I know why the caged bird sings

1. How does the free bird enjoy his freedom? What luxuries of life
does he enjoy?
A free bird enjoys a life of liberty. He can leap on the back
of the wind and float downstream with the air current till it
ends. He enjoys the beauty of nature by dipping his wings in
the orange rays of the setting sun.
The free bird can think of taking a flight in another breeze
such as the trade winds which blows softly through the trees.
This signifies that the free bird can go to any part of the world.
The free bird can enjoy its flight and dares to claim the sky
and name the sky as his own. The free bird enjoys the luxury of
good food such as flat worms waiting on a bright lawn at dawn.
2. Which phrases in the poem denote that the free bird’s
movement is unrestricted?
The phrases that indicate so are: ‘dares to claim the sky’
and ‘he names the sky as own’.
3. How do you know that a caged bird’s movement is restricted?
What does the caged bird do to counter it?
The caged bird has no freedom of movement. He can only
stalk down his narrow cage. He can barely see through the bars
of the cage which makes his vision heavily restricted. His wings
are clipped and his feet are tied.
To counter this the caged bird opens his mouth to sing.
Although he is debarred from the joy of flight, no one can stifle
his yearning for freedom. Besides, the caged bird is full of rage
as he looks outside through the bars of his cage.
4. How does the caged bird sing and for what? What is the motif
of the caged bird as he sings?
 The caged bird sings with a fearful trill. The quiver in his
voice is because he is unaware of his future. Besides, he may
also fear punishment from his oppressors.
The caged bird sings of freedom which is unknown to him
yet he longs for it.
The motif of the caged bird is to reach with his trill to
those who are far away on the distant hill. He wants to make
his pitiful condition known to others so that someday someone
will come to his rescue and release him from this existence.
5. Quote the lines which reflects the emotional and physiological
conditions of the caged bird. Explain the lines in your own
word.
The lines which reflect the emotional and psychological
conditions of the caged bird are: “But a caged bird stands on
the grave of dreams, his shadow shouts on a nightmare
scream.” The words mean that a caged bird has no promising
future to look forward to. His dreams will remain unfulfilled
and are therefore already dead.
The caged bird’s existence is like a horrific nightmare that
makes someone remain in permanent dread that is why he
shouts as if he is experiencing a nightmare.
6. Why is the final verse a repetition of the third verse? In what
way is this poem an allegory? OR Who do the caged bird and
the free bird represent?
The last worse is a repetition of the third verse because it
emphasises the theme of the caged bird’s longing for freedom.
It also drives hope to us the agony of the imprisoned bird, the
cruel restrictions imposed on him and his persistent effort to
reach out to others by crying out for freedom.
 The poem is an Allegory because it has two levels of
meaning. The free bird represents the white American people
who enjoy unlimited freedom of movement and exercising his
will and power unrestricted or unrestrained by others. On the
contrary, the caged bird represents the African American race
so oppressed by the whites. They have no power of speech and
their voices are often muffled. However, no matter how hard
they try to restrict these people, they cannot choke their cries
of anguish because a shackled man has the fiery spirit to
demand for freedom.
7. What is the theme of the poem?
The poet brings to light the inhuman attitude of racism as
opposed to the longing for freedom and equality. Nature gives
us the birth right to live free lives and no one should be
debarred from living a life of restrictions in which the person is
discriminated against. The poet condemns such prejudices and
preaches justice in society.
8. Identify the following figures of speech: personification,
metaphor, transferred epithet, hyperbole, alliteration.
9. How far is the poem relevant today?
10. What feelings are aroused in you on reading the poem?