I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Summary by Maya Angelou

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Summary by Maya Angelou

The poem is a contrast between a caged bird and a free bird and their different characteristics, emphasising on the caged bird. The poem begins by speaking of the free bird and how it has the freedom to go wherever, whenever and can claim the sky because there are no other birds to contest with.

The free bird which is a metaphor for a white person flies in the direction of the air current. It seems to be dipping its wings in the orange sun rays. While flying freely in the vast sky, it seems to be claiming its own right over the whole sky.

Next, the poetess introduces the limitations set upon the caged bird, and how this affects the bird as the bird is still proud and cries out for freedom. The caged bird which is the metaphor for the black American, keeps on watching down its cage, but it can almost never see through the bars. Its vision is limited. It looks at the world with a kind fury as its wings are clipped and feet are tied to something that it can never be able to take the flight as the free bird does.

Under such pathetic and miserable circumstances it has the only option that is to sing, hence the caged bird sings. The same thing takes place with the poetess and her fellow beings that they can do nothing but raise their painful voice against the life of slavery and the tortures inflicted upon them by the white people.

Then, the poetess describes the caged bird’s plight. She tells how the caged bird sings for freedom, as if it still has hope for things it does not know of. The caged bird can be heard on the distant hills. The bird is shown to rebel against all that holds it back in an attempt to freed.

The poetess, again speaks of the free bird which enjoys its freedom to the full extent. She says that even after making a claim in the entire sky, it does not seem to be satisfied with its one flight and thinks of having another flight with another breeze and with the breeze, it softly flies through the trees which produce the soft sound because of the breeze. The things seem to be much easier for the free bird as there are fat worms waiting for it at dawn on the lawn. After enjoying delicious morning feast and satisfying its hunger, it again takes a flight to the sky to claim the sky as its own.

Then, again, the poetess describes the pitiable state of the encaged bird. All the desires, dreams and aspirations of the bird in the cage always remain unfulfilled. The bird’s cage becomes the grave of its dreams and aspirations. The encaged bird stands waiting in its grave of dreams. It extremely craves to see the world out of the cage but its longing never gets fulfilment. The shadow that the encaged bird sees of itself makes it scream as we do in our nightmares. (The life of the bird in the cage is nothing more than a terrific dream).

Seeing the shadow of itself, it comes to realise that its wings are clipped and feet are tied. The encaged bird does not have any way other than raising voice for its freedom, hence it sings for its freedom. All this shows the poetess’ own dreams and aspirations which have been shattered because the feelings of discrimination and racism formed the bars of her cage and she could not get what she deserved.

Despite being aware of this fact well that it (the bird) cannot even move freely in the narrow space of its cage, it raises its voice in the form of singing for freedom. The song of the bird for freedom cannot be suppressed. Here the poetess reveals that its cry for freedom is heard on the distant hill. This parallels to the poetess and her cry for freedom in the form of equality. She feels that her cries are heard, but only as a soft background noise. She still feels that she is caged and that although she sings, her cries, are heard only as a distant noise.

With the last line of the poem, the poetess implies that although the caged bird may never have experienced freedom, it still sings of it because it was created for freedom. This is paralleled to the African American struggle in her time. She feels that the black Americans wrote and sang and danced and cried out for the freedom they deserved, but they were only heard as a distant voice. Yet, this would not stop them from crying out for freedom and equality because they knew they were made for freedom and they would not relent until they were given their rights as human beings to enjoy the freedom they were created to enjoy.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Poem Summary Introduction

‘I know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ is a free verse written by the American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou is widely regarded as the ‘Black woman’s Poet Laureate’. Her reflections on the society and the times she lived in are vividly expressed in her poems. Outwardly the poem. 7 Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ or ‘Caged Bird’ as it is often interchangably known, can be seen as a reflection on social disparity, and the ideals of freedom and justice.

Angelou, with the metaphor of birds, represents the inequality of justice seen in the society of her time which differentiates between the African- American community and its white American counterpart. Through her poem, she also illustrates the nature of both freedom and captivity by creating a stark contrast between the two using birds as the metaphor.

In many ways, the poem can be considered as the poet’s personal expression. Maya Angelou can be regarded as the caged bird in the poem. A stanza in the poem is repeated to catch the attention to the idea of the caged bird singing for freedom. The poem uses a metaphor to compare caged birds to African Americans fighting for equality during the civil right movement.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Summary Stanzawise Word-Meanings, Paraphrase and Explanation

1. A free bird ………………………… claim the sky.
Word-meanings : Free bird = it stands for a white American who is entirely free in every way. Leaps = springs free from the ground ; takes off. On …..wind = it flies in the direction of the air current. Floats …..ends = it floats downward to where the current of stream ends and the wind is calm. Downstream = towards the mouth of the stream. Current = the flow of air. Dips = immerses. Dares …..sky = the bird reveals its authority over the entire sky.

Paraphrase : In this stanza, the poetess presents the natural beauty of the sunset. The free bird (which stands for a white American) takes off its flight by springing up from the ground or the tree and flies in the direction of the air current. It experiences to move about and glide freely through the air. It floats till the current of its flight can keep it floating. Then it immerses itself in the orange sun rays and therefore declares its freedom to the sky.

Reference to the Context : These lines presenting the poetess’ own feelings of freedom, have been extracted from the poem entitled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, written by Maya Angelou.
Here, the poetess describes the free bird which is a metaphor for white American who enjoys the freedom to the full extent and also fulfils his dreams and aspirations which he nourishes in his heart. In these lines, the free bird is regarded as a true epitome of freedom.

Explanation : The free bird which is suggestive of a white American, springs from the ground or the tree to take off its flight in the vast sky. It fully enjoys its flight by sitting on the back of air. It flies in the direction of the air current. It experiences moving and gliding freely through the air. It hovers over a stream of wind and floats downwards to where the current of the stream ends and the wind is calm. It dips its wings in the sea of orange sunlight. The bird is shown in a state of great tranquility. It has the freedom to move about wherever it desires. It is so utterly free and without restraints that it dares to claim the sky. The whole firmament is its one big home.

Critical Comments:

1. The ‘free bird’ represents the white race and their domination.
2. The freedom of the bird in the natural habitat is shown.
3. The free bird is untroubled and with the help of the colour imagery of orange rays, the effect heightens-as orange is a colour associate with glow and happiness.
4. And dares sky : Figure of speech hyperbole has been used.

2. But a bird ……………to sing.
Word-meanings : Stalks = moves within a very little space. Narrow cage = a place where there is very little freedom. Seldom = barely ; hardly. Bars = it refers to the bars of the cage. Rage = fury. Clipped = snapped.

Paraphrase : In this stanza, the poetess brings to us the pathetic and miserable state of the caged bird (which stands for the black American). The caged bird cannot move freely. It has its limitations of its freedom. It has to move within a very short space as the restrictions are put on it. The caged bird can hardly ever see what lies beyond its cage. In other words, it can never get opportunity to see the outside world. Whenever it sees its clipped wings and tied feet, it shows great fury for the tyrannical attitude of the world, but it seems helpless. It can do nothing but to raise its voice through singing. No one can stop it from singing. In this way, the free bird can enjoy the fully liberty in the sky where as the caged bird cannot have a glimpse of the sky.

By making the comparison between the two birds (the free bird and the caged bird), the poetess shows that the white American like the free bird has fully liberty to move everywhere and do whatever he desires. But the black American feels restricted because of being the victim oi racism, prejudices and powerlessness. He cannot taste the fruits of freedom and equality.

Reference to the Context: These lines showing the pitiable state of the caged bird which is a metaphor of black American, have been extracted from the poem entitled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, written by Maya Angelou.

Here the poetess introduces the limitations set upon the caged bird (which is the metaphor of African-American) and how this affects the bird as the bird is still proud and cries out for freedom.

Explanation: The poetess contrasts the situation by presenting the image of a caged bird. The caged bird tries to go after its cage in vain. The cage is narrow and its metaphorical bars of rage. The caged bird is seen to be angry with its situation. It desires with all its heart to escape its plight. But the caged bird cannot see beyond this cage. Its wings are clipped, that is, its freedom is taken away. It cannot fly even if it desires to. Its feet are tied. A bird to the ground represents an image completely opposite to its true nature of flight. This represents the fact of alienation of the bird. But the most important thing is that despite being in this utterly despondent predicament, the caged bird opens its throat to sing. That seems to be its only joy and achievement in life.

Critical Comments :

1. The tone is immediately and drastically changed from peaceful, satisfied, and joyful to one that is dark, unnerving and even frustrating.
2. The poetess felt this way in her own life. She wrote and sang and danced because it was her way of expressing her longing for freedom.
3. Can through : Figure of speech alliteration has been used.
4. A reference to the clipped wings, tied feet, restricted movement, depict the physical pain that the caged bird has to endure.
5. The ‘caged bird’ is a metaphor for the poet Maya Angelou herself and all those African-Americans who faced discrimination, prejudices and slavish treatment during the apartheid.

3. The caged bird ……………of freedom.
Word-meanings : Trill = trembling; wavering. Things unknown = the things which the caged bird has never seen. But still = the caged bird still
craves for freedom. Tune = the voice of its singing. Distant = far and wide.

Paraphrase : While singing, the caged bird’s voice wavers. It sings of freedom, something it does not have. The idea of freedom is its dream which can never be fullilled or achieved, but it sings about it. There is a fear in its voice. It has never known what freedom tastes like, but hopes to have it for its own. Its voice can be heard from distant places, on hills where it inspires others to dream of freedom. The caged bird does not sing of sadness, but of hope, inspiration and of freedom.

In these lines the poet clearly brings to us that the voice of the black American (who are badly tortured and exploited) can never be suppressed. Their voice for freedom and equality will be heard one day. No fear can waver them from their way as they seem to be determined to achieve their freedom which is the birth right to every human being. They firmly believe that one day they will succeed in breaking the shackles of slavery.

Reference to the Context : These lines showing the loss of freedom resulted in the mental agony for the caged bird, have been extracted from the poem entitled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, written by Maya Angelou.

Here the poetess points out that the harsh and painful aspects of the caged bird’s existence cannot take away its dignity. It knows its strength and uses it for expressing its rebellion by singing.

Explanation : The caged bird has been shown to be afraid of many thing which are entirely unknown to her as it has never got opportunity to go out of the bars of the cage. Hence the caged bird quavers while singing of the undiscovered things, yet it sings about the thing that it has longed for throughout its life. It realises its condition but still aspires for freedom. The bird’s song is so shrill that it reaches the hills which are far off. Its song enlightens and inspires the others to dream of freedom.

The poetess expresses her agonies and grievances through the restricted flight of the caged bird.
The caged bird thus represents the African-American race.

Critical Comments :

1. The singing of the caged bird is symbolic of its rebellion against oppression.
2. The song of the ‘caged bird’ divulges its hope and inner strength.
3. The struggle of the ‘caged bird’ is parallel to the African-Americans struggle for freedom and equality.
4. The ‘things unknown’ can be a reference to the unknown freedom, if and when it comes.

4. The free bird……………another breeze.
Word-meanings: Another breeze = another current of the air for another
flight. Trade winds = strong winds blowing all the time towards the equator and then to the west. Sighing = moaning; here it has been used for the sound that the trees produce when the winds pass through their leaves. Fat worms = delicious food that the free bird enjoys at its will. On a dawn = at the sunrise. Bright lawn = the lawn which is brightened with the mild sun rays of the sunrise.

Paraphrase : While making the difference between the two birds, the poetess moves back to the unrestricted movement of the free bird (which represents the community of the white people). After making its first flight in the sky which it claims to be under its own possession, it thinks to take another flight with another breeze because it does not seem to be satisfied with its first flight and shows more greediness for another. Then it takes another flight with another breeze and with the breeze it softly flies through the trees which make sighing or moaning sound due to the impact of gentle breeze.

Then, at the sunrise, it comes down in the green lawn which is brightened with the gentle rays of the sunrise. Then it enjoys the fat worms waiting for it in the bright lawn. After satisfying its hunger with delicious food, it again takes a flight to the sky. It seems as if it has named the sky its own, since no bird can be seen to contest with it. (Here the poetess means to say that the white American has sole right over the whole space and surroundings of America where no man of black community can compete with him as many restrictions have been imposed upon the community of the black people).

Reference to the Context : These lines showing the free bird’s dissatisfaction, selfish nature and its greediness for craving more, have been extracted from the poem entitled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, written by Maya Angelou.

Here the poetess points out the selfishness of the free bird which is not satisfied with its first flight and longs for another fresh flight. It shows its greediness for more freedom.

Explanation : At one side, we see the caged bird which always longs to take a free flight in the sky, but its cherished dream remains unfulfilled and on the other side we see the free bird which, inspite of taking first flight freely in the sky, does not seem to be satisfied with it and shows heavy greed to have another flight. The free bird always remains dissatisfied and expects more freedom. It thinks of smother flight with another current of the air or breeze and of course it can enjoy another flight for getting more joy and pleasure. It can enjoy flying the trade wind that blows through the trees which produce sighing or moaning sound under the impact of wind.

Actually, the sighing sound is made by the breeze while passing through the leafy branches. It gives an indication to their lack of freedom, as the trees are also tied to the ground like the caged bird. It can find its own at its will. It can enjoy the fat worms waiting for it at the sunrise in the green lawn. Fat worms are the best food for the free bird. With the wind in its feathers, water and earth beneath it and the whole sky with it, it feels majestic in its freedom and calls the entire sky its own domain. The free bird knows itself to be the proprietor of this whole universe. Here the sky stands for the universe.

Critical Comments :

1. And he own : The figure of speech hyperbole has been used.
2. And the trade trees : The poetess has used the figure of speech personification.
3. The poetess has used an auditory imagery in the line ‘the trade winds soft through the sighing tree’.
4. The fat lawn : This is an instance of alliteration.

5. But a caged……………to sing.
Word-meanings : Grave of dreams = confinement or imprisonment is a place where all dreams, aspirations, desires and ambitions are buried. The same thing can be applied in the concern of the caged bird. Nightmare = a dream which makes one frightened during one’s sleep. Screams = cries out in fear.

Paraphrase : The caged bird is aware of the fact that it can not enjoy the flight in the sky as it is not free, but a captive, a prisoner. Thus, it stands waiting on the grave of dreams. The cage shatters all its dreams and aspirations, hence it (the cage) is called a grave of all its dreams. The shadow that the caged bird sees of itself makes it scream as it realises looking out its own shadow that its wings are clipped and feet are tied. Life for the caged bird is nothing less than a nightmare. It has no choice other than singing high in the voice. It wants to keep its voice far and wide through the song. It has still last ray of hope of its freedom. Its faint hope which is somewhat eternal keeps it awake to carry on its fight against its confinement.

Reference to the Context : These lines showing again the distressful condition of the caged bird, have been extracted from the poem entitled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, written by Maya Angelou.

Here the poetess makes again a shift to the caged bird and its helplessness. The caged bird’s condition is so distressful that the cage becomes a symbol of its grave of dreams. But once again, the caged bird sings of its freedom.

Explanation : The bird which is made a captive behind the bars of the cage, is ever craving for freedom but in vain. It cannot come out of it. Its cage becomes the grave of its dreams. It stands on the grave of its unfulfilled dreams. The shadow, that the caged bird sees of itself makes it scream. The caged bird is utterly frightened to see its pitiable condition in its shadow. After seeing its shadow, it comes to know the reality that its wings have been clipped and its feet are tied. The loss of freedom results in the mental agony for the caged bird. However, the harsh and painful aspects of the caged bird’s existence do not take away its dignity. It knows its strength and uses it for expressing its rebellion by singing.

Critical Comments :

1. The caged bird represents the African-American race.
2. The poetess expresses her agonies and grievances through the restricted flight of the caged bird.
3. The struggle of the caged bird is parallel to the African-Americans’ struggle for freedom and equality.
4. His shadow scream : This is an example of alliteration and personification.

6. The caged bird…………… freedom.
Paraphrase: This stanza is the repetition of the third stanza emphasising on pathetic state of the caged bird. This refrain recurring as a stanza justifies the bird’s determination to keep going after its dream of freedom. Moreover, the caged bird chooses to sing as this is the only freedom available to it, that it can enjoy without any restriction. Its wings are clipped, feet are tied, but its throat is not choked yet. This is something the poetess has felt at heart and that’s why she uses the title ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’.

Reference to the Context : These lines presenting a repetition to emphasise the miserable and pathetic state of the caged bird, have been extracted from the poem entitled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, written by Maya Angelou.

The poetess has made a repetition of the stanza because she wants to make us realise the pain, anguish, unfulfilled dreams and shattered hopes of the caged bird.

Explanation : Although the caged bird lives a life of captive behind the bars of the cage and has never experienced freedom, it still sings of it. Its voice is heard far and wide and its longing for freedom and equality can not be dismissed as a distant voice. Even though the caged bird lives a harsh life, it continues to persist, persevere and is unwilling to surrender to its opponents. It still longs for freedom in its song.

The poetess feels that the black Americans wrote and sang and danced and cried out for the freedom they deserved, but they were only heard as a distant voice. Yet, this did not stop them from crying out for freedom and equality because they knew that they were made for freedom.

Critical Comments :

1. The poetess uses a metaphor to compare the caged birds to African Americans fighting for equality during the civil rights movements.
2. This refrain justifies the bird’s stout determination to keep going after its dream of freedom.
3. The poetess seems to be conveying a message that we should raise our voice, express ourselves even though the stronger wants to suppress the weaker and never ever give up, no matter what situation we are in.
4. Here we find that the poem ends with an optimistic note.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Summary About the Poet

Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. She had a difficult childhood. Her parents split up when she was very young, and she and her older brother, Bailey, were sent to live with their father’s mother, Anne Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas. As an African American, Maya experienced first hand racial prejudices and discrimination in Arkansas. She also suffered at the hands of a family associate around the age of seven. During a visit with her mother, Maya was raped by her mother’s boyfriend. Then, as vengeance for the sexual assault, Maya’s uncles killed the boyfriend. So traumatized by the experience, Maya stopped talking. She returned to Arkansas and spent years as a virtual mute.

During World War II, Maya moved to San Francisco, California, where she won a scholarship to study dance and acting at the California Labor School. Also during this time, Maya became the first black female cable car conductor— a job she held only briefly, in San Francisco. In 1944, a sixteen year old Maya gave birth to a son. A short-lived high school relationship had led to the pregnancy. Therefore, she had been working a number of jobs to support herself and her child. In 1952, the future literary icon wed Anastasios Angelopulos, A Greek sailor from whom she took her professional name—a blend of her childhood nick name, “Maya” and a shortened version of his surname.

In the mid-1950s, Angelou’s career as a performer began to take off. She landed a role in a touring production of Porgy and Bess, later appearing in the off-Broadway production Calypso Heat Wave (1957) and releasing her first album, Miss Calypso (1957). In 1961, Maya appeared in an off-Broadway production of Jean Genet’s The Blacks with James Earl Jones, Lou Gossett Jr. and Cicely Tyson. While the play earned strong reviews, Maya moved on to other pursuits, spending much of the 1960s abroad; she first lived in Egypt and then in Ghana, working as an editor and a freelance writer.

After returning to the United States, Angelou was urged by friend and fellow writer James Baldwin to write about her life experience. Her efforts resulted in the enormously successful 1969 memoir about her childhood and young adult years, I know why the Caged Bird Sings, which made literary history as the first nonfiction best-seller by an African American woman. The poignant work also made Angelou an international star. Since publishing Caged Bird, Angelou has continued to break new ground—not just artistically, but educationally and socially.

She wrote the drama Georgia, Georgia in 1972— becoming the first African-American woman to have her screenplay produced— and wenton to earn a Tony Award nomination for her role in the play Look Away (1973) and an Emmy Award nomination for her work on the television miniseries Roots (1977), among other honours.

Angelou has written several autobiographies throughout her career, including All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986) and A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002), but 1969’s I know why the Caged Bird Sings continues to be regarded as her most popular autobiographical work. She has also published several collections of poetry, including Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water Fore I Die (1971), which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. One of Angelou’s most famous works in the poem On the Pulse of Morning, which she wrote especially for and recited at President Bill Clinton’s inaugural ceremony in January 1993— marking the first inaugural recitation since 1961, when Robert Frost delivered his poem The Gift Outright. Angelou went on to win a Grammy Award for the audio version of the poem.

In 1995, Angelou was lauded for remaining on The New York Times’ paperback nonfiction best seller list for two years—the longest- running record in the chart’s history. Seeking new creative challenger, Angelou made her directorial debut in 1998 with Down in the Delta, starring Alfre Woodard. She has also written a number of inspirational works, from the essay collection Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now (1994) to her advice for young women in Letter to My Daughter (2008). Interested in health, Angelou has even published cookbooks, including Hallelujah ! The Welcome Table : A Lifetime of Memories With Recipes (2005) and Great Food, All Day Long (2010).

His Major Works :
I know why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), Gather Together in My Name (1974), Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’Merry Like Christmas (1976), The Heart of a Woman (1981), All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986), A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002), Mom & Me & Mom (2003).

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