Consider the extended metaphor of the caged bird. Then, choose the figurative meaning of each quotation from the poem.

Question

“But a bird that stalks / down his narrow cage / can seldom see through / his bars of rage”

“The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still”

Answer 1

In the context of the extended metaphor of the caged bird, the quotations can be analyzed for their figurative meanings as follows:

1. “But a bird that stalks / down his narrow cage / can seldom see through / his bars of rage”: This line symbolizes the constraints and limitations that the caged bird (representing individuals or groups facing oppression) experiences. The "narrow cage" signifies confinement, both physically and metaphorically, such as restrictions on freedom, opportunities, and expression. The "bars of rage" suggest the anger and frustration that come from being trapped and unable to see beyond one’s current situation, indicating that the bird's (or oppressed individual's) perspective is clouded by its circumstances.

2. “The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still”: This line conveys the deep yearning for freedom and hope that exists within the caged bird despite its confined existence. The "fearful trill" reflects the mixture of hope and apprehension the bird feels when it sings, representing the longing for liberation and the unknown possibilities beyond its cage. The phrase "things unknown but longed for still" emphasizes the desire for a better future, a life beyond confinement, despite the uncertainty and fear associated with that aspiration.

Together, these quotations illustrate themes of confinement, longing, and the interplay between hope and despair in the face of oppression.

Answer 2

Consider the extended metaphor of the caged bird. Then, choose the figurative meaning of each quotation from the poem.

“But a bird that stalks / down his narrow cage / can seldom see through / his bars of rage”

✔ The caged bird is so angry about his lack of freedom that it is all he can think about.

“The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still”

✔ The caged bird desires freedom, even though he has never experienced it.

Read the stanzas.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

–“Caged Bird,”
Maya Angelou

What can the reader better understand about the caged bird after having read about the free bird?

why the emotional pain of oppression makes the caged bird shout
why the caged bird stands on the grave and shouts
why the caged bird sings of freedom after having a nightmare
why the caged bird fears freedom and sings instead

Answer 3

After having read about the free bird, the reader can better understand:

why the emotional pain of oppression makes the caged bird shout.

The contrast between the free bird and the caged bird highlights the stark differences in their experiences. The free bird represents the joy, freedom, and abundance of life and opportunities, while the caged bird symbolizes confinement, loss, and frustration. The imagery of the caged bird "standing on the grave of dreams" and its "shadow shouts on a nightmare scream" indicates the depth of its suffering and despair. Understanding the free bird's joyful existence amplifies the emotional conflict of the caged bird, making the reader comprehend the intensity of the pain and yearning that drives it to express itself through song—even if that song is born from a place of anguish.