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The Caged Bird Image

The document summarizes the use of the caged bird metaphor in poetry. It explores why birds are a common symbol used by poets, examines how caged birds are different from free birds, and analyzes Paul Lawrence Dunbar's poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings". It concludes that the caged bird metaphor can have different meanings depending on the behaviors compared, tones used, and era.

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Amin Mofreh
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47 views9 pages

The Caged Bird Image

The document summarizes the use of the caged bird metaphor in poetry. It explores why birds are a common symbol used by poets, examines how caged birds are different from free birds, and analyzes Paul Lawrence Dunbar's poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings". It concludes that the caged bird metaphor can have different meanings depending on the behaviors compared, tones used, and era.

Uploaded by

Amin Mofreh
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Caged Bird Image

Why Does It Sing To Us?

By Michael Tidbury

The Plan
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Why Birds? The caged bird metaphor I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Sympathy Findings

Why Birds?
The very idea of a bird is a symbol and a suggestion to the poet. A bird seems to be at the top of the scale, so vehement and intense his life. . . . The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, masters of all climes, and knowing no bounds how many human aspirations are realised in their free, holiday-lives and how many suggestions to the poet in their flight and song! John Burroughs American Naturalist and essayist

Why Birds?
Burroughs Big Ideas:
1. knowing no bounds 2. and how many suggestions to the poet in their flight and song!

Caged Bird Metaphor


Birds are social animals accustomed to life with a flock Cages can only be opened from the outside

Sympathy
I KNOW what the caged bird feels, alas! When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, And the river flows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume from its chalice steals-I know what the caged bird feels! I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,-When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings-I know why the caged bird sings! Paul Lawrence Dunbar

I know why the caged bird beats his wing Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; For he must fly back to his perch and cling When he fain would be on the bough a-swing; And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars And they pulse again with a keener sting-I know why he beats his wing!

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings


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.
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 fearful trill of the things unknown but longed for still and is tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom

Findings
The image can be easily skewed: 1. Different Behaviours = Different Focus 2. Different Comparative = Different Tone 3. Different Era = Different ideas

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