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?
1 answer
The reader can better understand the contrast and the limitations faced by the caged bird after reading about the free bird. The free bird is described as being able to enjoy the freedom of flying, feeling the breeze, and claiming the sky as its own. In contrast, the caged bird is restricted, its wings are clipped, and its feet are tied. The poem highlights the stark difference between the freedom and joy experienced by the free bird and the confinement and despair felt by the caged bird.
1 answer