A Comprehensive Analysis of the poem "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou
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Course
English Literature
Institution
Fourth Year / 10th Grade
This document contains an in depth analysis of the complex peom Caged Bird by Maya Angelou. It describes the major themes, literary devices and a write up in essay format about how all these topics come together to form the poem.
The caged Bird, by Maya Angelou is mainly about a free bird who can fly around and feel the
wind currents, whereas the caged bird can barely move in its prison. It is filled with rage and
frustration. It’s restricted, “Feet are clipped” and “Wings are tied” and it sings for freedom even
though it is fearful of the unknown. “The Caged Bird” is full of powerful themes. These include
racial oppression, freedom/imprisonment, and happiness/pain. These themes are all wrapped in
“Caged Bird" through Angelo's depiction of two birds, one free and the other in a cage. The
caged bird is a metaphor for black communities in the United States and around the world.
Angelou alludes to the life experiences of millions of men, women, and children since ancient
times, as well as the various oppression methods used by those in power, whether physical,
mental or economic. Black men, women and children are behind “Bars of rage” as they are
repressed whereas others are free to do what they wish. This poetry makes the reader feel sorry
for the bird who can't fly with the breeze behind his wings in the sun. Despite his confinement,
the bird's soul remains strong, and the imprisoned bird communicates his yearning to fly. The
poem's overall tone is melancholy, but not hopeless. Angelou used multiple literary devices in
this poem including alliteration, enjambment, anthropomorphism, metaphors, personification and
imagery. Alliteration is shown in stanza 2 line 3 “Seldom see” as well as stanza four line 3
“worms waiting” and lastly stanza 5 line 2 “Shadow shouts on a nightmare scream”.
Anthropomorphism is when you embody human characteristics in an animal or inanimate object.
The bird here is being personified and has embodied many human qualities such as rage,
frustration and longing. As well as joy, freedom and happiness. Imagery is a very prominent
element in this poem. Maya Angelou has used phrases such as “orange sun rays” and “fat
worms” as visual imagery and “nightmare scream”, “fearful trill” as well as “sighing trees” as
auditory imagery. In conclusion, the last line of this poem that goes “For the caged bird sings for
freedom” means that even though the bird is restricted, it knows that it was meant for freedom
too. I think Maya Angelou feels that the African - American community (which she grew up in)
had a voice too and one day, it would be heard. This poem ends on a comparatively positive note
as it has hope that one day there will be equality for all. Whereas the rest of the poem expresses
the struggles the black community has faced. With this the speaker implies that even if the black
community has never known freedom they know that they deserve it and will get it someday...
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
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