote “Caged Bird” as a metaphor to describe the
freedoms of a white person versus those of a black. She
describes how the free bird has freedom, and that it can
fly all around. This is similar to the life of a white person
during the 50’s and 60’s. White people were able to go
into whatever building they wanted to, were never
questioned by police, and they were never attacked by
other humans. The life of a free bird has no struggle, it
can do what it wants and no one can tell it otherwise.
 Historical context cont
The same metaphor can be made of a caged bird to an
African-American man. During the 50’s and 60’s, African-
Americans struggled to get through a single day. With the
inability to fight back, African-Americans built up anger
inside them, similarly to the caged bird. The metaphor
Angelou made helps the readers feel what the bird feels,
and therefore, understand the emotions African-
Americans had during the time of the Civil Rights
Movement.
 Title
Extended metaphor to oppression Title is allusion to the autobiography
African-Americans faced. with the same title.

I know why the caged bird sings

Strong affirmative verb illustrates first Singing in this respect can be

hand personal profound experience of seen as a symbol for free
possible reasons. expression, perhaps especially
free artistic expression. 
Stanza 1

The free bird leaps

on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
 Stanza 1 cont’d
● The opening lines show a bird leaping ‘on the back of the wind’
demonstrating the freedom it experiences to move about and glide freely
through the air. It hovers over a stream of wind and floats downwards to
where the current of the stream ends and the wind is calm. It dips its wing in
the sea of orange sunlight.

● The bird is shown in a state of great tranquility. It has the freedom to move
about wherever it desires. It is so utterly free and without restraints that it
‘dares to claim the sky’. The whole firmament is his one big home.
 Stanza 1 cont’d
Symbolism
The free bird leaps - endless possibilities of a free bird
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream Personification
till the current ends
Imagery
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays Extended metaphor
and dares to claim the sky. - person who is free (white Americans)
 Stanza 2

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.
 Stanza 2 cont’d
● Here, poet Maya Angelou contrasts the situation by presenting the image of a caged bird. The
caged bird tries to go after his cage in vain. The cage is narrow and its metaphorical bars are of
rage. The caged bird is seen to be angry with its situation. It desires with all its heart to escape
its plight. But the caged bird cannot see beyond his cage.
● Its wings are clipped, that is, its freedom is taken away. Wings are associated with flight, which
in turn is associated with freedom. The words ‘his wings are clipped’ mean that its freedom is
forcibly taken away. It cannot fly even if it desires to. Its feet are tied.
● A bird tied to the ground represents an image completely opposite to its true nature of flight.
This represents the fact of alienation of the bird. But the most important thing is that despite
being in this utterly despondent predicament, the caged bird ‘opens his throat to sing.’ That
seems to be his only joy and achievement in life.
 Stanza 2 cont’d
Symbolism
But a bird that stalks -oppression, anger, injustice

down his narrow cage Metaphor

can seldom see through
Personification
his bars of rage
Imagery
his wings are clipped and
-last line creates imagery too
his feet are tied
Extended metaphor
so he opens his throat to sing. - person who is oppressed (African-
Americans)
 Stanza 3
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
 Stanza 3 cont

The caged bird has a wavering voice. He is singing of freedom, something he does
not have. The idea of freedom is his dream, one he cannot achieve. So, he sings
about it. There is fear in his voice. He had never known what freedom tastes like,
but hopes to have it for his own. His voice can be heard from distant places, on
hills where it inspires others to dream of freedom. The caged bird doesn’t sing of
sadness, but of hope, inspiration and of freedom.
 Stanza 3 cont
The caged bird sings Metaphor
with fearful trill
of the things unknown Personification
but longed for still
Sound imagery
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill for the
caged bird Extended metaphor
- person who is oppressed (African-
sings of freedom Americans)
 Stanza 4
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.
 Stanza 4 cont
Symbolism
The free bird thinks of another - endless possibilities of a free bird
breeze
Metaphor
and the trade winds soft
through the sighing trees Personification
and the fat worms waiting on
Imagery
a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own. Extended metaphor
- person who is free (white Americans)