I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Questions and Answers Extract Based<\/strong><\/p>\n Question 1. (a) Who has been referred to as a free bird in the poem ? Why ? How does the poetess describe the world of nature. (b) The way the poetess describes the \u2018orange sun rays\u2019 gives the reader an appreciation for the natural beauty of the sky and her description of the way the bird \u2018dips his wing\u2019 help the reader to appreciate the bird in its natural habitat, enjoying freedom.<\/p>\n (c) In the extract, the poetess breathes life into her description of the \u2018free bird\u2019 by using verbs like \u2018leaps\u2019, \u2018floats\u2019, \u2018dips\u2019. The free bird is a symbol of freedom and these well-chosen verbs are especially meaningful because they contain joy and energy. This is a hint for us to discover how Maya Angelou longs and feels about freedom.<\/p>\n (d) By presenting the free bird before depicting the caged bird, the poetess helps the reader visualise what the caged bird must have been like before its captive; the description of the two contrasting environments helps the (e) The free bird symbolises people who live in this world unencumbered by prejudice of any type whether it be racial, socioeconomic, or psychological. The free bird has the opportunity to move through life soaking in its abundance and the people who are afforded this freedom, forge through life making their own decisions and choices. The sky is limit for those who are free; those who do not face oppression. Without worrying about restrictions, the free bird is able to experience life as an enjoyable adventure. (f) The very first visual imagery we see that of a free bird leaping on the back of the wind. Since we can literally see a bird in nature leaping, jumping, or flying against the wind, we can see how this counts as a sight image. Other images we see are that of the bird floating downstream and dipping its wing in the orange sun rays.<\/p>\n (g) The poetess uses metaphor to compare the wind to water saying that the free bird \u2018floats downstream\/till the current ends\u2019. This makes the wind seem fast moving and powerful and yet it is something the free bird has learnt to use for its own ends. The bird is personified when it says that it \u2018dares to claim the sky\u2019.<\/p>\n (h) A free bird takes off its flight from the ground or a tree and flies in the sky sitting on the back of wind. It flies in the direction of the current of the air. Question 2. (a) Why does the poetess begin the second stanza with \u2018but\u2019 ? (b) The tone is immediately and drastically changed from peaceful, satisfied and joyful to one that is dark, unnerving and even frustrating. As against the free bird that claims the sky, the caged bird can barely, move within the cage because there is a very little space in the cage.<\/p>\n (c) The phrase \u2018stalks down\u2019 is used here in an ironic way to mean that the caged bird can only be within the narrow cage and cannot really move. The words \u2018his bars of rage\u2019 are the metaphor of the African-Amerian\u2019s narrow social space, their anguish and their helplessness.<\/p>\n (d) While mentioning of the caged bird, the poetess indirectly refers to herself and all those African-Americans who are victims of discrimination, prejudices and slavish treatments in the society of white Americans.<\/p>\n (e) The bird\u2019s wings are clipped, that is, its freedom is taken away. Wings are associated with flight, which in turn is associated with freedom. The words \u2018his wings are clipped\u2019 mean that its freedom is forcibly taken away. It cannot fly even if it desires to.<\/p>\n (f) A bird tied 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 the utterly despondent predicament, the caged bird opens its throat to sing. That seems to be its only joy and achievement in life.<\/p>\n Question 3. (a) In the earlier extract why does the caged bird show its fury and helplessness ? (b) The bird sings to let anyone one know that it is straining for freedom. Self-awareness here is shown by the fact that the bird longs for something that is unknown. It desires this unknown that is out there because it senses that the unknown is better than being caged and, in essence, a slave to its man-made environment, where it can not spread its wings and soar.<\/p>\n (c) The \u2018caged bird\u2019 stands for none other than the oppressed blacks who are devoid of liberty and basic human rights. The black have led hellish, lives full of pains and sufferings, for centuries. The \u2018caged bird\u2019s\u2019 song of freedom demonstrates the rage and optimism of the blacks that toughen them to endure.<\/p>\n (d) The \u2018caged bird\u2019s\u2019 fears are about the uncertainty of achieving freedom in the future. Its fears reflect those of the black who no more wish to go through the pains of racism, discrimination and bestial treatment at the hands of the whites. The blacks are scared of the darkness hanging over the lives of thier offspring.<\/p>\n (e) The \u2018caged bird\u2019 sings of freedom something it does not have. The idea of freedom is its dream which can never be fulfilled. According to the poetess, the \u2018caged bird\u2019 has to remain in the cage forever as its wings\u2019 are clipped and the feet are tied. It can only aspire to have a flight in the sky whereas the \u2018free bird\u2019 has fully liberty to fly in the sky at its own will.<\/p>\n (f) While singing for its freedom, the \u2018caged bird\u2019s\u2019 voice wavers as it has never known what freedom tastes like and it also feels uncertainty about its freedom. It fears that its hope and aspiration of achieving freedom may be unfulfilled.<\/p>\n (g) The voice of the \u2018caged bird\u2019 can be heard from distant places, on hills where it enlightens and inspires the others (who are in distress) to dream of freedom. The \u2018caged bird\u2019 does not sing of sadness, but of hope, inspiration and of freedom.<\/p>\n (h) The \u2018caged bird\u2019 knows its strength and uses it for expressing its rebellion by singing. The singing symbolises of its rebellion against oppression. The song divulges its hope and inner strength.<\/p>\n Question 4. (a) What is meant by \u2018another breeze\u2019 ? Why does the free bird think of another breeze ? (b) \u2018Trade winds\u2019 symbolise the strong wind blowing all the time. The free bird wants to enjoy, by riding the strong wind during its another flight. \u2018Fat worms\u2019 symbolise delicious food for satisfying the hunger of the free bird.<\/p>\n (c) At the sunrise, in the green lawn, it approaches during its flight to have its delicious food. \u2018Sighing trees\u2019 probably refers to the sighing sound 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.<\/p>\n (d) The free bird enjoys the delicious food at its own will. 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.<\/p>\n (e) The caged bird is the metaphor for an African-American, while the free bird is the metaphor for a white American. The contrast between the states of these birds reveal the unpleasant plight of the caged bird and is used to make us aware of the tragic story of the oppressed.<\/p>\n (f) The following line given above clarifies that as the free bird claims the whole sky its own, in the same way the white American claims the whole universe his own. Actually the sky stands for the universe.<\/p>\n Question 5. (b) The dream of liberty has been seen by the blacks for ages. The poetess\u2019 uncountable ancestors have spent their whole lives hoping to see the light of freedom. This doscomforting sense of undergoing persecution for years is well evoked in the line given above.<\/p>\n (c) When contrasted to the \u2018free bird\u2019, the \u2018caged bird\u2019 is associated with darkness, pain and fear. Reduced to an unnatural and lesser version of itself than the free bird, the caged bird cannot fly yet retains the desire to be free and to find self-expression.<\/p>\n (d) The poetess uses \u2018clipped\u2019 as a metaphor for the systematic forms of oppression. Being \u2018clipped\u2019 in society on the basis of race (or other identities) prevents an individual from even testing their capability for success. To be \u2018clipped\u2019, as the poetess implies, is to never be given a chance for success in life.<\/p>\n (e) The \u2018free bird\u2019 is shown to be freely floating on the back of the wind and enjoying everything. It feels as if it were the owner of the whole sky. The caged bird sings about freedom and equality. The figure of speech personification has been used in the following line : \u2018his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream\u2019.<\/p>\n (f) The poetess wants to convey that the oppressed and exploited, especially the black Americans, do not enjoy equal rights and opportunities of growth in any field. They have to face many discriminations and hardships in life. The fate of the caged bird will be unrelenting misery and death if the imprisonment and oppression continue. This inevitable outcome of the despair of the caged bird is seen through the words : grave, nightmare and scream.<\/p>\n (g) The poetess makes repetition of the stanza three beause she wants to emphasise that the voice of the black Americans cannot be suppressed. They are made for freedom and despite all restrictions and suppressions they would not relent and continue to struggle for freedom which is their birth right.<\/p>\n
\nA free bird leaps
\non the back of the wind
\nand floats downstream
\ntill the current ends
\nand dips his wing
\nin the orange sun rays
\nand dares to claim the sky.<\/p>\n
\n(b) What do words \u2018orange sun rays\u2019 and \u2018dip his wing\u2019 signify ?
\n(c) Which words in the extract show the poetess\u2019 great longing for freedom ?
\n(d) What does the poetess help the reader visualise by presenting the free bird before the caged bird ?
\n(e) What kind ofpeople does the free bird symbolise ? What kind of opportunity does the free bird and free people have ?
\n(f) Describe the visual imagery in the extract.
\n(g) Find out the figures of speech metaphor and-personfication in the extract. Also give the instances.
\n(h) Explain the following lines :
\nA free bird leaps
\non the back of the wind
\n(i) How does the free bird dare to claim the sky ?
\nAnswer.
\n(a) White American has been referred to as a free bird. The white American like a free bird is wholly free to live a life on his will. Nothing can create obstacle in his way. By presenting the beautiful sight of the sunset and its orange rays in which the bird immerses its wings, the poetess describe the world of nature.<\/p>\n
\nreader feel the sense of loss of the captured bird because of its reversed fate.<\/p>\n
\nThe free people are able to think of the mundane things in life, instead of battling for survival.<\/p>\n
\n(i) The bird is shown in a state of great tranquility. It has the freedom to move about at its will. It is so utterly free and without restraints that it regards or considers the whole firmament to be its one big home.<\/p>\n
\nBut a bird that stalks
\ndown his narrow cage
\ncan seldom see through
\nhis bars of rage
\nhis wings are clipped and
\nhis feet are tied
\nso he opens his throat to sing.<\/p>\n
\n(b) How is the tone changed with the beginning of the second stanza ? Why do you think the cage is narrow ?
\n(c) What is the significance of the phrase \u2018stalks down\u2019 ? What is meant by \u2018his bars of rage\u2019 ?
\n(d) Whom does the poetess indirectly refer while mentioning of the caged bird ?
\n(e) What is the significance of the words \u2018his wings are clipped\u2019 ?
\n(f) What kind of image does a bird tied to ground represent ? What is the true fact of its singing ?
\nAnswer.
\n(a) The second stanza is in stark contrast with the first. By using the word \u2018but\u2019 to begin this stanza, the poetess prepares the contrast which she is going to make between the free bird and the caged bird.<\/p>\n
\nThe caged bird sings
\nWith fearful trill
\nof things unknown
\nbut longed for still
\nand his time is heard
\non the distant hill
\nfor the caged bird
\nsings of freedom.<\/p>\n
\n(b) Describe the theme of self-awareness in the context of the extract.
\n(c) For what does the \u2018caged bird\u2019 stand ? What does the song of the \u2018caged bird\u2019 demonstrate ?
\n(d) What do the \u2018caged bird\u2019s\u2019 fears signify ?
\n(e) What does the \u2018caged bird\u2019 sing about ? How is the caged bird different from the \u2018free bird\u2019 ?
\n(f) Why does the \u2018caged bird\u2019s\u2019 voice waver while singing for its freedom ?
\n(g) Where is the voice of the \u2018caged bird\u2019 heard ? What is the impact of it ?
\n(h) What does the singing of the \u2018caged bird\u2019 symbolise ?
\nAnswer.
\n(a) The caged bird can not fly freely in the sky. Its vision of freedom is not there as it has to remain behind the bars of the cage. On seeing its pitiable state and the life of a captive, it is filled with rage. Hence it is furious but at the same time is helpless.<\/p>\n
\nThe free bird thinks of another breeze
\nand the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
\nand the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
\nand he names the sky his own.<\/p>\n
\n(b) What do \u2018trade winds\u2019 and \u2018fat worms\u2019 symbolise ?
\n(c) When does the free bird enjoy eating the fat worms ? What does the phrase \u2018sighing trees\u2019 refer to ?
\n(d) How do we come to know that the free bird passes a majestic life ?
\n(e) What does the contrast between the two birds reveal ?
\n(f) What does the following line \u2018names the sky his own\u2019 show ?
\nAnswer.
\n(a) \u2018Another breeze\u2019 means to take another flight in the sky with another current of wind. The free bird does not seem to be satisfied with its one flight so it wishes to have another flight to enjoy more of its liberty.<\/p>\n
\nBut a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
\nhis shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
\nhis wings are clipped and his feet are tied
\nso he opens his throat to sing.
\n(a) What is the \u2018caged bird\u2019s\u2019 fear ? Where does this fear reflect ?
\n(b) What is metaphorical meaning in the following line :
\n\u2018But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams\u2019.
\n(c) With which things is the \u2018caged bird\u2019 associated when contrasted to the \u2018free bird\u2019 ?
\n(d) How does the poetess use the word \u2018clipped\u2019 as a metaphor ?
\n(e) How is the \u2018free bird\u2019 described earlier in the context ? What does the \u2018caged bird\u2019 sing about ? Give an instance of personification from the extract.
\n(f) What does the poetess actually want to convey through the use of her metaphorical birds ? Which words in the extract show the plight of the \u2018caged bird\u2019 ?
\n(g) Why does the poetess make repetition of the stanza three ?
\nAnswer.
\n(a) The \u2018caged bird\u2019s\u2019 fear is about uncertainty of achieving freedom in the future. Its fear reflects those of the blacks who no more wish to go through the pains of racism, discrimination and bestial treatment at the hands of the whites. The blacks are scared of the darkness hanging over the lives of their offsprings.<\/p>\n