Sympathy

Question

Paul Laurence Dunbar

I know what the caged bird feels, alas!
When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,5
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals--
I know what the caged bird feels!

I know why the caged bird beats his wing
Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
For he must fly back to his perch and cling10
When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars
And they pulse again with a keener sting--
I know why he beats his wing!

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,15
When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,--
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings--20
I know why the caged bird sings!

Determine which figurative language is represented in each sentence. Click and drag each sentence to the correct column.

A. simile
B. repetition
C. alliteration
D. personification

1. Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
2. When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
3. And the river flows like a stream of glass;
4. And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars

Answer 1

Here is the categorization of the sentences based on the figurative language:

A. simile

• 3. And the river flows like a stream of glass;

B. repetition

• 4. And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars; (Note that the word "old" is repeated)

C. alliteration

• 2. When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, (Note the repetition of the "s" sound)

D. personification

• 1. Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; (Note that this line gives human attributes to the bird's experience, although it can also fit under imagery.)

So, the final arrangement looks like:

• A. simile

  • 3. And the river flows like a stream of glass;

• B. repetition

  • 4. And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars;

• C. alliteration

  • 2. When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass;

• D. personification

  • 1. Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;

If you need more explanations on each type or the selection process, feel free to ask!