I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS

  (I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS) 

Q1) Describe the movement of the free bird.  

The bird is leaping on the “back of the wind”, demonstrating the freedom it  experience to move and freely glide through the air. The bird flies along with the  flow of the current. He floats and moves along till the current of the wind ends.  Then he suddenly lowers its wings in the “sea of orange sunlight” and with a push  moves up in the sky........  

  (I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS) 

Q1) Describe the movement of the free bird.  

The bird is leaping on the “back of the wind”, demonstrating the freedom it  experience to move and freely glide through the air. The bird flies along with the  flow of the current. He floats and moves along till the current of the wind ends.  Then he suddenly lowers its wings in the “sea of orange sunlight” and with a push  moves up in the sky.  

Q2) What is the condition of the bird described in the second stanza?  

The caged bird is seen to be angry with the situation. It desires with all its heart to  escape its plight. But the caged bird cannot see beyond his cage. Its wings are  clipped, its freedom has been taken away. Wings are associated with flight, which  in turn is associated with freedom. It cannot fly even if it desires and its feet are  tied. He is resentful, for this unfair captivation as birds fly freely in the sky. This  represents the fact of alienation of the bird. But despite its predicament, the  caged bird opens his throat to sing.  

Q3) What does the caged bird sing about? What is the irony about his singing?  Why does he sing with a fearful “trill”? 

The caged bird sings in a wavering and fearful voice. He is singing of freedom  which he does not have. He sings for a better life. The caged bird singing is ironic.  However the words “fearful” and “trill” make us realize that it is not a happy song.  He sings in a voice filled with fear. The caged bird has never known what freedom  tastes but hopes to have it for his own. His voice can be heard from distant places,  on hills where it inspires others of freedom.  

Q4) “The free bird thinks of another breeze”. What is meant by another breeze?  

The phrase “another breeze” implies that the free bird thinks of a flight in a  different air current. He dreams of another breeze, another land and of the trade  winds and the fat worms, thus implying the opportunities that it has. The bird is  not contented and is greedy to have more freedom. 

Q5) What does “fat worms waiting” mean?  

The free bird thinks of the fat worm that will be his food. The word “fat” denote  its availability in plenty. The fat worm is a metaphor for rich food that are waiting  on a “dawn bright lawn” and plenty of opportunities that are available for the free bird.  

Q6) Where does the caged bird stand? What is “grave”, a symbol of?  

The caged bird stands on the grave of dreams. Grave is a symbol of death. It is a  dark, somber image indicating the slavery and inability to exercise one’s freedom  of choice. The aspirations and desires of the bird are suppressed by the sorrowful  captivity of the choice.  

Q7) In contrast to the caged bird, what does the free bird have?  

The poem is a contrast between a “free bird” and “caged bird”. The caged bird’s  wings are clipped and its feet are tied. He hardly gets a chance to see the sky.  Despite his fears, the caged bird continues to sing because his desire for freedom  and his desire to express himself cannot be controlled. The free bird thinks of  another breeze and the “fat worms waiting on the dawn bright lawn”.  

Q8) The poetess has repeated the third stanza at the end of the poem. What is  her purpose and what does she achieve by this?  

The poet uses repetition as a poetic device to emphasize the importance of  freedom. It gives us an opportunity to reflect that the two birds are different.  

Q9) What does the poet want to convey by the contrast between the two birds?  

The poet wants to convey two different birds as metaphors for people free from  oppression and people who are oppressed in society. The free bird has the  freedom of choice and opportunities. He can enjoy the “sighing trees”, float with  the trade winds and is free to find his own food, the fat worms waiting for him. In  contrast to this the caged bird is in a state of slavery. It chooses to sing as this is  the only freedom available to him that he can enjoy without any restriction. His  wings are clipped, his feet are tied but he can sing of freedom. This is something  the poet had felt at heart and that is why she uses the title “I know why the caged  bird sing. 

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