Here, we explain the literacy devices that Maya uses throughout her poems. Here, I will take an example from her poem, "I know why the caged bird sings."
Alliteration - Repeatision of constant sounds at the beginning of words.
But the bird that
stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage...
In this stanza Maya uses alliteration of seldom and see to make the poem more affective.
Seldom and see both have the repeated "S" sound.
Assonance - Repetition of of vowel sounds in non-rhyming words.
...in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky his own.
The repeated "A" sound in orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky is own.
Maya makes that sentence flow very well.
Rhyme - The occurrence of an identical sound at the ends of two or more words.
But the caged bird that stands on the graves of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream.
Maya Angelou gives an amazing picture of a caged bird and her shadow screaming.
It makes it so much stronger with the two rhyming words.
Imagery in "Caged Bird"
Throughout the poem Maya Angelou, uses her style of lines and vivid sensory to make
the poem, "Caged Bird" come alive. Her imagery helps the reader find the true meaning of the poem.
In the second stanza imagery helps us feel the rage of the caged bird.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
Maya helps us feel the anger and frustration that the caged bird feels. We
feel the sadness and anger of this bird in a bad situation. We also feel the
cold metal bars that confine the caged bird.
Another place Maya uses her words to give us a sense of feel is.
Maya talks about the free bird that rides the winds and
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn.
Maya helps us feel the fat worms. The worms are
just waiting for the free bird. And we can feel the
bird just devouring the fat juicy worms on a soft shiny lawn.
Maya also uses the sense of sound to paint a very vivid picture to help
us understand the poem.
But a caged bird that stands on the graves of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
Through that stanza we can hear the lonely and distraught
caged bird. Maya uses her words to let us hear the sad
bird screaming because of the loneliness and hopeless situation the bird is in.
Again sense of sound helps Maya paint a vivid picture to help
us better understand the meaning of the poem.
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
In this stanza Maya helps us hear with her vivid words. How she
writes it we can really sense the caged bird's heart. It knows it will
never be free, but he belts out his song so all can hear his pain. The
part where she says distant hill, you know that the caged bird is singing
loud and far.
It is very important to have good imagery in poems. Maya Angelou uses
a variety of imagery to support her story in the poem, "Caged Bird". It allows
the reader to paint pictures and connect the poem to his or her life.
Figurative language
Through out the poem, Maya Angelou uses symbolism to connect
the caged bird and free bird as humans, to help the reader better
understand the true meaning of the poem. The caged bird is a bird
that is confined to a life behind bars and knows it will never be free. Just
as a man who is burdened by low expectations or is oppressed. He is in
a situation in which there is no hope or chance of getting out of the sad
and oppressed state. But the free bird is a bird that lives free and happily,
that opportunities are limitless and is free to what it wants. Such as man
who has a privalliged life in which he can do anything, buy many large
and fine houses while the oppressed man is limited to what he has. The
symbolism in "Caged Bird" makes it a deeper and personal poem to anyone
who reads it. Weather you are the living the rich and famous life or the simple
man on the streets, or even an average joe; anyone can connect to this great poem.
Alliteration - Repeatision of constant sounds at the beginning of words.
But the bird that
stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage...
In this stanza Maya uses alliteration of seldom and see to make the poem more affective.
Seldom and see both have the repeated "S" sound.
Assonance - Repetition of of vowel sounds in non-rhyming words.
...in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky his own.
The repeated "A" sound in orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky is own.
Maya makes that sentence flow very well.
Rhyme - The occurrence of an identical sound at the ends of two or more words.
But the caged bird that stands on the graves of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream.
Maya Angelou gives an amazing picture of a caged bird and her shadow screaming.
It makes it so much stronger with the two rhyming words.
Imagery in "Caged Bird"
Throughout the poem Maya Angelou, uses her style of lines and vivid sensory to make
the poem, "Caged Bird" come alive. Her imagery helps the reader find the true meaning of the poem.
In the second stanza imagery helps us feel the rage of the caged bird.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
Maya helps us feel the anger and frustration that the caged bird feels. We
feel the sadness and anger of this bird in a bad situation. We also feel the
cold metal bars that confine the caged bird.
Another place Maya uses her words to give us a sense of feel is.
Maya talks about the free bird that rides the winds and
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn.
Maya helps us feel the fat worms. The worms are
just waiting for the free bird. And we can feel the
bird just devouring the fat juicy worms on a soft shiny lawn.
Maya also uses the sense of sound to paint a very vivid picture to help
us understand the poem.
But a caged bird that stands on the graves of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
Through that stanza we can hear the lonely and distraught
caged bird. Maya uses her words to let us hear the sad
bird screaming because of the loneliness and hopeless situation the bird is in.
Again sense of sound helps Maya paint a vivid picture to help
us better understand the meaning of the poem.
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
In this stanza Maya helps us hear with her vivid words. How she
writes it we can really sense the caged bird's heart. It knows it will
never be free, but he belts out his song so all can hear his pain. The
part where she says distant hill, you know that the caged bird is singing
loud and far.
It is very important to have good imagery in poems. Maya Angelou uses
a variety of imagery to support her story in the poem, "Caged Bird". It allows
the reader to paint pictures and connect the poem to his or her life.
Figurative language
Through out the poem, Maya Angelou uses symbolism to connect
the caged bird and free bird as humans, to help the reader better
understand the true meaning of the poem. The caged bird is a bird
that is confined to a life behind bars and knows it will never be free. Just
as a man who is burdened by low expectations or is oppressed. He is in
a situation in which there is no hope or chance of getting out of the sad
and oppressed state. But the free bird is a bird that lives free and happily,
that opportunities are limitless and is free to what it wants. Such as man
who has a privalliged life in which he can do anything, buy many large
and fine houses while the oppressed man is limited to what he has. The
symbolism in "Caged Bird" makes it a deeper and personal poem to anyone
who reads it. Weather you are the living the rich and famous life or the simple
man on the streets, or even an average joe; anyone can connect to this great poem.