Unseen Poetry Practice Question: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

by ewilson922btinternetcom (student)

Thursday 19th May 2016

Unseen Poetry Practice Question: ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’

In the poem, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’, Mary Angelou presents ideas about freedom in a number of ways. The poem is largely based on the segregation between various races, specifically the barriers between blacks and whites. It uses this theme to explore freedom, and expresses it as an extended metaphor.

In the first stanza, the speaker illustrates how the free bird, or white race, is untroubled: “the free bird leaps on the back of the wind”. The word ‘leaps’ is an energetic word, showing how the life of this bird is untroubled. Unlike the caged bird, it has never known captivity and is free to live its life in the way that it wants. The first stanza also shows how the free bird has the audacity to try and own whatever he wants unjustly: “dares to claim the sky”. The free bird abuses its freedom, showing how whites demonstrated discrimination and prejudice toward blacks. The word ‘dares’ suggests that it has no real right to do this, however it has become accepted just as racism became accepted in society.

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In the second stanza, the speaker describes the actions of the caged bird. The speaker says: “but a caged bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage”. This is an illustration of the anger and frustration the captive bird is forced to endure. Just like black people, it is mistreated and thought of as inferior. It shows the bird’s anger towards its captivity, however it is locked behind ‘bars’ showing how it can do nothing about it. A pattern of rhyme is also established to give this stanza an upbeat rhythm to emphasize the enraged attitude of the bird. The speaker says, “His wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing”. It also shows that blacks yearned for equality so they stood up for their freedom, and singing was the only way to be heard.

The third stanza shows how many people are aware of the suffering of the caged bird, but that it is ignored: “his tune is heard on the distant hill”. This represents the ignorance of many people during the height of racism towards blacks in society. The poet is condemning those who chose to ignore what was going on and chose to continue with their own lives just as the free bird does. Despite them knowing it is morally wrong, they do not allow it to worry them.

In stanza four, the speaker says: “The free bird thinks of another breeze... And the fat worms waiting on the dawn bright law”. The breeze and fat worms are metaphors for all the hopes and opportunities that the free bird (or whites) had that the caged bird (or blacks) didn't have. The speaker also uses auditory devices of alliteration and assonance to give the poem a continuous flow, showing how the caged bird’s captivity is likely to remain continuous.

The final stanza is a repetition of the third stanza. Again, this repetition shows how the bird will always long for freedom but will never be free, suggesting that the poet believes discrimination towards black people will never end. The final line of the poem, “the caged bird sings for freedom” can be interpreted as a protest cry, linking to the Civil Rights movement. It is like a final plea for the captive bird to be set free.

To conclude, this poem shows how freedom can seem unachievable to some because of the attitudes of society towards the oppressed. The poet firmly believes that this is the way things will be forever, as those who are ‘free’ aren’t concerned for others.