Submitted by: Submitted by amishra
Views: 724
Words: 523
Pages: 3
Category: English Composition
Date Submitted: 10/25/2011 03:45 PM
STANZA 1
The caged bird signifies a black person wishing for freedom. The author mentions the free bird because this is what the caged bird wants to do when its free, and what it thinks free birds do. Leaping on the back of the wind floating downstream signifies a black person wanting to run away. This person is dreaming to one day have a free chance in the world and “daring to claim the sky.”
STANZA 2
The BIRD is an African American slave who is stuck in a cage (slavery). This stanza tells the story of about the slave who is stuck in slavery and the bird is angry that he is enslaved for no apparent reason as the bird thinks. He/she stalks down his narrow cage, symbolizing the slave who has very little freedoms and “space to walk” and is perusing his life. The caged bird can’t see outside his cage because of his bars of rage, which symbolize that he/she can’t see the bright side of life because he/she feels completely consumed by the anger and evils of slavery. His/her wings are clipped and his feet are tied, mainly saying that he is enslaved and can’t move any limb freely. He opens his mouth to sing, and express his voice and show how beautiful his/her voice is and he/she is no less than the whites. There is no musical poem in this stanza, but the word bird is capitalized in the poem to give emphasis on the word bird.
STANZA 4
The “free bird” is a man that lives in freedom. He is the opposite of the caged bird. He has all the luxuries of life even if it doesn’t seem like it. Compared to the caged bird or the enslaved/ black man, the free bird has it all. He is able to live in the moment and enjoy all of the pleasures in life. He constantly thinks of his next adventure or quest. The sky is literally the limit for this man and he can set his goals and dreams as high as he wants to.
STANZA 5
The BIRD is an African American slave who is stuck in a cage (slavery). This stanza tells the story of about the slave who is stuck in slavery and the bird is angry...