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
1 answer
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 emphasizes the imprisonment and restrictions that the caged bird experiences, which leads to its need to express its pain and longing through its voice.
1 answer