POETRY Caged Bird TF TASTI John Neal

1.By reading the title “Caged bird” by “Maya Angelou” a few thoughts come to mind. Like what does a caged bird symbolise? Obviously the bird represents her young self and the cage represents a number of things. Racism, insecurity, poverty, sexism and abuse are some of the thoughts that come to mind. 2.a) Who? — Who is the narrator (speaker) of the poem? Who are the other characters in the poem? What do you know about these people? Evidence?
­ Theres not exactly a narrator except whoever wrote the poem. I suppose the characters would be the birds. We know that one bird is free for it talked about soaring on the wind and dipping its wings in the rays of light. We know that the other bird is caged. For its wings are clipped and its feet tied. b) Where? and When? (Setting) — What are the implications of setting the poem at this place and this time?
­ The setting of this poem isn’t clear. But there is two different settings. One of the caged bird and one of the free bird. c) What happens? (Plot) — Exactly what events happen or have happened in the poem?
­ The events happening have to do with the caged birds screeches echoing and lingering and the free bird soaring onto new heights.

3. a) Imagery and Image Patterns b) Figurative Language ­ – ie. Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Allusion, etc.
­ Personification: the free bird leaps
­ Imagery: Leaping on the back of wind c) Sound Techniques — ie. Rhyme, Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, etc
­ Rhyme: with a fearful trill …….but longed for still
…….on the distant hill …….. d) Other Language Techniques

5. Identify and explain the significant shifts and changes in the poem. Specifically, look for shifts in: a) narrative voice (ie. the change to a new speaker) b) stanzas (Why change to a new stanza here?)
“The caged bird sings with a 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.”
How he is going back and forth between rhyming words c) image patterns, diction, syntax
­ “dips his wing in the orange sun rays”
d) setting, action
­ in a cage, soaring through the skies
e) logical organisation (Key Words ­ but, however, yet, although, etc)
­ none
f) verb tenses
­ longed, sings, leaps, floats,
g) line lengths h) punctuation (dashes, periods, ellipsis, etc.)
­ the periods only seem to be at the end of each stanza

6. The title says a lot about the freedom of something. Anything really. That it has to do with insecurities and being caged up to the point where nobody can hear you. Feeling as if you’re locked in and no matter how loud the cry for help not a single soul hears. 7. In one or two complete sentences, summarise the primary idea(s) and\or feelings that the poet is communicating in the poem. In other words, what is the poet saying about people and\or life in the poem? This summary statement should be the result of and consistent with the details of your analysis in the preceding categories.
­ I believe that the poet is saying many things about people and trying to get a point across. The thoughts and life of a free bird is a person that simply has no worries of any sort. No troubles. Dancing through life. “Soaring” through new wonders and adventures on a daily basis. Somebody who is living a life that everybody wants to live. The life of a caged bird? Trapped. Forgotten. Not able to go anywhere or do anything. Always feeling restrained and held down by everybody else. Closed and lost.