Literary Analysis Of Maya Angelous Caged Bird - 1341 Words

â€Å"Caged Bird Analysis† â€Å"Equal rights, fair play, justice, are all like air: we all have it, or none of us has it.† This quote was taken by the poet Maya Angelou, who stressed the idea of equality in many of her works. One of her poems being, â€Å"Caged Bird.† In the poem the poet references two birds; one who is trapped in a cage, and the other bird who is free. Growing up as an African American in the 1920’s Angelou faced many hardships. She suffered many racial prejudices, and her writing reflects how cruel her society was. When Angelou was younger, a traumatic event happened that left her mute for many years. However, Angelou was very courageous, and nothing could stop her from doing what she loved—poetry. Angelou was inspired by authors†¦show more content†¦The caged bird has been trapped inside of its cage for a long time now, and recognizes its cage as, â€Å"a nightmare.† It still however seeks freedom, by using its voice. The final stanza is a repe at of the third stanza. The tone that is used in the poem stays the same throughout. Angelou would reference the free bird in order for the reader to really comprehend the pain that the caged bird was going through. This would then create tension in the poem. The tension in the poem is caused by the changes of perspectives, which overall deals with an external conflict. This conflict includes the struggle between the caged bird and the barrier that is keeping it hostage. The bird in the cage has a voice, which is being ignored. The free bird also attracts tension by, being the exact opposite from the caged bird. The free bird is very â€Å"joyous,† while on the other-hand the caged bird is completely â€Å"miserable.† Angelou also uses meaning, and word choice to help contribute to the theme of the poem. Some of the connotations in the poem have a big impact on the message, and understanding of the poem. For example, the word â€Å"caged,† has a negative connot ation. The word â€Å"free,† has a positive connotation. Beyond their literal meaning, these words deal with the outside world. The word â€Å"caged,†Show MoreRelatedI Know Why The Caged Bird Sings1482 Words   |  6 Pages Maya Angelou tells of her life experiences and struggles in her book â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings† that gives us insight about Maya’s life as a young black girl growing up in a time of racism. The novel discusses various forms of oppression that she had to face as well cope with them. Robert A. Gross wrote an analysis for Newsweek about the book and claimed that Angelou’s book is not only an interesting story of her own experience, but also a portrayal of a Southern black communityRead MoreMaya Angelou: A Model Woman Through Influential Literature Essay1708 Words   |  7 Pagessociety itself. Maya Angelou is a great example of the model woman. She has beaten the odds and has become one of the most well know n African American women of today. She is an author, poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, dancer, stage and screen producer, director, performer, singer, and civil rights activist. Her most influential work comes from her extraordinary books and poems. Her literature has influenced the young and old with their contents. Maya Angelous literary significance restsRead MoreWhy Should Anybody Care?1198 Words   |  5 PagesDOK 1 The concluding section of any written piece that you create is your final chance to make your point. Whether the point is to convince the audience to agree with your perspective, compare and contrast two different texts, or to describe the literary elements that an author used to create his/her text(s), the conclusion should tie everything together. Concluding sections do many jobs, such as: summarizing your points/arguments, restating the purpose of your essay, and connecting to your reader(s)Read MoreMaya Angelou’s Unique Self Essay2562 Words   |  11 Pageschildhood (Angelou, 2009, p.20). In Maya Angelou’s autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, she recounts her early years as a young girl growing up in Stamps, Arkansas who faces displacement, trauma, and prejudice. It is through her character and artistic expression that she is able to overcome the trauma of her childhood and evolve into the distinguished and unique individual that has captivated millions through literature. In her book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Angelou reflects on theRead More Censorship in the Classroom Essay2774 Words   |  12 Pages The Hobbit and Sounder, and My Brother Sam Is Dead, along with the classics. None of these books ruined my innocence. When I was date-raped the summer I was sixteen -- that ruined my innocence. Since then, I read that Maya Angelous novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings has been censored because the rape of eight-year-old Ritie by her mothers boyfriend, Mr. Freeman, is too pornographic. In Moulton, Alabama, the novel was banned in December, 1995, after the superintendent said, When