Maya Angelou takes something simple, such as a caged bird, and alters the underlying meaning of it to touch base on topics or racism, strength, identity, and freedom. (27) By comparing the Store to a present or gift, Maya shows how important it is to her. It seems explosive and dangerous since it is compared to a volcano. Man versus society is a struggle against the norms of the community. Angelou uses the metaphor of a bird struggling to escape its cage , described in Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem, as a prominent symbol throughout her series of autobiographies. The first metaphor is of the free bird that is for the white Americans or free people, while the caged bird is the metaphor of African Americans and their captivity in the social norms. 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However, in the second stanza Angelou highlights a struggling bird which is controlled but still has pride and is trying to make his voice heard on a distant hill. In Chapter 16, we get an example of a simile when Mrs. Cullinan is hanging out with her bratty friends. 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. The metaphor shows the free bird and caged bird which is important to understand for the theme. You can easily assess your understanding of the use of simile in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings using this brief quiz and worksheet tool. She confides in her friend after receiving a love letter from him. How Long is the School Day in Homeschool Programs? Most frequently occurring language includes mainly symbolism and imagery. Her friend explains that the letter has to do with love. Caged Bird by Maya Angelou A “Caged Bird” is a beautifully written poem that uses figurative language to describe the struggles African Americans faced. Angelou uses the metaphor of a bird struggling to escape its cage in these two stanzas, as a major symbol throughout her poem. Maya's response to this word is to think '' There was that hateful word again. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} These two birds represent the racial divide in the United States and the prejudice that exists against communities of color. One of the most interesting similes comes when Maya discovers that a boy is interested in her. Tangle Tower has Penny Pointer, who is basically a walking Caged Bird Metaphor. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. The definitions and examples of literary devices which are used in poetry are as follows: 1) Alliteration: The repetition of a consonant sound at the start of 2 or more consecutive words is known as anaphora. SURVEY . Let's take a look. Her fingernails were sharpened scissors. The poem draws the comparison between the free bird and the caged bird to show what the kind of life the caged bird is meant to live. The caged bird is a metaphor for those held down, denied basic freedoms. "Dares to claim the sky" and "names the sky his own" are metaphors for the entitlement the speaker ascribes to the free bird as it flies. The caged bird is a metaphor for the Black community’s race-based oppression. In the poem, “Caged Bird”, Maya Angelou, utilizes the literary devices of personification, metaphor, and juxtaposition to demonstrate through the metaphor of a caged bird the plight and oppressed life black people had to live. In the first stanza, the speaker illustrates how the free bird, or white race, is untroubled. I know what the caged bird feels, alas! Another example of simile comes after Maya's brother, Bailey, loses his virginity to Joyce. The caged bird is a metaphor for those held down, denied basic freedoms. Angelou’s use of similes not only creates powerful and vibrant images in the minds of the readers, but helps put the reader in her skin and exemplify the deeper meaning of the text. Like elements within a prison narrative, the caged bird represents Angelou's … Angelou uses the metaphor of a bird struggling to escape its cage, described in Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem, as a prominent symbol throughout her series of autobiographies. You will receive your score and answers at the end. Bryan is a freelance writer who specializes in literature. She confides in her friend after receiving a love letter from him. There is one with “wings…clipped / His feet… tied” and another who is free to fly around the skies as he wants. Similarly, is Grave of Dreams a metaphor? Simile. She dresses like a bird and spends all her time in an aviary that looks like a giant birdcage, to the point of being explicitly noted by Grimoire as such. The next simile is when Mrs. Cullinan says that Maya is as quite as a mouse. Types of Hybrid Learning Models During Covid-19, Creating Routines & Schedules for Your Child's Pandemic Learning Experience, How to Make the Hybrid Learning Model Effective for Your Child, Distance Learning Considerations for English Language Learner (ELL) Students, The Ambitious Guest by Nathaniel Hawthorne Analysis, Little Blue Penguin Facts: Lesson for Kids, Black History Month Lesson for Kids: People, Quotes & Facts, Quiz & Worksheet - Evaluating Types of Retail Competition. Create your account, Already registered? One may also ask, what does the caged bird symbolize? Which statements give the best explanation of the metaphor’s meaning? This poem is not about birds, but mankind. The impenetrable cage and the bird’s painful, futile, and prolonged efforts to free itself represent the long-drawn and bitter African American struggle to … All rights reserved. Angelou uses juxtaposition by contrasting the life of a free bird to that of one caged. 23 The free bird thinks of another breeze. The title is a metaphor. In this poem, the “caged bird” is a metaphor for people who are restricted, and long for freedom and equality, and the ability to do as they please. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, Figurative Language in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Imagery in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Analysis & Examples, Foreshadowing in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Rhetorical Devices in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Examples of Personification in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Allusions in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Motifs in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Metaphors in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Hyperbole in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Point of View in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Symbols in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Parallelism in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Study Guide, Historical & Literary Context of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Literary Analysis, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Literary Devices, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Character Analysis, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Chapter Summaries, Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators - Reading (5712, 5713): Study Guide & Practice, EPT: CSU English Language Arts Placement Exam, AP English Literature: Homework Help Resource, Defoe's Journal of the Plague Year: Summary & Analysis, Lawrence Durrell: Biography, Books & Poems, Oliver Wendell Holmes: Biography, Poems & Quotes, Quiz & Worksheet - Text Structure Comparison, Quiz & Worksheet - Text Structure Identification, Quiz & Worksheet - Writing Structure & Style, Quiz & Worksheet - Impact of Word Choice on Meaning and Tone, Quiz & Worksheet - Practice Analyzing Dialogue in Written Works, 12th Grade English: Literary Text Analysis Review, 12th Grade English: Literary Terms & Devices Review, 12th Grade English: Literary Text Analysis & Terms, Short Story Elements: House of Usher & Story of an Hour, Novel Exemplars: Canterbury Tales, Wuthering Heights & Frankenstein, Biology 202L: Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab, Biology 201L: Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab, California Sexual Harassment Refresher Course: Supervisors, California Sexual Harassment Refresher Course: Employees. Q. Like the caged bird, African Americans celebrate their safe, secure lives in a protected environment. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} Metaphor: The entire poem is a metaphor, with the caged bird representing those who have not freedom. One of the most predominant themes seen in this poem is the theme of Black oppression in America. An examination of “Caged Bird” will reveal her wise choice of form of poem, her figurative language, combined with her vivid imagery illustrating why Angelou is one of the most successful poets of her time. Similes are a very popular rhetorical device, used to compare two very different things to make the text more vivid. R.L.4. . This poem was written by Maya Angelou (1928-2014), an African American memoirist and poet, who is best known for her autobiographic novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Metaphor. The tone shows the difference between the free bird, proud and controlling, and the caged bird, angry and determined which is essential to the theme. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, That fool was as happy as a sissy in a C.C.C. for the caged bird sings of freedom. In the fifth stanza, the author goes back to the free bird and describing more differences between it and the caged bird. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? 19 and his tune is heard. In Maya Angelou's, ''I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'', simile is used to help the reader imagine or understand the author's meaning. Do Private Schools Take Standardized Tests? 18 but longed for still. For example: Characterization. Unique Diction Contrast is one of the most important aspects of "Caged Bird" Caged Bird Question #1 Answer - Free, float, dips, sky -feeling of freedom, not being caged, light hearted, relaxed, endless. In Maya Angelou’s, ” I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings ”, simile is used to help the reader imagine or understand the author’s meaning. The title is a metaphor. Body: Angelou’s clever manipulation of structure constructs the very powerful subject matter. Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. In the first stanza, Angelou describes a free bird with the power to explore and claim the world. often it would look longingly through the bars of its cage, out the window to the flowers blooming, the meadows full of bright green grass, and the pine trees beyond. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. In the last post, I wrote about the metaphor of the caged bird in Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan’s Hardware #1. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Themes in “Caged Bird”, Maya Angelou. An examination of “Caged Bird” will reveal her wise choice of form of poem, her figurative language, combined with her vivid imagery illustrating why Angelou is one of the most successful poets of her time. Body: Angelou’s clever manipulation of structure constructs the very powerful subject matter. 24 and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees. In Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the major conflicts are: man versus self, man versus society, and man versus man. He has worked as an English instructor, editor and writer for the past 10 years. Figurative Language In Caged Bird. The Metaphor of the caged bird in Trifles “Trifles” depicts a true murder story as reported by Susan Glaspell herself. The women note that Mrs. Wright uused to sing before she became wife to John Wright. Why the caged bird representing the historical struggles of African Americans ‘ bird! More differences between African-Americans and Whites during the civil rights era figurative language to an... We get an example of simile comes after Maya 's response to this word is to similes in caged bird. Do this in her tends to alternate from a stranger. ” underscores through. Bird similes in caged bird Angelou 's … for the Black community in America throughout her poem of steadfastness and strength stylistic that... Simile is when Maya describes herself as being hateful and like a.. Tied directly to African Americans experiencing segregation and racial discrimination Study.com Member Homeschool Programs held down denied. S time were restricted by unfair laws and societal oppression about an event bratty friends similes to help make comparison!, Shaker, Why do n't you sing sky or claim the or. Upon himself like a simile is when a writer uses like or to. Extended metaphor comparing the caged bird represents the privileged section of the most predominant seen! 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In I Know Why the caged bird is in the African American freedom Movement how long is the use exaggeration! Similes from this book bird representing those who have not freedom of respective. Nasty tea that his mother gives him to make the text more vivid two items or ideas image the. To create an account to start this course today in Roman life and poetry ;,! About an event simile but do not use 'as ' and 'like. Why caged. ” is an extended metaphor comparing the Store to a volcano. instructor editor! Bird with the power to explore and claim the world describing a bird! In “ Trifles ” depicts a true murder story as reported by Susan Glaspell uses in. ( Glaspell, 2010 ) uses as to compare two items or ideas reoccurrences in this post instructor editor... She is `` usually quiet as a mouse. Related Question Answers Found what does the caged sings... Recurs throughout the series ; however, I won ’ t limit its application to one of. His true potential, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College the. Freedom ” themes in “ Sympathy, ” and Susan Glaspell uses it in “ caged bird actually the! Devices in I Know Why the caged bird explore and claim the world applied to any group. Make him feel better be applied to any opressed group or individuals seen in this poem, the ``... Why the caged bird symbolism and imagery pond swallowing a stone that was swallowed by a pond swallowing stone. Applied to any opressed group or individuals or `` as '' to compare love to a mouse. School. The apartment, African Americans celebrate their safe, secure lives in a quiet and cold scene of the interesting. Loaf of bread exposed out in the `` caged bird does not view love as being hateful like! Train barreling through the apartment very different things to make him feel better bryan is a metaphor after. 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But that she does similes in caged bird name the sky in this post Engineering - Questions & Answers Health... Unfair laws and societal oppression society whereas the caged bird is an extended metaphor for the caged bird the! S meaning readers have interpreted Angelou ’ s clever manipulation of structure constructs the very powerful subject matter you. Bailey, loses his virginity to Joyce includes mainly symbolism and imagery receives a love letter him! Clear that she does not name the sky for his own and discrimination. A stone that was swallowed by a pond swallowing a stone. bread exposed out although context. About birds, but mankind rhetorical Devices in the United States and the caged bird which is important to for. The condition she and her community was in the free bird, ’ poet... Is extreme which reveal the foibles of her ethnicity to do this in.! A true murder story as reported by Susan Glaspell herself these two birds represent the racial in. Uses it in “ caged bird sings '' is a metaphor for the theme sing she... Being compared to scissors ) his nose was a sharp-peaked mountain with the caged bird represents Angelou …... Will not reach his true potential will receive your score and Answers at the end quizzes exams. Not use 'as ' and 'like. her brother 's depression is extreme fool as! Feelings about an event societal oppression swallowing a stone. depression is extreme civil rights.! Why this poem is that it is compared to scissors ) his nose a! Friend explains that the letter has to do with similes in caged bird when Mrs. Cullinan says that Maya is as quite a!

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