Poem 7: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?

I. A free bird leaps……………………to claim the sky.

Q1. Who is referred to as a free bird in the poem? Why?

A1. The White race in America is referred to as a free bird in the poem. The White’s enjoyed
absolute freedom in terms of speech, movement and fundamental rights while the caged
bird ( the African-Americans did not).

According to the Constitution, although all African-Americans should receive equal

Q2. To what is the free bird compared to in the first two lines of the extract? Is the action
of the bird shown to be free and enjoyable?

A2. The theme of freedom versus enslavement runs throughout the poem. Freedom is
symbolised in the poem through the unrestricted movement of the free bird. In the first
two lines of the extract, the free bird is compared to the people who have favourable
circumstances in life (Whites). The free bird is untroubled. He floats effortlessly in the sky
that he claims to be his own. He flies in the direction of the current and seems to immerse
himself in the orange sun rays.

The free bird represents the White race and their domination whereas the caged bird
becomes a metaphor for African-Americans and their confinement[enslavement].

Q3. “A free bird leaps………of the wind.” What implied comparison is made here?

A3. Repeat 1.2.

Q4. Explain what is meant by “the orange sun rays”?

A4. The free bird is untroubled and Maya Aangelou with the help of the visual imagery of
orange rays, heightens and expresses the theme of happiness and unrestricted freedom
enjoyed by the Free bird. The orange sun rays symbolize happiness, freedom, gaiety,
exuberance and comforts and luxuries of life.

Q5. How does the free bird dare to claim the sky?

A5. The free bird is blessed as he enjoys freedom in his natural habitat. No restrictions are
imposed on him (his movements). He is confident enough to claim the sky; he flies in the
direction of the current and seems to be dipping his wings in the orange sun rays.

The other bird is caged so the free bird has no competitor to compete with him in the sky.
So, the free bird is bold and dares to claim the sky.

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II. But a bird…………………………..his throat to sing.

A1. This stanza begins with, “But” because it presents a stark contrast to the first stanza
which describes a free and happy bird in his natural habitat. However, this stanza describes
an unhappy bird in captivity. This caged bird longs for freedom but his movements are
restricted as his wings are clipped and his feet are tied. His vision comprises only what the
bars of his cage permit him to see through.

Q2. Why do you think the cage is “narrow”? What is meant by “his bars of rage”?

A2. The cage is considered to be “narrow” for the bird as this does not allow him to be in
his natural habitat, the blue sky. The bird cannot fly or stretch his wings in the enclosed and
costricted place. He is constantly trying to get a glimpse of the outer world through the bars
of his cage. ‘bars of rage’, signifies the bird’s anger having been forced to live within the
narrow limits set by the bars of the cage.

“His bars of rage” means that the bird is angry as his movement and vision is restricted by
the bars of the cage he is in. He cannot see the outside world clearly and is hence, enraged,
frustrated, and helpless. His wings are clipped and his feet are tied, he is in a miserable
condition.

Q3. Describe the caged bird.

A3. The caged bird is in captivity. His feet are tied and his wings are clipped, making his
movement in the narrow cage restricted. His vision is impaired not only by the bars of his
cage but also by his anger and helplessness at the situation. These negative feelings bottled
up inside him, act as bars and prevent him from seeing the outside world in clear light.

Q4. Give the meaning and significance of the following lines:

‘his wings………………………..to sing.’

A4. The poet explains the condition of the caged bird who is constantly behind bars. His
vision is limited and he can barely see from inside the cage. He is enslaved to such an extent
that his wings are clipped and his feet are tied. Under such deplorable and pathetic
circumstances, the only option he has is to open his throat to sing for freedom.
Since the ‘Caged Bird’ is a metaphor for the African-Americans, these lines personify their
struggle against the inhuman treatment meted out to them. The African-Americans wrote,
sang and cried out for their freedom that they deserved but they were only heard as a
distant voice.

Q5. Whom does the poet indirectly refer to while mentioning of the free and caged bird?

A5. While mentioning the contrast between the life of the free bird and the caged bird, the
poet indirectly refers to the subjugation of the African-American people by their oppressors
(THE WHITES). The poet articulates the African-Americans’ pent up emotions against racial
discrimination and slavery in America, in an indirect manner. The ‘free bird’, represents the
White race and their domination whereas, ‘the caged bird’, becomes a metaphor for
African-Americans and their confinement and isolation from society. The ensnared bird is
struggling to carve a peaceful environment for himself in the racist society.

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Q1. The caged bird sings under what circumstances and why? State the condition of the
caged bird.

A1. The caged bird sings under dismal circumstances. It is imprisoned in a cage, its wings
are clipped and its feet are tied. He desires to fly and experience true freedom;
unfortunately, his movements are restricted. The poet expresses her grief and agony
through the restricted flight of the caged bird.

The condition of the bird is heart rending. The caged bird seems miserable and distressed.
The cage becomes his, ‘grave of dreams’. His cry for freedom is like a nightmarish scream.
The bird in the poem that is behind the bars is in a state of mental and physical agony. The
singing of the caged bird despite his misery is symbolic of his rebellion against oppression. It
is his song of freedom and liberty as he is a living example of indignity and misery.

Q2. Why does the caged bird sing of, “thing unknown”?

A2. The caged bird has never known freedom as he has been enslaved in a cage. “Things
unknown”, can be a reference to the unknown freedom that the bird has never enjoyed.

Though the caged bird does not know what freedom is, he knows in his heart of hearts that
he was not born to be kept in a cage. He aspires for freedom and his singing is symbolic of
that aspiration. His song divulges his hope and his inner strength. The struggle of the caged
bird is parallel to the African- Americans’ cry for freedom and equality.

Q3. What is meant by, “fearful trill”? Why is it said to be fearful?

A3. The quavering (shaking and trembling) of the caged bird’s voice as he fearfully sings of
things unknown, i.e., the unknown freedom, which he has never seen but aspires for.

The caged bird is enslaved to such an extent that his wings are clipped and his feet are tied.
The bird is fearful as it realises its deplorable condition but still longs for freedom.

The fear of the caged bird reflects the feelings of the Black people who no more wish to go
through the pain of racism and discrimination at the hands of the Whites.
Q4. What is he singing? Why?

A4. He is singing a song of freedom. It is a song of resentment against his slavery. He sings
because there is no other way to give expression to his feelings. The singing of the caged
bird is symbolic of his rebellion against oppression. The song divulges his hope and his inner
strength.

Q5. Why is his singing heard on a distant hill?

A5. The caged bird cannot fly and hence sings a song yearning for freedom; the point
reveals that the bird’s cry for freedom is heard at a faraway place. The sound of the bird
reverberates loudly so it can be heard on a distant hill.

The African-Americans wrote and sang, danced and cried out for freedom, though initially
they were heard as a distant voice. Yet, this did not stop them from raising their voices
against the discrimination faced by them due to the colour of their skin until they were
given equal rights as the White.

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Q1. What is meant by “another breeze”? Why does the free bird think of another breeze?

A1. The free bird thinks of “another breeze”, meaning he frequently wishes for more
freedom and opportunities. The free bird is not content with the freedom he possesses. He
thinks of other places where he can find pleasant winds and fat worms that are waiting to
be consumed on a dawn bright lawn . It appears as if the bird has named the sky his own
since there are no other birds to contest for the space with him. Hence the free bird can
avail the opportunities at his disposal to fly whenever and in whichever direction he wants.

Q2. What is the grave of dreams? Why does a caged bird stand on the grave of dreams?

A2. ‘The caged bird’ has aspirations and desires to achieve something. He wanted to
experience freedom from enslavement in the metal cage. However, on account of his
captivity, he was helpless. His dreams of being free were buried. He remained imprisoned in
his cage which he had referred to as the ‘grave of his dreams’. The caged bird’s condition is
so distressful that the cage becomes a symbol of his grave of dreams. The grave
metaphorically signifies the oppression and restrictions forcibly imposed on the African
American people.

Q3. What metaphorical implications does the following line make?

‘his wings……………………………………to sing.’

A3. Angelou tries to contrast the plight of a bird that is free with the ‘caged bird’ whose
wings are clipped. By projecting two contrasting images of a free bird and a trapped bird,
the poet metaphorically alludes to the differences between the Whites and the African-
Americans during the Civil Rights Era.

‘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.
They, African-Americans were barred from walking in areas demarcated by the Whites.
They neither enjoyed freedom nor equality. This is metaphorically presented as ‘clipped
wings’, ‘bound feet’ and ‘narrow caged’.

Q4. What is the significance of the following expression, fat worms waiting on a dawn
bright lawn?

A4. The free bird does not have to search for food. There are fat worms on the lawns within
easy reach of the free bird. He does not have to compete with any other bird to search for
food. He can satisfy his hunger with the fat worms and can eat them to his fill without
having to make any effort to search or compromise for food.

Q5. On the basis of the above extract, bring out the main conflict in the poem.

A5. The theme of Freedom versus Enslavement runs throughout the poem. Freedom is
symbolised through the unrestricted movements of the free bird whereas the enslavement
is symbolised by the caged bird whose wings are clipped and feet are tied.

The poem begins with a free bird leaping and floating freely in the sky that he claims as his
own. The freedom of the bird in the natural habitat is shown. The free bird is untroubled
and with the help of the colour imagery of the orange rays, the effect heightens as orange is
a colour associated with glow and happiness. On the other hand, we have a caged bird
whose enslavement is represented through his wings that are clipped. The caged bird
cannot fly freely in the sky. His vision of freedom is not clear as the poet says that he can
seldom see through bars of rage. The bird is caged, imprisoned and thus is filled with rage.
He is furious but at the same time, he is helpless. All he can do is to open his throat to sing
of freedom.

The poem articulates the poet’s pent up emotions against racial discrimination and slavery
in America, though she never mentions it directly. The free bird represents the White race
and their domination whereas the caged bird has become a metaphor for the African-
Americans and their confinement. The point expresses her agonies and grievances through
the restricted flight of the caged bird. The caged bird thus represents the African-American
race.

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