I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.....ICSC TREASURE TROVE Question Answer

I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS

MAYA ANGELOU

I free bird leaps

On the back of the wind

And floats downstream

Till the current ends

And dips his wings

In the orange sun rays

And dares to claim the sky

a.   Who has been referred to as a free bird in the poem? Why? How does the poetess describe the world of nature?

Answer: White American has been referred to as a free bird. The white American like a free bird is wholly free to live a life on his will. Nothing can create obstacle in his way. By presenting the beautiful sight of the sunset and its orange rays in which the bird immerses its wings, the poetess describes the world of nature.

b.   What do words ‘orange sun rays’ and ‘dip his wing’ signify?

Answer: The way the poetess describes the’ orange sun rays’ gives the reader an appreciation for the natural beauty of the sky and her description of the way the bird ‘dips his wing’ help the reader to appreciate the bird in its natural habitat, enjoying freedom.

c.    Which words in the extract show the poetess’ great longing for freedom?

Answer: In the extract, the poetess breathes life into her description of the ‘free bird’ by using verbs like ‘leaps’, ‘floats’, ‘dips’. The free bird is a symbol of freedom and these well-chosen verbs are especially meaningful because they contain joy and energy. This is a hint for us to discover how Maya Angelou longs and feels about freedom.

d.   What does the poetess help the reader visualise by presenting the free bird before the caged bird?

Answer: By presenting the free bird before depicting the caged bird, the poetess helps the reader visualise what the caged bird must have been like before its captive the description of the two contrasting environment helps the reader feel the sense of loss of the captured bird because of its reversed fate.

e.   What kind of people does the free bird symbolise? What kind of opportunity does the free bird and free people have?

Answer: The free bird symbolises people who live in this world unencumbered by prejudice of any type whether it be racial, socioeconomic, or psychological. The free bird has the opportunity to move through life soaking in its abundance and the people who are afforded this freedom, forge through life making their own decisions and choices. The sky is limit for those who are free; those who do not face oppression. Without worrying about restrictions, the free bird is able to experience life as an enjoyable adventure. The free people are able to think of the mundane things in life, instead of battling for survival.

f.      Describe the visual imagery in the extract.

Answer: The very first visual imagery we see that of a free bird leaping on the back of the wind. Since we can literally see a bird in nature leaping, jumping, or flying against the wind, we can see how this count as a sight image.  Other images we see are that of the bird floating downstream and dipping its wing in the orange sun rays.

g.    Find out The bird is personified the figures of speech metaphor and personification in the extract.

Answer: The poetess uses metaphor to compare the wind to water saying that the free bird ‘floats downstream/ till the current ends.’ This makes the wind seem fast moving and powerful and yet it is something the free bird has learnt to use for its own ends. The bird is personified when it says that it ‘dares to claim the sky.’

h.   Explain the following lines:

A free bird leaps

On the back of the wind

Answer: A free bird takes off its flight from the ground or a tree and flies in the sky sitting on the back of wind. It flies in the direction of the current of the air.

i.      How does the free bird dare to claim the sky?

Answer: The bird is shown in a state of great tranquility. It has the freedom to move about at its will. It is so utterly free and without restraints that it regards or considers the whole firmament to be its one big home.

But a bird that stalks

Down his narrow cage

Cn seldom see through

His bars of rage

His wings are clipped and

His feet are tied

So, he opens his throat to sing

a.    Why does the poetess begin the second stanza with’ but’?   

Answer:  The second stanza is in stark contrasts with the first.  By using the word ‘but’ to begin this stanza, the poetess prepares the contrast which she is going make between the free bird and the caged bird.

b.    How is the tone changed with the beginning of the second stanza? Why do you think the cage is narrow? 

Answer:   The tone is immediately and drastically changed from peaceful, satisfied and joyful to one that is dark, unnerving and even frustrating. As against the free bird that claims the sky, the caged bird can barely, move within the cage because there is a very little space in the cage.

c.     What is the significance of the phrase ‘stalks down’? What is meant by ‘his bars of rage’?  

Answer: The phrase ‘stalks down’ is used here in an ironic way to mean that the caged bird can only be within the narrow cage and cannot really move.  The words ‘his bars of rage’ are the metaphor of the African- American’s narrow social space, their anguish and their helplessness.  

d.    Whom does the poetess indirectly refer while mentioning of caged bird?  

Answer: While mentioning of the caged bird, the poetess indirectly  refers to herself and all those African- Americans who are victims of discrimination, prejudices and slavish treatments in the society of white Americans.

e.    What is the significance of the words ‘his wings are clipped’?   

Answer: The bird’s wings are clipped, that is, its freedom is taken away. Wings are associated with flight, which in turn is associated with freedom. The words ‘his wings are clipped’ mean that its freedom is forcibly taken away. It cannot fly even if it desires to.

f.      What kind of image does a bird tied to ground represent? What is the true fact of its singing?   

Answer: A bird tied to the ground represents an image completely opposite to its true nature of flight. This represents the fact of alienation of the bird. But the most important thing is that despite being in the utterly despondent predicament, the caged bird opens its throat to sing. That seems to be its only joy and achievement in life.

   

   

The caged bird sings

With fearful trill

Of things unknown

But longed for still

And his tune is heard

On the distant hill

For the caged bird

Sings of freedom

a.    In the earlier extract why does the caged bird show its fury and helplessness?

Answer: The caged bird can not fly freely in the sky. Its vision of freedom is not there as it has to remain behind the bars of the cage. On seeing its pitiable state and the life of a captive, it is filled with rage. Hence, it is furious but at the same time is helpless.

b.   Describe the theme of self-awareness in the context of the extract.

Answer: The bird sings to let anyone one knows that it is straining that is unknown. It desires this unknown

c.    For what does the ‘caged bird’ stand? What does the song of the ‘caged bird’ demonstrate?  
Answer: The caged bird stands for none other than the oppressed blacks who are devoid of liberty and basic human rights.  The black have led hellish, lives full of pains and sufferings, for centuries. The 'caged bird's'song of freedom  demonstration the rage and optimism of blacks that toughen them to endure.

d.   What do the ‘caged birds’ fears signify?
Answer: The 'caged bird's fears are about the uncertainty of achieving freedom in the future.  Its fears reflect those of the black who no more wish to go through the pains of racism. The blacks are scared of the  darkness hanging over the lives of their offspring. 

e.   What do the ‘caged bird’ sing about?
 How is the caged bird different from the ‘five bird?
Answer  : The caged bird sings of freedom something it does not have.  The idea of freedom is its dream which can never be fulfilled. According to the poetess, the caged bird has to  remain in the cage forever as its wings are clipped and the feet are tied. It can only aspire to have a flight in the sky whereas the free bird has fully liberty to fly in the sky at its own will. 

f.      Why does the ‘caged bird’s’ voice waver while singing for its freedom?  
Answer: While signing for its freedom, the caged birds voice waves as it has nevar known what freedom tastes like and it also feels uncertainty about its freedom. It fears that its hope and aspiration of achieving freedom may be unfulfilled. 

g.    Where is the voice of the ‘caged bird’ heard? What is the impact of it?
Answer: The voice of the caged bird can be heard from distant places, on hills where it enlightens and inspires the others to dream of freedom. The caged bird does not sing of sadness, but of hope, inspiration and of freedom. 

h.   What does the singing of the ‘caged bird’ symbolise?  
Answer: The caged bird knows its strength and uses it for expressing its rebellion by singing. The singing symbolizes of its rebellion against oppression. The song divulges its hope and inner strength.