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An analysis of Maya Angelou’s Poem, “Cage Bird”, , Maya Angelou was a Black American poet and Civil rights activist, born in the late 1920s. She was respected as a spokesperson for black, people in general and women in particular, and her works have been, considered as a defence of America’s black culture. The Birds are a

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popular symbol in poetry, which were used as an expression of, freedom by the Romantics and sometimes symbolized poetry itself., Maya Angelou deviates from the norm by not only speaking about the, bird’s freedom but also conveying its sorrow and rage., The caged bird is a symbol of the plight of Black American people. Its, song is a reference to how slaves in the 19th century came together at, Congo Square to sing as a way of remembering their heritage. The bars of, rage on the caged bird’s cage is supposed to represent the bird’s blinding, anger at being locked up., The free bird is the polar opposite of its caged counterpart and serves to, highlight everything the caged bird lacks. The free bird has the freedom, to do what a person would believe birds enjoy. The free bird is able to do, whatever it pleases, which is in sharp contrast to the caged bird which, can only ever hope for freedom., In the first stanza, Maya Angelou presents the free bird. The strong verbs, used are supposed to convey how static the free bird is, and how it never, seems to stay in one place. The free bird claims the sky as its own for it, never had anything else to share it with. Maya Angelou uses the two, narratives to create a jarring contrast. The condition of the cage bird, seems even more distressing next to the joy and happiness of the free, bird’s life., The second stanza changes the atmosphere completely. Its main focus is, on the caged bird and its pain as being confined. The cage’s narrow form, shows how limiting its confines are as opposed to the openness of the, free bird’s sky. The bars of rage refers to how due to its anger and pain,, the caged bird can barely see past its sorrow. The clipped wings and, bound feet are supposed to show how it’s freedom was taken away from, it. The line where the bird opens his mouth to sing is a turning point in

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the stanza as it is the only thing that the bird can do willingly. The, change to the dark mood of the cage bird’s narrative is made all the move, jarring by the considerably lighter mood of the first stanza., The third stanza goes deeper into the caged bird’s song. The bird sings, with fear and apprehension for it doesn’t wish to live the rest of its life in, such a confined manner. The next two lines of things unknown and, longed for still is a paradox, for someone cannot long for something they, do not know. Here, Angelou is referring to the way someone who was, captive all his life would yearn for freedom. It states that it is an innate, emotion to have control over one’s self even if the person in question has, never had the chance to feel that way. The caged bird’s song reaching far, enough to the distant hill is a metaphor for how calls of justice are always, heard, but not always reciprocated., In the fourth stanza, the free bird thinks of things that the caged bird has, never experienced and has had the privilege to enjoy them. The fat, worms mentioned could be seen as a kind of privilege along with the, dawn bright lawn because they seem there just to serve the free bird’s, desires. By naming the sky his own, the free bird states that there is no, other being that is obliged to share it with. This aligns with the, preconceived notion that some groups of people are born with rights, over others., In the fifth stanza, the tone shifts yet again from the free bird’s bright, imagery to the chilling narrative of the caged bird. The grave of dreams, refers to all the hopes the caged bird might have had at an earlier age, than now seems irrelevant or impossible at its current stage. The caged, bird’s shadow is a personification of his powerlessness. The nightmare, problem refers to a small part of the caged bird that fears it will never be, released. The caged bird continues to sing despite its wavering resilience,

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showing that it’s beliefs that life will get better and will continue to, persist., The final stanza is a repeat of the third, which delves into the bird’s, song. The bird cries out about freedom, but it’s never stated if its, cries are ever heard by its free-flying twin., , Caged Bird Themes, The main themes in “Caged Bird” are freedom and confinement, artistic, expression as resistance, and civil rights., •, , Freedom and confinement: As its title indicates, “Caged Bird” is concerned, with both imprisonment and the innate urge for freedom., , •, , Artistic expression as resistance: Despite being confined, the caged bird’s, song is able to extend far past his physical conditions, thus serving as an apt, metaphor for artistic expression even under oppression., , •, , Civil rights: “Caged Bird” can be fruitfully read as a poem that expresses, the ongoing need for equality, particularly for Black Americans., , Themes, Freedom and ConfinementThe principal theme of “Caged Bird” is freedom—, and the lack thereof. Angelou establishes freedom as the poem’s primary, concern by using the word multiple times as she describes both of the birds,, and the poem’s alternating stanzas contrast the “free bird” with the “caged, bird.” The words “free” or “freedom” appear four times (in stanzas one,, three, four, and six). “Cage” or “caged” appears even more frequently, (seven times, including the title and stanzas two, three, four, and five)., , Angelou writes of both physical and conceptual freedom. The caged bird is, not physically free—“his wings are clipped and / his feet are tied”—yet his, desire for freedom is so powerful that his song of yearning is heard even “on, the distant hill.” Though freedom is “unknown” to the caged bird, the poem, suggests it is only natural for him to desire it, as all living creatures do. This, inherent longing for freedom highlights the cruelty of the caged bird’s, imprisonment, particularly when juxtaposed with the free bird’s happy, obliviousness and sense of ownership over the sky through which he “leaps”

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and “floats.” That one bird should be free and one needlessly caged is an, injustice that remains unresolved at the poem’s conclusion, pointing to the, injustice and inequality that remain unredressed in society., The poem’s elaboration on the multiple dimensions of freedom is achieved, seamlessly through the descriptions of the birds, one in flight and the other, with wings clipped. Birds are particularly suited to this metaphor, as the, natural condition of most birds is to fly. Further, the symbol of the, imprisoned bird’s cage is connected to various negative emotions,, particularly “rage.”, Artistic Expression as Resistance, Through the plight of the caged bird, Angelou conveys the resilience, dignity,, and power of the oppressed. The caged bird rages against the injustice of his, physical imprisonment, but still he “sings of freedom.” The repetition of this, song (expressed in stanzas three and six) evokes the ongoing nature of the, caged bird’s struggle while also suggesting that he will continue to sing and, persevere, no matter the hopelessness of his situation., Though the caged bird is physically imprisoned, the poem does not suggest, that he is powerless. Freedom of speech and expression are conveyed, primarily through the word “sing,” which is used four times, including the, repeated phrase “sings of freedom.” Singing, in this respect, can be seen as, a symbol for free expression, especially free artistic expression. The use of, the words “sing,” “tune,” and “trill,” all words associated with music, help to, convey the power of art to liberate., Further, even though the caged bird is himself imprisoned, the poem, emphasizes that his song is able to go beyond his physical confines, even to, the point of being heard “on the distant hill.” The power of artistic creation, to communicate—to move beyond a single consciousness, influencing and, impacting others—is crucial, particularly to one whose physical body is, confined. There is clear political power in this communication. The caged, bird...