Caged Bird
BY MA Y A A N GE LO U 1. Free bird = white people; leaps = freedom
2. Metaphor- wind is being compared to an animal
1. A free bird leaps 3. Float – calm and peaceful representation of life
2. on the back of the wind 4.
3. and floats downstream 5. His – bird, personified
4. till the current ends 6. Orange – lively, vibrant, life of free bird
5. and dips his wing 7. Calm image, ‘bird laying on tube’ in sky, relaxing. The bird has
6. in the orange sun rays the right to reach this high. Sky – limited options. He reaches for
7. and dares to claim the sky. the sky- reach anything
8. But a bird that stalks 8. But – introduce contrast, volta Stalks – hunting for freedom (move
silently or threateningly through (a place). pursue or approach
9. down his narrow cage stealthily.) Pacing up + down passage
10. can seldom see through 9. Narrow – represents no/little freedom
11. his bars of rage 10. Seldom – rarely,
12. his wings are clipped and 11. Blinded by rage – metaphor – gives idea of prison cell
13. his feet are tied 12. Limiting them, taking away their choices and rights
14. so he opens his throat to sing. 13. Limitations on bird (people)
14. protesting
15. The caged bird sings
15. Hello
16. with a fearful trill 16. Trill – high pitched, fearful – protesting can lead to a lot of trouble
17. of things unknown 17. Never experienced freedom
18. but longed for still 18. Although they have not experienced freedom they still want it
19. and his tune is heard 19. Protesting rarely stays in one location, wide reaching consequences
20. on the distant hill because of 1 person’s actions
21. for the caged bird 20. Far away, other countries hear about it
22. sings of freedom. 21. + 22. Message that spreads
23. Breeze – thinking of freedom, luxury –
23. The free bird thinks of another breeze free birds have luxury that cadged bird
24. and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees doesn’t. The luxury + privileges that
25. and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn freedom brings. Metaphor
26. and he names the sky his own 24. Sighing trees – sigh in relief, happiness
(Personification)
25. Fat worms – privileges (24 + 25
privileges of the free bird, can go
anywhere and cadged bird can’t)
26. The sky belongs to him, preovulation,
ownership, claiming and achieving goal.
Entitlement.
27. But – contrast – volta, contrast with stanza
4, everyone wants freedom, metaphor –
27. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams dreams re dead – no hope
28. his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream 28. Shadow – not the same happy person,
29. his wings are clipped and his feet are tied hopelessness. Nightmare scream –
30. so he opens his throat to sing. everyday life of these people, Fear +
sadness. Alliteration, sibilance,
personification
29. + 30. Repetition – emphasis, they are
limited, restricted
1 30. Sing - protest
Kopiereg © Slimkop.Opsommings – Mag nie versprei word nie
, 31. The caged bird sings
32. with a fearful trill Repeated stanza – emphasis.
33. of things unknown
- The will to protest
34. but longed for still - Someone will continue
35. and his tune is heard - The fight
36. on the distant hill
37. for the caged bird
38.
39. sings of freedom.
Volta – turn; volta(Noun) A turning; a time; -- chiefly used in phrases signifying that the
part is to be repeated.
Theme – the bird is singing and protesting (extended metaphor)
Themes – prejudice vs privilege; freedom vs restriction
Cadged bird – metaphor of how the people have no freedom
Half rhyme = alliteration, sibilance (sounds like music or a song – it has a melodic rhyme)
How refrain contributes to the overall meaning of the poem – Emphasizing the cadged bird,
struggling for freedom. Expand on reality.
2
Kopiereg © Slimkop.Opsommings – Mag nie versprei word nie
BY MA Y A A N GE LO U 1. Free bird = white people; leaps = freedom
2. Metaphor- wind is being compared to an animal
1. A free bird leaps 3. Float – calm and peaceful representation of life
2. on the back of the wind 4.
3. and floats downstream 5. His – bird, personified
4. till the current ends 6. Orange – lively, vibrant, life of free bird
5. and dips his wing 7. Calm image, ‘bird laying on tube’ in sky, relaxing. The bird has
6. in the orange sun rays the right to reach this high. Sky – limited options. He reaches for
7. and dares to claim the sky. the sky- reach anything
8. But a bird that stalks 8. But – introduce contrast, volta Stalks – hunting for freedom (move
silently or threateningly through (a place). pursue or approach
9. down his narrow cage stealthily.) Pacing up + down passage
10. can seldom see through 9. Narrow – represents no/little freedom
11. his bars of rage 10. Seldom – rarely,
12. his wings are clipped and 11. Blinded by rage – metaphor – gives idea of prison cell
13. his feet are tied 12. Limiting them, taking away their choices and rights
14. so he opens his throat to sing. 13. Limitations on bird (people)
14. protesting
15. The caged bird sings
15. Hello
16. with a fearful trill 16. Trill – high pitched, fearful – protesting can lead to a lot of trouble
17. of things unknown 17. Never experienced freedom
18. but longed for still 18. Although they have not experienced freedom they still want it
19. and his tune is heard 19. Protesting rarely stays in one location, wide reaching consequences
20. on the distant hill because of 1 person’s actions
21. for the caged bird 20. Far away, other countries hear about it
22. sings of freedom. 21. + 22. Message that spreads
23. Breeze – thinking of freedom, luxury –
23. The free bird thinks of another breeze free birds have luxury that cadged bird
24. and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees doesn’t. The luxury + privileges that
25. and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn freedom brings. Metaphor
26. and he names the sky his own 24. Sighing trees – sigh in relief, happiness
(Personification)
25. Fat worms – privileges (24 + 25
privileges of the free bird, can go
anywhere and cadged bird can’t)
26. The sky belongs to him, preovulation,
ownership, claiming and achieving goal.
Entitlement.
27. But – contrast – volta, contrast with stanza
4, everyone wants freedom, metaphor –
27. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams dreams re dead – no hope
28. his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream 28. Shadow – not the same happy person,
29. his wings are clipped and his feet are tied hopelessness. Nightmare scream –
30. so he opens his throat to sing. everyday life of these people, Fear +
sadness. Alliteration, sibilance,
personification
29. + 30. Repetition – emphasis, they are
limited, restricted
1 30. Sing - protest
Kopiereg © Slimkop.Opsommings – Mag nie versprei word nie
, 31. The caged bird sings
32. with a fearful trill Repeated stanza – emphasis.
33. of things unknown
- The will to protest
34. but longed for still - Someone will continue
35. and his tune is heard - The fight
36. on the distant hill
37. for the caged bird
38.
39. sings of freedom.
Volta – turn; volta(Noun) A turning; a time; -- chiefly used in phrases signifying that the
part is to be repeated.
Theme – the bird is singing and protesting (extended metaphor)
Themes – prejudice vs privilege; freedom vs restriction
Cadged bird – metaphor of how the people have no freedom
Half rhyme = alliteration, sibilance (sounds like music or a song – it has a melodic rhyme)
How refrain contributes to the overall meaning of the poem – Emphasizing the cadged bird,
struggling for freedom. Expand on reality.
2
Kopiereg © Slimkop.Opsommings – Mag nie versprei word nie
