...I know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiographical account of Maya Angelou that demonstrates how love for literature and having a strong character can play a significant role in overcoming racism and distress. In the course of the story, it is evident that Maya changes from being a casualty of racism to become a young woman with self-dignity and identity that helps her to overcome prejudice. The context of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings focuses on the problems associated with racism that was prevalent in the southern states. Racist oppression is a common theme in the book that is portrayed by all the major characters; in fact, all the other themes in the book are closely related to racism, identity and segregation. In addition, the style and genre, and the structure of this literary work make significant contributions towards its thematic development, which focus on resistance to racism, the significance of the family, self-identity and definition and independence. Walker (95) argues that I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings is characterized by thematic unity, which is achieved using the structure adopted in the text that takes more of a thematic form rather than a chronological form. In addition, Angelou managed to emphasize on the universal ideas in her literary work irrespective of its periodic quality. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou used the major characters of the book to facilitate its thematic development identity, racism and literacy throughout the text...
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...Ma 2(1565443) Maya Angelou is known as the “most visible black female autobiographer/poet.” She was born, Marguerite Ann Johnson, on April fourth, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents divorced when she was three, and she and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Seeing all the racial discrimination in the American south strengthened her passion for poetry, music, dance and performance. Maya writes about the struggles people face, racism and freedom. At age eight, Angelou went mute for five years when she believed that her words killed a man. These years of silence helped develop her extraordinary memory, love for books and literature, and her ability to listen and observe the world around her. At age fourteen, Angelou dropped out of high school to be San Francisco’s first African-American cable car conductor. Maya returned to school, but became pregnant and graduated a few weeks before giving birth to her son Guy. She left her home to raise her son as a single mother. During this time Angelou worked as a waitress, and a cook, to make a living for her and her son. When Martin Luther king Jr. was assassinated on her fortieth birthday, it left her devastated, but also determined to keep the civil rights movement going so everyone could have equality in the United States. The poem, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by the poet Maya Angelou, uses the following poetic devices: symbolism and lyric that give meaning to poem. The first poetic...
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...I Know Why the Caged Bird Sing Maya Angelou was a great 21st century poet. She has a wide selection of poetry to choose from. One of my favorite is "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sing". This poem bring about many ideas and thoughts, there is not just one meaning. The poem is about the repression of African American race, segregation, and freedom. Maya Angelou wrote " I Know Why the Caged Bird Sing," at the end of the American Civil Rights movement. This poem is about two birds one is trapped in a cage and one is flying free. The one trapped in the cage is a metaphor for black people. The bird that is flying free is a metaphor for white people. Maya Angelou illustrates how the free bird, or a metaphor for the white race, is untroubled. It also shows how the white race has the audacity to own and govern society unjustly. She states ''(the free bird) dares to claim the sky." This shows how whites demonstrated discrimination and prejudice toward blacks. Unfortunately, this deplorable conduct was condoned in society. Maya Angelou describes the actions of the caged bird, or the black people. She states on lines 8. 9, 10 and 11," But a caged bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage." This shows the anger and frustration blacks were forced to endure. Black people were mistreated because they were different and thought of as not equals. She also states on lines 1 and 2 ," The free bird leaps on the back of the wind…,". She is saying that whites believed...
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...activist, Maya Angelou. In “I know why the caged bird sings” by Maya Angelou, the idea of freedom is explained through the use of metaphors and imagery. To begin, the metaphors used compare two perspectives of life. The poem itself is one large extended metaphor with other metaphors dispersed throughout. The main metaphor explains the lives of two barricaded races; “The caged bird” representing those who lacked freedom and “The free bird” representing those with freedom (Angelou). A caged bird could be a metaphor for any group of people facing oppression while the cage represents physical barriers. The freedom appointed to the free bird is opposite to that given to the caged bird. To show how the caged birds dealt with this segregation Angelou writes, “The caged bird sings/with fearful trill of the things unknown/but longed for still/and is tune is heard/on the distant hill for the caged bird/ sings of freedom” (Angelou). The caged birds “fearful trill” represents the bird’s worry that it will never have a chance to experience that same freedom. Though he’s fearful and his ambition is unmet, the bird's song represents the bird’s true self that longs for something greater in life. Even though each bird is treated differently, the caged bird takes what he can get and continues to believe in his own freedom. Moreover, Angelou uses imagery to reflect the emotion and freedom the two birds experienced. Through the contrasting physical appearance of the caged bird and the free...
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...Maya Angelou was born on April 4th, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Maya had a rough childhood. Her parents split when she was young and she went to live with her grandma in Stamps, Arkansas. Angelou experienced a lot of racial discrimination in Arkansas. While visiting with her mother, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend. Later on, Maya’s uncle killed her mothers boyfriend. She was very traumatized by the experience and soon after Maya stopped talking. She returned to Arkansas and spent years as a mute. She was in a short high school relationship and it led to pregnancy. When she was 16, Maya gave birth to girl son, Guy Johnson.(“Maya Angelou”) During the war, Angelou moved to San Francisco, California. She had won a scholarship to study dance and acting at the California Labor School. While in California, Angelou became the first black female cable car conductor. After giving birth to her son, she worked at many jobs to support herself and her child. Although she worked many jobs, her passion was writing. She was an American author, actress, screenwriter, dancer, poet and civil rights activist. Angelou is best known for her 1969 memoir, I Know Why...
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...Both Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou explores the topic of discrimination. Of Mice and Men tells the tale of the unlikely bond that forms between protagonist and antagonist, George and Lennie. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" is a poem that used different types of birds to symbolize opposites in society. This poem can be interpreted as the black race being restricted from the privileges that white people acquire. Of Mice and Men and "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" illustrates the theme that people should not be hindered from any form of success because of who they are. In Of Mice and Men, the theme is conveyed through the most obvious form of discrimination depicted in the novella,...
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...“Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar is poetry in relation to feeling trapped in your emotions an choices. Dunbar used the caged bird to create a correlation between his parents life in slavery and what he learned from them regarding his parents life. The use of singing within the poem is a way to represent feelings of sadness, pain, aching, and anger. This poem can be relevant today because of people feeling trapped in their choices and their circumstances. The singing correlates with today's way of life by showing what the author is telling us what is hidden but we pretend it is okay. “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou adds to “Sympathy” by explaining both sides of the whites and blacks. When she uses the words caged bird, she...
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...figures of speech. Maya Angelou, the author of her autobiography, “I know why the caged bird sings”. The author uses style, a tone of admiration, and a mood of aspiration to get the message across. This running style by Maya Angelou shows the good and evil side of people. An effective autobiography does a lot more than tell a story, it creates detailed account of life. Through figures of speech, Maya exposes Bertha Flowers, her teacher who had a huge part in molding Maya as she ran her way into young adulthood. Maya Angelou writes “she was our sides answer to the richest white woman in town” (p.42). Mrs. Flowers was Maya’s role model growing up as a black woman in racist times. She had witnessed the discrimination against black people living in Stamps, Arkansas. Mrs. Flowers represented a need for change. Maya described Mrs. Flowers as a woman worthy of praise. Without the effective writing style that Maya encompasses, the reader would be exhausted and fatigued to all the life lessons Mrs. Flowers throws to her. Tone is the writer’s attitude for a subject. The tone is used to show Maya’s admiration for Mrs. Flowers. Maya writes “For nearly a year, I sopped around the house, the store, the school and the church, like an old biscuit, dirty and inedible” (p.41). Maya is describing herself as an “old biscuit, dirty and inedible” referring about her previous rape. Also when Maya says “I sopped for a year” she is referencing all the time she was depressed. Maya also writes “Browned...
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...purpose behind them. Authors have a hard time coming up with something to write about and then libraries and schools say that they are not appropriate and that they are banned. The Witch, My Brother Sam is Dead, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings are all books which should be unbanned because of their educational impact. The Witch by Roald Dahl should be unbanned because of the educational impact. Roald Dahl tries to explain how real witches look like and how they act. “For all you know, a witch might be living next door to you right now. Or she might be the woman with the bright eyes who sat opposite you on the bus this morning.” (Jim content). Dahl thinks that we do not know who is a witch and who is not. For people to understand he wrote an educational book about how one could be living very close to us. This book also says for children to beware of people that they do not know or that their parents do not know very...
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...Maya Angelou was a very influential woman who had an interesting life. She was a poet, civil rights activist, and much more. She got many awards for her work and overcame segregation. Since we are learning about Maya Angelou, the beginning would be a better place to start. Maya Angelou was born in 1928 which was a time when segregation was very real. To make matters worse, her parents got divorced early on. At the time of the divorce, she was only two, so of course this event influenced her greatly. She went to live with her uncle and grandmother. Her brother came too. Her uncle decided that even though they were of color, they needed to flourish their minds. He taught them to read and write, and that is what started Maya’s love of poetry....
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...Maya Angelou is not only an author; she is a poet, playwright, screen producer, and many more. Growing up, Maya’s life was filled with ups and downs. In spite of her trials and tribulations, Maya Angelou has found a way to accomplish many goals. Throughout her career, she has not only written books, but she as acted in and directed several plays, lived in Ghana for four years, raised a child by herself, and worked as hard as he could to give her and child the best life. Maya Angelou, Marguerite Johnson, was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri (Gale Group 4). She initially lived in St. Louis with her mother, Vivian, who was a nurse, and a maid, and her father Barly, a doorkeeper and navel dietician (Gale Group 4). As she was growing up, Maya’s mother never cared for her as a mother should. Often, her mother would leave her and her brother and would not return for days at a time. This, of course gave Maya no other choice but to take full responsibility for the household and her brother. When she was thirteen, Angelou’s mother decided to leave St. Louis without telling her. It was on that day that she went to live with her grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Maya’s grandmother was a very strict lady and made sure that Maya and her brother would grow up to be the best people they could be. Maya’s grandmother made a great impact on her and her brother’s lives. Because of her grandmother, Maya can often be quoted as saying “ If you don’t appreciate the things you have, other...
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..."Sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar and the poem "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou the theme is freedom. The authors writings are similar but not quite the same. These two poems are similar and different in many ways because they share the same theme but the authors convey differently. "Caged Bird" and "Sympathy are very similar poems. In both poems the man character are birds. "I know why the caged bird sings." (Dunbar 21) " The caged bird sings"( Angelou 15) Both birds are being tantalized by where the poems are taking place, and are pouring their feelings about freedom into songs. Also, the theme in both poems is freedom. "... he would be free" (Dunbar 17) "sings of freedom"(Angelou 21) In both poems the main theme is freedom and the cage is a symbol of an internal or external conflict. The two poems may be similar but Dunbar conveys being caged and wanting freedom in his own way. In Dunbar's poem the bird is beating its wings and is physically hurting itself. " When his wings is bruised and his bosom is sore/ When he beats his bars"(Dunbar 12-13) The bird is really trying to get out of its confinement and is willing to hurt itself to achieve it. In "Sympathy" the bird isn't singing with joy. "Not a carol of joy or glee/ But a plea, the upward to heaven he flings."(Dunbar 18-20) The...
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... • Caged Bird, by Maya Angelou • “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke • The Means to an End, by Kara Walker Intro cont.. Caged Bird ► Author Maya Angelou ► Discipline of literature ► Form of poetry Intro cont. “A Change is Gonna Come” ► Singer/Songwriter Sam Cooke ► Discipline of music Intro cont. The Means to an End ► Artist Kara Walker ► Discipline Visual Art ► Silhouette Portraits Humanities in Healthcare Understanding Diversity in Cultures Roles of Nurses ► Non-bias or opposing self-interest on patients. ► Understanding and acceptance of any and all cultures/ethnicities. ► Equal treatment of all patients ► Not conforming to stereotypes Humanities in Healthcare cont. ► Broadening your exposure to different cultures and through the arts and artifacts presented, you become more aware and better prepared to give quality healthcare amongst the diverse communities. ► The 3 works being presented will display the perseverance, struggles, and some history of the Black American ethnic group. The Literary Work Objective Analysis ► Caged Bird by Maya Angelou A free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wing in the orange sun 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 his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings ...
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...Spotlight on one special bird in the cage While researching the lists of the authors, I was attracted to the author Maya Angelou, because I am personally interested in civil rights. In this essay, I am going to research whole biography about her which includes lots of work that she has completed, her general perspective and important event which affected people in that century. The reason why I chose her is to explore whether she should have been much popular or not. First I will find historical background of her so that every audience can know at least who she is. And then I will find her major works that she has done, popularity of work at that time, popularity of herself and hidden work which has potential to be popular at that time so...
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...Poetry Analysis of “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou and “I, Too” by Langston Hughes Two stunning poems; “Caged Bird” and “I, Too” are shown through imagery, figurative language, and more. “Caged Bird” is about a lonely bird that is caged up, wondering what it would be like to be free. Maya Angelou explains throughout her poem what the bird is feeling and seeing through his bars. In the poem; “I, Too”, Langston Hughes lets you imagine his poem about a black boy feeling very lonely, and wondering why he is being treated differently. In these two poems, the bird should be free and flying, but instead is being kept in a cage, while the other birds are free and they “dare to claim(s) the sky.” The black boy wants people to know he is not any different, he is beautiful too. Both poems have a way of expressing one main theme. “Caged Bird” and “I,Too” have Imagery, which is a big way that you can see the theme throughout these poems using your senses. In “Caged Bird” you can almost...
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