Summary

‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou is 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, and its feet are tied together. All it can do is sing fearfully of what it wants and does
not know. It sings for its freedom, and everyone, even far distant, can hear its song.

All the while, the free bird is focused on the breeze, the sounds the trees make, and the words
in the ground he’s planning on eating. Once more, the speaker reiterates the fact that the bird
feels as though it owns the sky. The poem concludes with the caged bird singing once more
as the poet repeats the third stanza in its entirety.

Themes
‘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 metaphor for the Black community in America and worldwide.
Angelou is alluding to the lived experience of millions of men, women, and children since the
beginning of time and the variety of oppressive tactics, whether physical, mental, or
economic, employed by those in power.

Black men, women, and children see “through…bars” while the free bird sores in the sky.
The bird sings from a place of sadness rather than joy to convey a broader history of sorrow.
Structure and Form
‘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 are also generally referred to as
“rising” feet when the second syllable is stressed. This plays into the content of the caged
bird and the free bird. Additionally, readers should take note of the instances in which the
poet makes use of half-rhyme.

Literary Devices
Angelou makes use of several literary devices in ‘Caged Bird.’ These include but are not
limited to:

 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 stanza two.
 Enjambment: another important literary device that’s also quite common in
contemporary poetry. It appears when a poet cuts off a sentence or phrase with
a line break before its natural stopping point. For example,
the transition between lines one and two of the first stanza and lines three and
four of the second stanza.
 Repetition: is seen throughout the poem but most prominently in the structure
of the stanzas and the continual reference to the “free bird” and “caged bird.”
One of the best examples is seen in the sixth stanza, in which the poet repeats
the entire third stanza.
  Symbolism: the use of an image to represent something else. In this case, the
caged bird symbolizes the confined and oppressed African American
community in the United States.
 Irony: occurs when an outcome is different than expected. For example, it is
ironic that the free bird isn’t singing, but the caged bird is.

Caged Bird Metaphor

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.

Detailed Analysis
Stanza One
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.
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 how the bird “dips his
wing” helps the reader to appreciate the bird in his natural habitat enjoying his freedom.
Stanza Two
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
(…)
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
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 enjoys the full sky, the caged bird rarely even gets a glimpse of the sky.
She claims “his wings are clipped, and his feet are tied.” Text from her autobiography reveals
that Angelou often felt this way in life. She felt restricted from enjoying the freedom that
should have been her right as a human being. The speaker then reveals that these are the very
reasons the bird “opens his throat to sing.”

The author felt this way in her own life. She wrote and sang and danced because it was her
way of expressing her longing for freedom.

Stanza Three
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
(…)
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
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, making the second stanza seem all
the more droll and even oppressive.

Stanza Four
The free bird thinks of another breeze
(…)
and he names the sky his own
The fourth stanza of ‘Caged Bird’ continues the parallel between the free bird and the caged
bird. The first line serves to starkly contrast the last line in the third stanza. It is dark and
daunting. The reality of the life of the caged bird is revealed in this line.

Mentioning of ‘fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn brings around a predatorial/prey
juxtaposition too. It would be the worms that would be scared for their life, losing freedom as
the birds feed upon such prey. However, with a bird entrapped by a cage, the worms are the
ones that have the freedom, compared to the caged bird.

Stanza Five
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
(…)
so he opens his throat to sing.
That bird “stands on the grave of dreams.” This reveals the author’s feelings about her own
dreams. She has so many dreams that have died because she was never given the freedom to
achieve all that her white counterparts could. Discrimination and racism made up her cage,
and although she sang, she felt her voice was not heard in the wide world but only by those
nearest her cage. The second line of this stanza is not only dark but even frightening.

The speaker describes the bird’s cries as “shouts on a nightmare scream.” At this point, the
caged bird is so despondent in his life of captivity that his screams are like that of someone
having a nightmare. The author then repeats these lines:

His wings are clipped and his feet are tied

So he opens his throat to sing.
Reaffirming the idea that the bird opens his mouth to sing because his desire for freedom and
his desire to express himself cannot be contained.

Stanza Six
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
(…)
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
This last stanza focuses on the caged bird yet again. The author implies that even though the
caged bird may have never experienced true freedom, deep down, that bird still knows it was
created to be free. Although freedom, to the caged bird, is “fearful” because it is “unknown,”
he still sings “a fearful trill” because he still longed for freedom.

Here, the speaker reveals that his cry for freedom is “heard on the distant hill.” This parallels
to the author and her cry for freedom in the form of equality. She feels her cries are heard, but
only as soft background noise. She still feels that she is caged and that although she sings, her
cries are heard only as a distant noise.

The last line states, “For the caged bird sings of freedom.” With this, the speaker implies that
although the caged bird may never have experienced freedom, he still sings of it because he
was created for freedom. This is paralleled to the African American struggle in Maya
Angelou’s time.

She feels that Black Americans wrote and sang and danced and cried out for the freedom they
deserved, but they were only heard as a distant voice. Yet, this would not stop them from
crying out for freedom and equality because they knew they were made for freedom, and they
would not relent until they were given their rights as human beings to enjoy the freedom they
were created to enjoy.

FAQs
What is the ‘Caged Bird’ poem about?
‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou is about the two different experiences of two birds. One is
caged and suffers from its lack of freedom, while the other is free to do as it pleases. The
caged bird sings to cope with its confinement.

What does the caged bird symbolize?

The caged bird symbolizes the desire to be free. Specifically, the African American
community’s efforts to achieve equality in every part of life and break free from the confines
of personal and institutional racism.

What is the main message of the poem ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?’
‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ or ‘Caged Bird’ expresses the importance of freedom.
She compares the plight of a caged bird to the suffering of the African American community.

How is freedom ironic in ‘Caged Bird?’

The lack of freedom in ‘Caged Bird’ inspires the caged bird to sing while the free bird does
not. Its desperate cry is not a happy one but it is the only way the bird can cope with being
locked up.
Why does the caged bird stand on the grave of dreams?
The caged bird standing on a grave of dreams symbolizes the entire history of cruelty and
confinement inflicted upon the African American community and other marginalized
communities throughout history.

stanza 1

Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
Explain with reference to the context.
Answer:
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’
written by Mary Angelou. The theme of the poem is the suffering of
African- Americans and the contrast between slavery versus freedom.
Maya Angelou’s 1983 poem “Caged Bird” compares the plight of a caged
bird to the flight of a free bird. Many readers have interpreted Angelou’s
poem as an extended metaphor with the caged bird representing the
historical struggles of African Americans.

In these lines, the poet refers to nature. She describes the way “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 the way the bird “dips his
wing” helps the reader to appreciate the bird in his natural habitat,
enjoying his freedom.

Question 2.
What does the caged bird’s singing reveal about him?
Answer:
It reveals that he is unhappy and wants to be free.

Question 3.
Which birds are used to describe the state of the free bird?
Answer:
The words used are leaps, floats, dares and claims.
Stanza 2

Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Explain with reference to the context.
Answer:
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’
written by Mary Angelou. The theme of the poem is the suffering of
African- Americans and the contrast between slavery versus freedom.
Maya Angelou’s 1983 poem “Caged Bird” compares the plight of a caged
bird to the flight of a free bird. Many readers have interpreted Angelou’s
poem as an extended metaphor with the caged bird representing the
historical struggles of African Americans.

This stanza is in stark contrast 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
gets to enjoy the full sky, the caged bird rarely even gets a glimpse of the
sky. She claims that “his wings are clipped and his feet are tied”. Text
from her autobiography reveals that Angelou often felt this way in life.
She felt restricted from enjoying the freedom that should have been her
right as a human being. The speaker then reveals that these are the very
reasons that the bird “opens his throat to sing”. The author felt this way in
her own life. She wrote and sang and danced because it was her way of
expressing her longing for freedom.

Question 2.
What does the word “clipped” mean in this poem?
Answer:
Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird” is full of avian metaphors and
imagery. The poem itself is a metaphor for the limitations one experiences
in a life of oppression. “Caged Bird”. draws from Angelou’s own
experiences as a Black woman in the racially-segregated United States
following the Civil War and even beyond the Civil Rights Movement. To
this day, many Black Americans face limitations based on a systemic cycle
of racial oppression which prevents class mobility. In talking of birds,
“clipping” involves trimming a bird’s wing feathers so that it cannot fly.
Some bird owners or caretakers trim just one wing or enough feathers on
each side, so as to render the bird unstable in flight while leaving them
able to glide for a short distance. In Angelou’s poem, the bird longs for
freedom but is restricted as not only is it caged but its wings are also
clipped.

Question 3.
Why does the caged bird sing?
Answer:
The caged bird sings because it is the only way it knows to express itself.

Stanza 3

Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
Explain with reference to the context.
Answer:
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’
written by Mary Angelou. The theme of the poem is the suffering of
African- Americans and the contrast between slavery versus freedom.
Maya Angelou’s 1983 poem “Caged Bird” compares the plight of a caged
bird to the flight of a free bird. Many readers have interpreted Angelou’s
poem as an extended metaphor with the caged bird representing the
historical struggles of African Americans.

The third stanza reverts back to the free bird, further cementing the
difference between the free bird and the caged bird in the minds of the
readers. 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 sharply contrasts with the
second stanza. The first and third stanzas give the reader a sense of
ecstasy and thrill, which serve to make the second stanza seem all the
more oppressive.

Question 2.
According to the poem, how can the free bird be best described?
Answer:
The free bird is free to do what he pleases and so he is happy and
content.

Question 3.
What is meant by “free bird thinks of another breeze”?
Answer:
The poet wants to show the freedom which the free bird has. It can soar in
the skies to various places, wherever it wants to go to find its food and
enjoy the breeze.

Stanza 4

Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Explain with reference to the context.
Answer:
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’
written by Mary Angelou. The theme of the poem is the suffering of
African- Americans and the contrast between slavery versus freedom.
Maya Angelou’s 1983 poem “Caged Bird” compares the plight of a caged
bird to the flight of a free bird. Many readers have interpreted Angelou’s
poem as an extended metaphor with the caged bird representing the
historical struggles of African Americans.

The fourth stanza continues the parallel between the free bird and the
caged bird. The first line serves to starkly contrast the last line in the third
stanza. It is dark and daunting. The reality of the life of the caged bird is
revealed in this line. That bird, “stands on the grave of dreams”. This
reveals the author’s feelings about her own dreams. She has so many
dreams that have died because she was never given the freedom to
achieve all that her white counterparts were able to achieve.
Discrimination and Racism made up her cage, and although she sang, she
felt her voice was not heard in the wide world, but only by those nearest
her cage. The second line of this stanza is not only dark but even
frightening. The speaker describes the bird’s cries as “shouts on a
nightmare scream”. At this point, the caged bird is so despondent in his
life of captivity that his screams are like that of someone having a
nightmare.
The author then repeats these lines:
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.

Maya Angelou’s 1983 poem “Caged Bird” compares the plight of a caged
bird to the flight of a free bird- Many readers have interpreted Angelou’s
poem as an extended metaphor with the caged bird representing the
historical struggles of African Americans.

Reaffirming the idea that the bird opens his mouth to sing because his
desire for freedom and his desire to express himself cannot be contained.

Question 2.
What does the line “and his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream”
mean?
Answer:
The line describes the caged bird who “stands on the grave of dreams/ his
shadow shouts
on a nightmare scream.” The grave of dreams can refer to a person who
has given up on his dreams. The shadow, rather than the bird itself,
shouts, revealing a sense of powerlessness, for who would hear the shout
of a shadow? This contrasts with the free bird described in the previous
stanza who boldly “names the sky his own.”

The caged bird’s “nightmare scream” gives an otherworldly sense that,

again, the cry will not be heard. The words “shadow” and “nightmare”
evoke a dark outlook, where only the bird’s shadow or nightmares may
escape the confines of the cage. The speaker describes the bird’s cries as
“shouts on a nightmare scream”. At this point, the caged bird is so
despondent in his life of captivity that his screams are like that of
someone having a nightmare.

Question 3.
What is the main conflict in this poem?
Answer:
The main conflict is that the caged bird wants the life of the free bird. The
caged bird also wants the freedom to do whatever he wants.

Stanza 5

Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
Explain with reference to the context.
Answer:
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’
written by Mary Angelou. The theme of the poem is the suffering of
African- Americans and the contrast of slavery versus freedom. Maya
Angelou’s 1983 poem “Caged Bird” compares the plight of a caged bird to
the flight of a free bird. Many readers have interpreted Angelou’s poem as
an extended metaphor with the caged bird representing the historical
struggles of African Americans.

This last stanza focuses on the caged bird yet again. The author implies
that even though the caged bird may have never experienced true
freedom, deep down that bird still knows that it was created to be free.
Although freedom, to the caged bird, is “fearful” because it is “unknown”,
he still sings “a fearful trill” because he still longs for freedom. Here, the
speaker reveals that his cry for freedom is “heard on the distant hill”. The
last line states, “For the caged bird sings of freedom”. With this, the
speaker implies that although the caged bird may never have experienced
freedom, he still sings of it because he was created for freedom. This is
paralleled to the African American struggle in Maya Angelou’s time. She
feels that black Americans wrote and sang and danced and cried out for
the freedom they deserved, but they were only heard as a distant voice.
Yet, this would not stop them from crying out for freedom and equality
because they knew they were made for freedom, and they would not
relent until they were given their rights as human beings to enjoy the
freedom they were created to enjoy.

Question 2.
What parallel can be drawn between the poet’s feelings and that of the
caged bird?
Answer:
The line “For the caged bird sings of freedom” parallels the author and her
cry for freedom in the form of equality. She feels that her cries are heard,
but only as soft background noise. She still feels that she is caged and
that although she sings, her cries are heard only as a distant noise. And
because of being discriminated she is restricted and cannot realise many
of her dreams.

Question 3.
Explain, ‘stands on the grave of dreams / his shadow shouts on a
nightmare scream’.
Answer:
The grave of dreams can refer to a person who has given up on his
dreams. The shadow, rather than the bird itself, shouts, revealing a sense
of powerlessness, for who would hear the shout of a shadow? This
contrasts with the free bird described in the previous stanza who boldly
“names the sky his own.” The caged bird’s “nightmare scream” gives an
otherworldly sense that, again, the cry will not be heard. The words
“shadow” and “nightmare” evoke a dark outlook, where only the bird’s
shadow or nightmares may escape the confines of the cage.

Project

Question 1.
Is there repetition used in the poem? Why?
Answer:
Repetition is a technique used to draw a person’s attention to a certain
idea. Think about school. If a teacher wants to get her point across, is she
going to say it once? No. She is going to repeat it multiple times so it
begins to sink in. The same works with poetry. While the use of repetition
doesn’t necessarily mean a poem is wonderful, it does help it to stand out.
Sometimes a little repetition goes a long way. But too much repetition can
make the poem boring to read, so it’s a delicate balance. This technique
can be used in a variety of ways:

 A word is repeated throughout the poem.

 A phrase is repeated.
 An entire line is repeated.

Question 2.
What does the word “clipped” mean in this poem?
Answer:
Maya Angelou’s poem is replete with avian metaphors and imagery. The
poem itself is a metaphor for the limitations one experiences in a life of
oppression. Angelou has drawn from her own experiences as a Black
woman in the racially-segregated United States following the Civil War. In
talking of birds, “clipping” involves trimming a bird’s wing feathers so that
it cannot fly. Some bird owners or caretakers trim just one wing or enough
feathers on each side, so as to render the bird unstable in flight while
leaving them to be able to glide for a short distance. In Angelou’s poem,
she uses the word “clipped” as a metaphor for the systemic forms of
oppression. Being “clipped” in society on the basis of race (or other
identities) prevents an individual from ever testing their capability for
success. Historically, Black Americans have been denied access to
schooling and certain kinds of work, and even today it is not uncommon
for Black Americans to be turned down for jobs on the basis of their
appearance. To be “clipped,” as Angelou implies, is to never be given a
chance for success in life.

Question 3.
What does the line “and his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream”
mean?
Answer:
Maya Angelou’s poem compares the plight of a caged bird to the flight of
a free bird. Angelou’s poem can be interpreted as an extended metaphor
with reference to the caged bird.

Question 4.
Who and what does the free bird symbolize?
Answer:
In Maya Angelou’s poem, a juxtaposition is provided of a free bird’s life
with that of a caged bird. The free bird symbolizes people who live in this
world unencumbered by the prejudice of any type whether it be racial,
socioeconomic, or psychological.

The free bird has the opportunity to move through life soaking in its
abundance. The people who are afforded this freedom, forge through life
making their own decisions and choices. “The sky is the limit” for those
who are free; those who do not face oppression. Without worrying about
restrictions, the free bird is able to experience life as an enjoyable
adventure. The people represented by the free bird are able to think of
the mundane things in life, instead of battling for survival.

Question 5.
What is the message of Maya Angelou’s poem?
Answer:
Angelou’s poem uses metaphor and juxtaposition to express the idea that
freedom is a natural state and knowledge of this fact cannot be undone by
any amount of oppression, „ imprisonment or limitation of opportunity.
Oppressed people suffer psychologically and emotionally, the poem
suggests, but never loses sight of the inverse of that suffering. In the
poem, the free bird has power and “names the sky his own” while acting
on inborn impulses to fly and float in the sky. The language and imagery
surrounding the free bird is soft and also indicative of authority, innate
rights and self-ownership.

Contrasted to the free bird, the caged bird is associated with darkness,
pain, and fear. Reduced to an unnatural and lesser version of itself than
the free bird, the caged bird cannot fly yet retains the desire to be free
and to find self-expression (and, also, to claim self-ownership).

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 message of the poem then is largely related to the emotional and
psychological effects of being oppressed and removed from the possibility
of self-determination. The means of oppression and delimitation are only
given a metaphorical explanation in the poem and are not connected to
social or political realities outside of the poem. But the deeply felt
difference between being powerfully free or being oppressed and caged is
expressed in varied ways

Angelou deals with a sense of limitation, separation and marginalization

through the metaphor of the bird in a cage. Importantly, her poem
suggests that the desire to be free will always be expressed, despite
circumstances that might quell the spirit. There is an innate
understanding of what it means to be alive that translates into a demand
or an unquenchable impulse to see oneself in an open sky of one’s own.

Question 6.
Explain what is imagery in a poem. Has Angelou used it in the poem?
Answer:
When a poet creates imagery, he or she uses words that create a mental
picture in the reader’s mind. Only sensory words can create mental
images; therefore, imagery concerns any words or phrases that pertain to
the five senses: touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell. Maya Angelou’s
poem is certainly full of imagery in every line and every stanza.

The very first image we see is that of a “free bird” leaping on the “back of
the wind.” Since we can literally see a bird in nature leaping, jumping, or
flying against the wind, we can see how this counts as a sight image.
Other images we see are that of the bird floating “downstream” and
dipping its wing “in the orange sun rays.” Since the poet is now speaking
of a bird in relation to a stream, we get the sense she is speaking of a
waterfowl, like a duck. Plus, since we can literally see things floating
downstream we know that the phrase “floats downstream” counts as a
sight image. In addition, though a bird will not literally dip its wings into
the rays of the sun, we know that the sun’s rays reflect on surfaces of
water. Hence, based on the final couple of lines in the first stanza, we can
picture the bird literally dipping its wings into the image of the sun
reflected on the water and then flying off into the sky. Since we can
literally see a bird doing such things in nature, we know that these count
as sight images as well.

The sight images of the bird free in nature stand in great contrast to the
sight images of a bird held captive in a cage in the next stanza. The
juxtaposition of images of free and caged birds helps to illustrate her
themes concerning the effects of captivity, such as slavery.

Question 7.
What are the fears of the caged bird? Answer with examples from Maya
Angelou’s poem.
Answer:
The “caged bird” stands for none other than the oppressed blacks. Devoid
of liberty and basic human rights, the blacks have led hellish lives, full of
pains and sufferings, for centuries. Its song of freedom demonstrates the
rage and optimism of the blacks that toughen them to endure. Although
the caged bird “sings of freedom”, she sings “with a fearful trill”. The
dream of liberty has been seen by blacks for ages. The poet’s uncountable
ancestors have spent their whole lives hoping to see the light of freedom.
This discomforting sense of undergoing persecution for years is well
evoked in the following lines:

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

The blacks’ dream of liberty is very old. Despite their continued struggle,
they have suffered defeat and frustrations repeatedly.
Thus, the caged bird’s fear is about the uncertainty of achieving freedom
in the future. Its fears reflect those of the blacks who no more wish to go
through the pains of racism, discrimination and bestial treatment at the
hands of the whites. The blacks are scared of the darkness hanging over
the lives of their offspring.
The word “nightmare” is suggestive of the blacks’ unspeakable suffering
and “scream” reflects their expression of agony.

Question 8.
Why does the caged bird stand on the “grave of dreams?”
Answer:
Maya Angelou creates a vivid image with the line “But a caged bird stands
on the grave of dreams.” This is a death image. The hopes and dreams of
a whole race of people are dead.
Angelou uses the images of a free bird and a caged bird to compare the
lives of those who are free to create their own destiny and those who are
oppressed based on their race. Those who are oppressed have hopes and
dreams but they are unattainable not because the people are incapable,
but because they are born as people of colour. She goes on to say that the
bird, representing the oppressed people, lives with its feet “tied” and
wings “clipped,” which renders it devoid of choices to better its situation.
In spite of the dire circumstances, the bird chooses to sing. In other words,
its spirit will not be broken.

Question 9.
How is the theme of self-awareness shown in the poem “Caged Bird” by
Maya Angelou?
Answer:
The theme of self-awareness is shown in the poem when the poet
highlights how this bird has a rage within itself. This rage is because this
caged bird senses it is missing out on freedom that other birds and living
creatures know. This bird “.stalks down his narrow cage.” This “stalking”
alludes to the fact that the bird is prowling for release from his restricted
way of life. This, bird is self-aware that it is living in an unnatural
environment. To this caged bird, the bars of the cage are “bars of rage.”
In addition, self-awareness is conveyed by the fact that this bird makes a
bold effort to sing. Because its wings and feet are restricted (due to
clipping and tying), its only recourse to let anyone know of its desire to be
free is to sing. The bird sings to let anyone who will listen that it is
straining freedom. Self-awareness here (the bird understanding its plight)
is shown by the fact that the bird longs for something that is unknown. It
desires this unknown that is out there because it senses that the unknown
is better than being caged and, in essence, a slave to its man-made
environment, where it cannot spread its wings and soar.

This feeling of being ‘caged in’ can be extended to the human condition
as well. Many people feel trapped in their respective life situations. They
long to be free of poverty, sickness, addictions, dead-end jobs, bad
relationships, destructive behaviour and more. Every day, many people
are crying out, through their words and actions, for some kind of release
from their burdensome stations in life, where they feel caged and unable
to realize their dreams. They are self-aware, as this bird is, that there is a
better way of life that must be fought for, even though this better way of
living can be elusive.

Question 10.
What are the poetic devices used in Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird”?
Answer:
Maya Angelou uses a myriad of poetic devices in the poem, including
metaphor, rhyme, imagery, alliteration, personification, and repetition. In
the poem, Angelou employs these poetic devices to contrast a free bird
with a bird who is confined to a cage; the two different birds serve as
metaphors for people free from oppression and people who are oppressed
by society, respectively. Considering Angelou’s personal history and the
themes of her autobiographies, the caged bird, more explicitly, is a
metaphor for African-Americans who experienced racism and
discrimination through slavery. Like the caged bird in the poem, African-
Americans were physically confined or restricted due to slavery and
segregation, but they still vocally demanded their freedom.

In addition to using metaphor, Angelou utilizes repetition to reinforce the

idea that African Americans cried out for freedom from oppression even in
the bleakest of times when their oppressors did not want to “hear” them.
Angelou repeats the third and fifth (final) stanzas, with the caged bird
singing for freedom:

The caged bird sings/with 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.

In the above quotation, the end rhyme in the second, fourth, and sixth
lines with “trill,” “still,” and “hill.” We also find end rhyme as well as
alliteration in the second stanza of the poem, when Angelou describes
how the caged bird is physically confined. In the second stanza, the caged
bird is in “his narrow cage” and “can seldom see through/his bars of rage”
(“seldom see” forms the alliteration, while “cage” and “rage” form the
end rhyme).

Finally, there is vivid imagery in the first stanza when the free bird “dips
his wing/ in the orange sun rays” and personification and alliteration in the
fourth stanza when the caged bird’s “shadow shouts on a nightmare
scream.” In this example from the fourth stanza, note the repetition of the
consonant “s” and giving the caged bird’s shadow the human quality of
shouting, which emphasizes the bird’s nightmarish existence of living in
confinement.

Question 11.
What do you like about this poem?
Answer:
This question is asking for an opinion about Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged
Bird.” This means you have to assess and analyze the poem to determine
what you find appealing about it.
Personally, I enjoy Angelou’s use of vivid imagery when describing the
free bird and the caged bird. When I read her descriptions of the birds, I
can feel the carefree freedom of the free bird as it soars through the air.
On the other hand, I can feel the desperation of the caged bird as it paces
with clipped wings in its cage. Because Maya Angelou is so masterful in
her descriptions, I experience the breeze as the free bird “leaps on the
back of the wind and floats downstream.” When the caged bird sings, in
spite of its circumstances, I identify with its song, “for the caged bird sings
of freedom.” The imagery evokes emotions within me.
Others might like the lyrical writing or the message of the poem.

Question 12.
What is the implied meaning of “his bars of rage” in the poem “I Know
Why the Caged Bird Sings”?
Answer:
The poet is creating the image of a bird held in a barred cage which is in
opposition to a bird flying free that she describes in the first stanza. The
bird is “stalking” around in that cage which connotes anger and
frustration. It is blinded by that “rage” and understands that there is no
escape from its bars of incarceration. The bird cannot visualize what the
free bird can because it is caged with pent-up anger. The “bars of rage” is
a metaphor for the feelings of people who are bound by slavery,
ignorance, and prejudice. Ms Angelou goes on to explain that the bird
cannot obtain its freedom but it chooses to express itself joyously
implying that although it maybe is angry and unable to break those
bonds, it will not be silenced.

Question 13.
In “Caged Bird,” what does the line “and his shadow shouts on a
nightmare scream” mean?
Answer:
Maya Angelou’s 1983 poem “Caged Bird” compares the plight of a caged
bird to the flight of a free bird. Many readers have interpreted Angelou’s
poem as an extended metaphor with the caged bird representing the
historical struggles of African Americans.

The line above is in the 5th stanza, which describes the caged bird who
“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 grave of dreams can refer to a person who has given up on
his dreams. The shadow, rather than the bird itself, shouts, revealing a
sense of powerlessness, for who would hear the shout of a shadow? This
contrasts with the free bird described in the previous stanza who boldly
“names the sky his own.”

The caged bird’s “nightmare scream” gives an otherworldly sense that,

again, the cry will not be heard. The words “shadow” and “nightmare”
evoke a dark outlook, where only the bird’s shadow or nightmares may
escape the confines of the cage.

Extra Questions

Question 1.
How does the poet describe the world of nature?
Answer:
The poet uses various images to describe nature. She presents the image
of a “free bird” leaping on the “back of the wind.” Since we can literally
see a bird in nature leaping, jumping, or flying against the wind. Then she
writes of the bird floating “downstream and dipping its wing “in the
orange sun rays.” Since the poet is now speaking of a bird in relation to a
stream, we get the sense she is speaking of a waterfowl, like a duck. Plus,
we can literally see the bird floating downstream. In addition, though a
bird will not literally dip its wings into the rays of the sun, we know that
the sun’s rays reflect on surfaces of water. Hence, based on the final
couple of lines in the first stanza, we can picture the bird literally dipping
its wings into the image of the sun reflected on the water and then flying
off into the sky. Thus, the poet gives us beautiful sight images of nature.

Question 2.
What is the symbolic significance of the sun, sky and wind in the first
stanza?
Answer:
The sun, sky and wind symbolically signify open spaces and skies or n
other words freedom.
Question 3.
What is the free bird metaphor for.
Answer:
In Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird” she provides a juxtaposition a free
bird’s life with that of a caged bird. The free bird symbolizes people who
live in this world unencumbered by the prejudice of any type whether it be
racial, socioeconomic, or psychological.

The free bird has the opportunity to move through life soaking in its
abundance. The people who are afforded this freedom, forge through life
making their own decisions and choices. “The sky is the limit” for those
who are free; those who do not face oppression. Without worrying about
restrictions, the free bird is able to experience life as an enjoyable
adventure. The people represented by the free bird are able to think of
the mundane things in life, instead of battling for survival.

Question 4.
What is the encaged bird fearful of?
Answer:
The “caged bird” stands for none other than the oppressed blacks. Devoid
of liberty and basic human rights, the blacks have led hellish lives, full of
pains and sufferings, for centuries. Its song of freedom demonstrates the
rage and optimism of the blacks that toughen them to endure. Although
the caged bird “sings of freedom, ” she sings “with a fearful trill. ” The
dream of liberty has been seen by the blacks for ages. The poet’s
uncountable ancestors have spent their whole lives hoping to see the light
of freedom. This discomforting sense of undergoing persecution for years
is well evoked in the following lines:

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts in a nightmare scream

The blacks’ dream of liberty is very old. Despite their continued struggle,
they have suffered defeat and frustrations repeatedly. Thus, the caged
bird’s fear is about the uncertainty of achieving freedom in the future. Its
fears reflect those of the blacks who no more wish to go through the pains
of racism, discrimination and bestial treatment at the hands of the whites.
The blacks are scared of the darkness hanging over the lives of their
offspring. The word, “nightmare” is suggestive of the blacks’ unspeakable
suffering and “scream” reflects their expression of agony.

Question 5.
His tune is heard on the distant hill’. Explain
Answer:
The author implies that even though the caged bird may have never
experienced true freedom, deep down that bird still knows that it was
created to be free. Although freedom, to the caged bird, is “fearful”
because it is “unknown”, he still sings “a fearful trill” because he still
longs for freedom. Here, the speaker reveals that his cry for freedom is
“heard on the distant hill”. The last line states, “For the caged bird sings
of freedom”. This is paralleled to the African American struggle in Maya
Angelou’s time. She feels that black Americans wrote and sang and
danced and cried out for the freedom they deserved, but they were only
heard as a distant voice. Yet, this would not stop them from crying out for
freedom and equality because they knew they were made for freedom,
and they would not relent until they were given their rights as human
beings to enjoy the freedom they were created to enjoy.

Question 6.
How is the theme of self-awareness shown in the poem “Caged Bird” by
Maya Angelou?
Answer:
The theme of self-awareness is shown in the poem “Caged Bird” by Maya
Angelou in that the poet highlights how this bird has a rage within itself.
This rage is because this caged bird senses it is missing out on freedom
that other birds and living creatures know. This bird “…stalks down his
narrow cage.” This “stalking” alludes to the fact that the bird is prowling
for release from his restricted way of life. This bird is self-aware that it is
living in an unnatural environment. To this caged bird, the bars of the
cage are “bars of rage.” In addition, self-awareness is conveyed by the
fact that this bird makes a bold effort to sing. Because its wings and feet
are restricted (due to clipping and tying), its only recourse to let anyone
know of its desire to be free is to sing. The bird sings to let anyone who
will listen know that it is straining freedom. Self-awareness here (the bird
understanding its plight) is shown by the fact that the bird longs for
something that is unknown. It desires this unknown that is out there
because it senses that the unknown is better than being caged and, in
essence, a slave to its man-made environment, where it cannot spread its
wings and soar.

Question 7.
What do ‘trade winds’ and ‘fat worms’ symbolise?
Answer:
Trade winds symbolise the freedom of movement, the free will of the free
bird to go anywhere it pleases, unlike the caged bird who is restricted
behind the bars of its cage. Fat worms symbolise the freedom to choose
what it wants to eat by going anywhere it wants which is denied to the
caged bird. The caged bird is restricted and discriminated against and
cannot exercise free will even for the most ordinary things.

Question 8.
How does the poet use the contrast between the two birds to reveal
racism in America?
Answer:
Angelou celebrates her survival and that of all African Americans in
oppression. In the poem, “Caged Bird” are two traditional literary themes:
reversal of fortune and survival of the most unfit. By presenting the free
bird before depicting the caged bird, Angelou helps the reader visualize
what the caged bird must have been like before its capture; the
description of the two contrasting environments helps the reader feel the
sense of loss of the captured bird because of its reversed fate. Even with
its clipped wings, tied feet, narrow quarters, and bars of rage, however,
the fragile, caged bird is still able to survive and soar again through its
song; this imprisoned bird truly epitomizes the survival of the most unfit,
the major theme in the verse.

These contrasting environments—the freedom of the open world and the

restrictive surroundings of the caged bird—create the setting for the
poem. The reader can feel the breeze, see the sun, imagine the rich feast
of fat worms, and hear the sighing trees of the world of the free creature;
in contrast, the reader feels the fear and restricted movement, sees the
bars, and imagines the wants of the oppressed. Racism and discrimination
bound the Africans and they were not free to realise their aspirations.
Many readers have interpreted Angelou’s poem as an extended metaphor
with the caged bird representing the historical struggles of African
Americans. The poem expresses the emotional and psychological effects
of being oppressed and removed from the possibility of self-determination
due to racism in American society.