“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”Maya Angelou

Submitted ByVipanjeet Kaur

The Free Bird and the Caged Bird

� In this poem the free bird is a metaphor for the white race-the White Americans whereas the caged bird is a metaphor for the coloured race or the Black Americans. The caged bird cannot go beyond the bars of racial prejudice. Its feet are tied and wings are clipped i.e its freedom has been curtailed. The free bird on the other hand flies high in the sky of new opportunities.

The caged bird

� The caged bird has also been used as a metaphor for depicting enslavement and plight of the African American women as they are doubly caged or oppressed because of their race and gender.

� Thanks - Vipanjeet