A caged bird

Poet

Maya Angelou

Themes

• Oppression

• Resilience

• Freedom

• Injustice

Caged Bird vs Free Bird

The caged bird in the poem represents the oppressed, whose wings are clipped by societal injustices, while the free bird symbolizes those who enjoy privilege and freedom.

Intention

• Highlights discrimination towards African American citizens.

• Criticizes the privileged demographics for imposing oppression on those they had deemed inferior.

• Highlights the hardships and difficulties which oppressed nations face.

Sense

• Resentment and anger towards the oppressors.

• Sympathy and empathy towards oppressed nations.

• Despondent and hopeless in the face of injustice.

Words

In Maya Angelou's poem "Caged Bird," the words she chooses help paint a vivid picture of two different birds: one that is free and one that is trapped. When Angelou describes the free bird, she uses words like "leaps," "floats," and "orange sun rays" to show how happy and unrestricted it feels. On the other hand, words like "stalks," "bars of rage," and "grave of dreams" are used to describe the caged bird, showing how sad and trapped it feels. Through these words, Angelou helps us understand the stark contrast between freedom and captivity.

Form

• The poem consists of 36 lines and 6 stanzas.

• Enjambment is evident, suggesting protest and resistance against prejudice and inequality.

• The poem has a a refrain.

• Diction switches between harsh, strong words such as ‘stalks’ and ‘fearful trill’ in stanza 3, to more gentle words such as ‘floats’ and ‘sighing

Rhyme:

• End rhyme issued in the 2nd and 4th lines of the 3rd stanza - ‘trill’, ‘still’.

• Internal rhyme is used in the 4th stanza- and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

Tone

• Stanza 1: Playful

• Stanza 2: Anger/bitterness

• Stanza 3: Frustration

• Stanza 4: Positive

• Stanza 6: Depressing