Notes_on_I_Know_Why_the_Caged_Bird_Sings

Sound Devices Alliteration - Repeatision of constant sounds at the beginning of words. But the bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage... In this stanza Maya uses alliteration of seldom and see to make the poem more affective. Seldom and see both have the repeated "S" sound. Assonance - Repetition of of vowel sounds in non-rhyming words. ...in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky his own. The repeated "A" sound in orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky is own. Maya makes that sentence flow very well. Rhyme - The occurrence of an identical sound at the ends of two or more words. But the caged bird that stands on the graves of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream. Maya Angelou gives an amazing picture of a caged bird and her shadow screaming. It makes it so much stronger with the two rhyming words. Imagery in "Caged Bird" Throughout the poem Maya Angelou, uses her style of lines and vivid sensory to make the poem, "Caged Bird" come alive. Her imagery helps the reader find the true meaning of the poem. In the second stanza imagery helps us feel the rage of the caged bird. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage Maya helps us feel the anger and frustration that the caged bird feels. We feel the sadness and anger of this bird in a bad situation. We also feel the cold metal bars that confine the caged bird. Another place Maya uses her words to give us a sense of feel is. Maya talks about the free bird that rides the winds and and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn. Maya helps us feel the fat worms. The worms are just waiting for the free bird. And we can feel the bird just devouring the fat juicy worms on a soft shiny lawn. Maya also uses the sense of sound to paint a very vivid picture to help us understand the poem. But a caged bird that stands on the graves of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream Through that stanza we can hear the lonely and distraught caged bird. Maya uses her words to let us hear the sad bird screaming because of the loneliness and hopeless situation the bird is in. Again sense of sound helps Maya paint a vivid picture to help us better understand the meaning of the poem. and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. In this stanza Maya helps us hear with her vivid words. How she writes it we can really sense the caged bird's heart. It knows it will never be free, but he belts out his song so all can hear his pain. The part where she says distant hill, you know that the caged bird is singing loud and far. It is very important to have good imagery in poems. Maya Angelou uses a variety of imagery to support her story in the poem, "Caged Bird". It allows the reader to paint pictures and connect the poem to his or her life. Figurative language Through out the poem, Maya Angelou uses symbolism to connect the caged bird and free bird as humans, to help the reader better understand the true meaning of the poem. The caged bird is a bird that is confined to a life behind bars and knows it will never be free. Just as a man who is burdened by low expectations or is oppressed. He is in a situation in which there is no hope or chance of getting out of the sad and oppressed state. But the free bird is a bird that lives free and happily, that opportunities are limitless and is free to what it wants. Such as man who has a privalliged life in which he can do anything, buy many large and fine houses while the oppressed man is limited to what he has. The symbolism in "Caged Bird" makes it a deeper and personal poem to anyone who reads it. Weather you are the living the rich and famous life or the simple man on the streets, or even an average joe; anyone can connect to this great poem. Denotation/Connotation Denotation - The literal meaning of a word Conotation - The ideas or feelings a word evokes to a person Word Denotation Connotation Cage Anything that confines or imprisons Bars, Trapped, Oppressed, Styfuled Sky The region of the clouds or the upper air; the upper atmosphere of the earth Blue, Heaven, Fluffy, Endless Scream To utter a loud, sharp, piercing cry Aggonised, Horror, Dread, Scared Dream A succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep Hope, Free to Wonder, Yours, Anything Organization Maya Angelou's poem, "Caged Bird" is written in a stanza in which there is a significant amount of end rymme. The way that she uses her vivid, powerful, and great rhymes, just evokes the poem so much more. It brings life and meaning to the words she write, which helps people understand and connect personally to this fantastic poem.