Why the Caged Bird Sings

Which lines from the poem show that the caged bird has never been free?

• “his wings are clipped and / his feet are tied / so he opens his throat to sing.” (lines 12–14)

• “his tune is heard / on the distant hill / for the caged bird / sings for freedom.” (lines 19–22)

• “But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams / his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream” (lines 27–28)

• “The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still” (lines 31–34)

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CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.5

What does the caged bird’s singing reveal about him?

• He is terribly unhappy

• He prefers to sing rather than to fly

• He is afraid to be free

• He wants to be heard

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CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

Why does the caged bird sing?

• It wants to challenge the free bird

• It has to make others feel good

• It wants to entertain people

• It has only one way to express itself

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CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

Read these lines from the poem.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

What do these lines reveal about the caged bird?

• The caged bird has strong feelings.

• The caged bird is aware of its surroundings.

• The caged bird has difficulty flying.

• The caged bird is satisfied with its life.

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CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

According to the poem, the free bird can best be described as

• Hungry

• Content

• Cautious

• Thoughtful

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CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

What is the main conflict in this poem?

• The caged bird hates the free bird.

• The caged bird longs for the life of the free bird.

• The free bird laughs at the caged bird.

• The free bird cannot sing as well as the caged bird.

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CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

What is this poem mainly about?

• Freedom and slavery

• The lives of birds

• Joy and singing

• The dreams of birds

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CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Read lines 23 and 24 from the poem.

The free bird thinks of another

breeze / and the trade winds

soft through the sighing trees

What is the effect of the trees sighing in this verse?

• It indicates that it is still early in the day.

• It shows the tree is sleeping

• It indicates that the bird is carefree.

• It shows where the bird sleeps.

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CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

Read the following lines from the poem

The free bird thinks of another breeze

And the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

The imagery in these lines suggest -

• The bird is not confident in her ability to fly

• The bird is enjoying a beautiful fly

• The bird is keenly aware of her surroundings

• The bird is much happier than the caged bird

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CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.5

An idea explored in both the selection and the poem is -

• People escaping slavery

• The longing for freedom

• The effects of oppression

• The power of fear and the unknown

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CCSS.RI.7.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

CCSS.RL.7.7

CCSS.RL.8.5