Caged Bird Summary & Analysis
"Caged Bird" was published in Maya Angelou's 1983 poetry collection Shaker, Why Don't You Sing? The poem describes the opposing experiences between two birds: one bird is able to live in nature as it pleases, while a different caged bird suffers in captivity. Due to its profound suffering, the caged bird sings, both to cope with its circumstances and to express its own longing for freedom. Using the extended metaphor of the two birds, Angelou paints a critical portrait of oppression in which she illuminates the privilege and entitlement of the un-oppressed, and conveys the simultaneous experience of suffering and emotional resilience. In particular, the poem's extended metaphor can be seen as portraying the experience of being a member of the African American community.
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The Full Text of “Caged Bird”
The Full Text of “Caged Bird”
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“Caged Bird” Summary
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“Caged Bird” Themes
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Oppression and the African-American Experience
Where this theme appears in the poem:- Lines 8-14
- Lines 15-22
- Lines 27-38
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Freedom vs. Captivity
Where this theme appears in the poem:- Lines 1-38
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Freedom as a Universal and Natural Right
Where this theme appears in the poem:- Lines 15-22
- Lines 31-38
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Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “Caged Bird”
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Lines 1-7
A free bird ...
... claim the sky. -
Lines 8-14
But a bird ...
... throat to sing. -
Lines 15-22
The caged bird ...
... sings of freedom. -
Lines 23-26
The free bird ...
... sky his own -
Lines 27-30
But a caged ...
... throat to sing. -
Lines 31-38
The caged bird ...
... sings of freedom.
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“Caged Bird” Symbols
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The Cage
Where this symbol appears in the poem:- Line 9: “narrow cage”
- Line 11: “his bars of rage”
- Line 15: “caged”
- Line 21: “caged”
- Line 27: “caged”
- Line 31: “caged”
- Line 37: “caged”
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The Free and Caged Birds
Where this symbol appears in the poem:- Lines 1-38
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Music
Where this symbol appears in the poem:- Line 14: “so he opens his throat to sing.”
- Lines 15-22: “The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still / and his tune is heard / on the distant hill / for the caged bird / sings of freedom.”
- Line 30: “so he opens his throat to sing.”
- Lines 31-38: “The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still / and his tune is heard / on the distant hill / for the caged bird / sings of freedom.”
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“Caged Bird” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language
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Allusion
Where allusion appears in the poem:- Line 1: “A free bird”
- Line 7: “and dares to claim the sky”
- Line 14: “so he opens his throat to sing.”
- Line 15: “The caged bird sings”
- Lines 21-22: “for the caged bird / sings of freedom.”
- Line 23: “The free bird thinks of another breeze”
- Line 24: “and the trade winds”
- Line 26: “and he names the sky his own”
- Lines 30-31: “so he opens his throat to sing. / The caged bird sings”
- Lines 37-38: “for the caged bird / sings of freedom.”
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Assonance
Where assonance appears in the poem:- Line 1: “ee,” “ea”
- Line 4: “e,” “e”
- Line 5: “i,” “i,” “i”
- Line 6: “i,” “a”
- Line 7: “ai”
- Line 11: “i”
- Line 12: “i,” “i,” “i”
- Line 13: “i”
- Line 14: “o,” “o,” “i,” “oa,” “i”
- Line 15: “i”
- Line 16: “i,” “i”
- Line 17: “i,” “u”
- Line 18: “u,” “i”
- Line 19: “i,” “i”
- Line 20: “i,” “i”
- Line 22: “i”
- Line 23: “ee,” “i,” “ee”
- Line 25: “o,” “a,” “a”
- Line 27: “a,” “a”
- Line 29: “i,” “i,” “i,” “i”
- Line 30: “o,” “e,” “o,” “i,” “roa,” “i”
- Line 31: “i”
- Line 32: “i”
- Line 33: “i,” “u”
- Line 34: “u,” “i”
- Line 35: “i,” “i”
- Line 36: “i,” “i”
- Line 38: “i”
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Consonance
Where consonance appears in the poem:- Line 1: “r,” “b,” “r”
- Line 2: “th,” “b,” “th,” “w,” “n,” “d”
- Line 3: “n,” “d,” “t,” “s,” “d,” “w,” “n,” “s,” “t”
- Line 4: “t,” “n,” “t,” “n,” “d”
- Line 5: “n,” “d,” “d,” “w”
- Line 6: “n,” “r,” “n,” “n,” “r,” “s”
- Line 7: “d,” “d,” “r,” “s,” “c,” “sk”
- Line 8: “B,” “t,” “b,” “t,” “s,” “t,” “k,” “s”
- Line 9: “w,” “n,” “n,” “w,” “c”
- Line 10: “c,” “n,” “s,” “s”
- Line 11: “h,” “s,” “r,” “s,” “r”
- Line 12: “h,” “s,” “s,” “r,” “d ,” “d”
- Line 13: “h,” “t,” “t”
- Line 14: “s,” “h,” “s,” “h,” “s,” “t,” “t,” “s”
- Line 15: “d,” “r,” “d”
- Line 16: “th,” “f,” “r,” “f,” “l,” “r,” “ll”
- Line 17: “th,” “n,” “g,” “n,” “n,” “n”
- Line 18: “t,” “n,” “g,” “t”
- Line 19: “n,” “h,” “s,” “t,” “n,” “s,” “h,” “d”
- Line 20: “n,” “d,” “t,” “n,” “t,” “h”
- Line 21: “r,” “d,” “r,” “d”
- Line 22: “f,” “f,” “r,” “d”
- Line 23: “Th,” “f,” “r,” “b,” “r,” “th,” “th,” “r,” “b,” “r”
- Line 24: “n,” “d,” “tr,” “d,” “n,” “d,” “s,” “s,” “th,” “gh,” “th,” “s,” “gh,” “tr,” “s”
- Line 25: “n,” “t,” “w,” “w,” “t,” “n,” “n,” “t,” “n”
- Line 26: “n,” “h,” “n,” “s,” “h,” “s,” “n”
- Line 27: “B,” “t,” “d,” “b,” “r,” “d,” “t,” “n,” “d,” “s,” “n,” “r,” “r,” “s”
- Line 28: “s,” “sh,” “sh,” “t,” “s,” “n,” “n,” “t,” “m,” “r,” “s,” “r,” “m”
- Line 29: “h,” “s,” “s,” “r,” “d,” “d,” “h,” “s,” “t,” “r,” “t,” “d”
- Line 30: “s,” “h,” “s,” “h,” “s,” “t,” “t,” “s”
- Line 31: “d,” “r,” “d”
- Line 32: “th,” “f,” “r,” “f,” “l,” “r,” “ll”
- Line 33: “f,” “th,” “n,” “g,” “n,” “n,” “n”
- Line 34: “t,” “ng,” “t”
- Line 35: “n,” “h,” “s,” “t,” “n,” “s,” “h,” “d”
- Line 36: “n,” “d,” “t,” “t,” “h”
- Line 37: “r,” “d,” “r,” “d”
- Line 38: “f,” “f,” “d”
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Refrain
Where refrain appears in the poem:- Lines 12-13: “his wings are clipped and / his feet are tied”
- Line 14: “so he opens his throat to sing.”
- Lines 15-22: “The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still / and his tune is heard / on the distant hill / for the caged bird / sings of freedom.”
- Line 29: “his wings are clipped and his feet are tied”
- Line 30: “so he opens his throat to sing.”
- Lines 31-38: “The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still / and his tune is heard / on the distant hill / for the caged bird / sings of freedom.”
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Pathetic Fallacy
Where pathetic fallacy appears in the poem:- Line 7: “dares to claim the sky”
- Line 11: “his bars of rage”
- Line 15: “The caged bird sings”
- Lines 16-18: “with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still”
- Lines 21-22: “for the caged bird / sings of freedom.”
- Lines 23-24: “The free bird thinks of another breeze / and / soft through the sighing trees”
- Line 24: “ the trade winds”
- Line 26: “he names the sky his own”
- Line 27: “But ”
- Lines 27-28: “a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams / his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream”
- Lines 31-34: “The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still”
- Lines 37-38: “for the caged bird / sings of freedom.”
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Juxtaposition
Where juxtaposition appears in the poem:- Lines 1-14
- Lines 15-22
- Lines 23-30
- Lines 31-38
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Imagery
Where imagery appears in the poem:- Lines 1-7
- Lines 8-14
- Lines 19-20
- Lines 23-26
- Lines 27-30
- Lines 35-36
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Repetition
Where repetition appears in the poem:- Line 1: “A free bird”
- Line 7: “dares to claim the sky.”
- Line 8: “But a bird”
- Line 11: “his”
- Line 12: “his”
- Line 13: “his”
- Line 15: “The caged bird”
- Line 23: “The free bird”
- Line 24: “and”
- Line 25: “and”
- Line 26: “and,” “names the sky his own”
- Line 27: “But a caged bird”
- Line 28: “his”
- Line 29: “his”
- Line 31: “The caged bird”
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Enjambment
Where enjambment appears in the poem:- Lines 1-2: “leaps / on”
- Lines 3-4: “downstream / till”
- Lines 5-6: “wing / in”
- Lines 8-9: “stalks / down”
- Lines 9-10: “cage / can”
- Lines 10-11: “through / his”
- Lines 12-13: “and / his”
- Lines 15-16: “sings / with”
- Lines 16-17: “trill / of”
- Lines 17-18: “unknown / but”
- Lines 19-20: “heard / on”
- Lines 21-22: “bird / sings”
- Lines 31-32: “sings / with”
- Lines 32-33: “trill / of”
- Lines 33-34: “unknown / but”
- Lines 35-36: “heard / on”
- Lines 37-38: “bird / sings”
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Extended Metaphor
Where extended metaphor appears in the poem:- Lines 1-38
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End-Stopped Line
Where end-stopped line appears in the poem:- Line 2: “wind”
- Line 4: “ends”
- Line 6: “rays”
- Line 7: “sky.”
- Line 11: “rage”
- Line 13: “tied”
- Line 14: “sing.”
- Line 18: “still”
- Line 20: “hill”
- Line 22: “freedom.”
- Line 23: “breeze”
- Line 24: “trees”
- Line 25: “lawn”
- Line 26: “own”
- Line 27: “dreams”
- Line 28: “scream”
- Line 29: “tied”
- Line 30: “sing.”
- Line 34: “still”
- Line 36: “hill”
- Line 38: “freedom.”
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Alliteration
Where alliteration appears in the poem:- Line 1: “f,” “b”
- Line 2: “b”
- Line 3: “f,” “d”
- Line 5: “d”
- Line 7: “d”
- Line 8: “B,” “b”
- Line 9: “c”
- Line 10: “c,” “s,” “s”
- Line 12: “c”
- Line 14: “h,” “h”
- Line 19: “h,” “h”
- Line 20: “h”
- Line 23: “b,” “b”
- Line 24: “t,” “r,” “s,” “s,” “tr”
- Line 25: “w,” “w”
- Line 27: “B,” “b”
- Line 28: “sh,” “sh”
- Line 30: “h,” “h”
- Line 35: “h,” “h”
- Line 36: “h”
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“Caged Bird” Vocabulary
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
- Back
- Current
- Stalks
- Clipped
- Trill
- Trade winds
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(Location in poem: Line 2: “back”)
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Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Caged Bird”
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Form
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Meter
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Rhyme Scheme
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“Caged Bird” Speaker
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“Caged Bird” Setting
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Literary and Historical Context of “Caged Bird”
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More “Caged Bird” Resources
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External Resources
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Biography — A brief biography of Maya Angelou by Poetry Foundation.
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Oprah Interview — A video clip of Maya Angelou being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in 1993
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Performance — Video of Maya Angelou performing and reading her work.
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"Sympathy" — Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem, which inspired Angelou's image of the "caged bird."
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Inaugural Poem — A clip of Maya Angelou reading "Still I Rise" at the presidential inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1993.
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LitCharts on Other Poems by Maya Angelou
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