I know Why The Caged Bird Sings - Workbook Answers Of Treasure Trove Of Poems - Evergreen Publication

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is a free verse written by the American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou is widely regarded as the “Black Woman’s Poet Laureate.” Her reflections on the society and the times she lived in are vividly expressed in her poetry.

Extract 1

(i) In the opening lines, the poet describes the world of nature to be beautiful. She further describes its beauty, why stating that it is evening, and the whole sky is orange in color, with a beautiful sunset accompanying it, making the whole scene breathtaking.

(ii) According to the poet, the sun symbolizes freedom, the sky symbolizes glory and the wind symbolizes power in her poem.

(iii) The bird described in this stanza is free, representing the white American which is free to do anything and does not have to face any racial discrimination, as the free bird here, can fly in the sky without any restriction, and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

(iv) The free bird is a metaphor for the white Americans, that are not bounded by prejudice and racism, and can enjoy their life to the fullest, as the free bird can take another flight in the beautiful orange sky just like the white American can enjoy their freedom.

(v) The caged bird behaves abnormally and cries like one who has had a nightmare. It acts like this, as a person without freedom always acts abnormally, for the state of captivity is abnormal.


Extract-2

(i)  The free bird claims the sky it's own, as it has the right to so. The free bird is not restricted in any way, neither there is anything preventing him from doing so. It can enjoy freedom, unlike the caged bird.

(ii) The encaged bird behaves abnormally and cries like one who has had a nightmare. It acts like this, as a person without freedom always acts abnormally, for the state of captivity is abnormal. (This question is a straight repetition of ques. (v) from Passage-1)

(iii) No, his state of captivity is not normal, as it is a living being, and a living being should not be kept in captivity without any viable reason. It is a crime to restrict freedom to any living being. Living beings are meant to explore, enjoy life, and most importantly, enjoy freedom.

(iv) The 'bars of rage' stands for the bars of the cage that the bird is kept in. It is angry and is screaming in agony due to not being able to fly and enjoy the things that the free bird can, which is why his cage is being referred to this.

(v) The caged bird is shown to be afraid of many unknown dangers of freedom, but in spite of all this, it still opens its mouth to sing for freedom, and his song is heard far and wide. The caged bird also screams in agony after this, in a frightening tone, due to not being able to experience freedom.


Extract-3

(i) The poet reveals the plight of the caged bird in the second stanza, by gradually describing its situation in detail. The poet states how the bird's wings are clipped, and how this bird is captured in a small cage where is movement is very hard. The poet also describes its emotions, stating its anger, and fear. (plight means 'unfortunate situation')

(ii) The encaged bird is fearful of many unknown dangers that he might come across when he gets freedom. Although, in the end, the caged bird is shown to get past this fear, and yearn for his freedom.

(iii) This line means that although this bird is captured in a narrow cage, and has to experience so much mental pain due to its current situation, it still sings for his freedom, and his voice is heard far and wide. This symbolizes that the voice of an oppressed person can never be silenced, and his heard everywhere.

(iv) This line means that although the bird is struggling very hard to get his freedom, it is at the same time, afraid of the many dangers that might come with freedom. It fears those possible unknown dangers, but in the end, overcomes its fear.

(v) I get the idea, that although the African-American had to suffer years of racism, prejudice, and discrimination, they will still manage to win their fight for freedom, and make their voices of struggle heard everywhere in the world, which they did.



Extract-4

(i) The 'bars of rage' symbolizes the bars of the cage that the bird is captured in. These are the bars, that are restricting the movement of the bird inside, due to them being so much narrow.

(ii) This phrase represents the fact that the free bird can take another flight in the sky and fly with the breeze, as it is free to do so. It can enjoy his freedom.

(iii) The 'trade winds' symbolize the fact that the free bird can take another flight in the sky against the wind. The 'fat worms' indirectly represent that the free bird can also find its own food since it has got freedom.

(iv) He 'names the sky his own' as it has every right to do so. It has the right to enjoy life, and enjoy the freedom to the fullest. He is not restricted by anyone from not doing so and does not have to face captivity.

(v) The poet beautifully handles this topic by using symbolization, metaphors, and imagery to describe each bird and its situation, whilst at the same time, also highlighting the evil of racism in American society.