Essays On I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

“I know why the caged bird sings” is Maya Angelou’s heart-wrenching poem that reflects on the mindless oppression that the Blacks were subjected back in the olden days.

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Published in 1983, “I know why the caged bird sings” is a poem written by Maya Angelou.

Through this poem, she holds for us to see the sufferings of the African-Americans.

A free bird leaps on the back Of the wind and floats downstream Till the current ends and dips his wing In the orange suns rays And dares to claim the sky.

But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage Can seldom see through his bars of rage His wings are clipped and his feet are tied So he opens his throat to sing.

The “free bird”, to enjoy the sun, “floats downstream” – it is as if everything is paved to ease up the life of the free; the worms that it fetches, are not just any worm, they are “fat” worms – the life of the privileged is further facilitated.

However, the “caged bird” is not only enslaved in “his narrow cage” but his “wings are clipped” and “feet are tied”.

Understanding the varied connotations of the word "cage" and the theme it threads throughout the novel gains us some insight into the historical and literary analysis of Angelou's popular novel.

First, a major "cage" from Maya Angelou's youth was that she was black in a prejudice southern town. Cullinan started calling her Mary, "That's [Margaret] too long.

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 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.