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| I Know Why The Caged Bird Sing - Evergreen Publication |
Comprehension (Unsolved Passages)
Passage 1
(1) The poet describes the natural beauty of the sunset. The free bird (suggestive of a white American) leaps on the back of the wind, that is, he flies and sways with the wind in the evening against the orange sky. He has the right to claim the sky. As he flies, he dips his wings downstream.
(ii) The sun, the sky and the wind symbolically represent freedom, free space and power respectively.
(iii) The poet describes the free bird which leaps on the back of the wind, that is, he flies and sways with the wind in the evening against the orange sky. As he flies, he dips his wings downstream. The description creates the image of the free bird.
(iv) The free bird a metaphor for the white American. The white American, like the free bird, enjoys all the freedom, privileges, luxuries and leisure.
(V) The caged bird can hardly move in his narrow cage and see through his 'bars of rage'. He is in anger but is helpless. He only opens his mouth to sing, as no one can stop him from doing so. Thus the caged bird cannot have a glimpse of the sky. He behaves in this way because his wings are clipped and his feet are tied.
Passage 2
(1) The free bird that leaps on the back of the wind flies and sways with the wind in the evening against the orange sky. He claims the sky as he flies and dips his wings downstream.
(ii) The encaged bird feels miserable in the cage. He can hardly move in his narrow cage and see through his 'bars of rage'. He is very angry but is helpless. He only opens his mouth to sing as no one can stop him from doing so. Thus the caged bird cannot have a glimpse of the sky
(iii) No. The caged bird is a metaphor for the African-American who does not have the same liberty and equality as the white American has. The African-American faces racial discrimination in America. He is denied basic rights. There are several restrictions on him in the society. Thus his state of captivity is not natural. He is forced to live in captivity.
(iv) The caged bird is kept in a cage which is made of metal or wooden bars. These bars prevent his free movement. When he is denied free movement, he gets angry. (Here it stands for restrictions and discriminations). The caged bird can hardly move in his narrow cage and see through the 'bars of rage'. So he is angry but helpless.
(V) The encaged bird sings about freedom. His voice is heard far and wide as he sings of freedom. His song contains his longing for freedom and equality. The poet means to say that the black Americans long for freedom and equality. They oppose restrictions imposed on them. They hate suppression.
Passage 3
(1) The encaged bird is afraid of many unknown things. His condition is miserable. His wings are clipped and his feet are tied. He can hardly move in his cage and see through the bars of his captivity. He is angry but helpless. Though he is afraid, he gives expression to his dream of freedom. His voice is heard far and wide as he sings of freedom.
(ii) The encaged bird is fearful of many unknown things. But this fear does not prevent him from giving expression to his dream of freedom.
(ii) Though the encaged bird is afraid of many unknown fears, he does not stop from giving expression to his dream of freedom. His voice is heard far and wide as he sings of freedom. Here the poet wants to convey that the voice of the oppressed people, their longings and aspirations cannot be suppressed. No fear can stifle their voice; rather their voice is now heard in distant countries.
(iv) The encaged bird is fearful of many unknown things, but still he gives expression to his dream of freedom. The poet means to say that the African-American (the encaged bird) leads a fearful life because he is a victim of oppression, exploitation, racism, inequality and discrimination. Though fearful, he continues to give expression to his dream of freedom.
(V) We find that the voice of the oppressed people, their longings and aspirations cannot be suppressed. No fear can stifle this voice; rather this voice is now heard in distant countries. Though he is fearful of many unknown fears, he continues to give expression to his dream of freedom and equality.
Passage 4
(1) The caged bird confined in a metal cage feels helpless and miserable. Denied his freedom of movement he is angry with the social restrictions of racial discrimination imposed on him.
(ii) 'Another breeze' is the atmosphere of free movement in which the American enjoys all opportunities of growth and advancement.
(ill) The free bird who has total freedom can go an another flight with another bird and can have a satisfactory look on fat worms which he can easily devour. He has all the world before him to provide him all amenities.
(iv) Such is the freedom being enjoyed by the free bird that he can fly wherever he wants and claim the entire sky his own.
(V) The two birds present two ideas : the free bird is a metaphor for a white American and the caged bird for an African-American. The contrast between the two underlines the plight of the encaged bird suffering racism, gender inequality and powerdessness.
Passage 5
(1) This line contrasts what happened to the patriot a year ago with what is happening to him now. A year ago he was honoured like a hero when he entered his city. Now he is leaving the city in great humiliation and insult.
(ii) If the patriot had died of excess of joy a year ago, as some people do, he would not have to face the present humiliation. But then God would not have cared for him thinking that he had been amply rewarded on the earth for his good deeds.
(iii) Though he is being led to the gallows, it is ironic that he feels safer than ever before. He feels that now God will reward him for his good deeds in the other world.
(iv) There is an irony of situation involved here. The patriot is unsafe as he is being mercilessly treated and led to the execution site. It is amusing that he feels safe.
(v) The patriot is optimistic that he will be rewarded by God. Such optimism on the verge of a cruel death seems to be somewhat unrealistic. Ordinary persons do cry or feel sad when taken to the gallows.
Assignment: Class Activity.
