Themes and Symbols in 'Sympathy'

The video explores Paul Lawrence Dunbar's poem 'Sympathy', which uses the metaphor of a caged bird to express feelings of confinement and longing for freedom. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each revealing different aspects of the bird's experience: its feelings, its struggle, and its song as a plea for freedom.

Who is the author of the poem 'Sympathy'?

• Robert Frost

• Maya Angelou

• Langston Hughes

• Paul Lawrence Dunbar

What does the caged bird feel when it sees the sun and the river?

• Joy and freedom

• Fear and anxiety

• Sadness and longing

• Indifference

How does the poet describe the river in the poem?

• As a stream of glass

• As a roaring torrent

• As a muddy stream

• As a dry bed

What does the 'chalice' in the poem refer to?

• A bird

• A river

• A flower

• A cup

Why does the caged bird beat its wings against the bars?

• To express joy

• To attract attention

• To exercise

• To try to escape

What does the caged bird long for according to the poem?

• A new cage

• Freedom

• More food

• Companionship

What does the poet use to symbolize the bird's confinement?

• A mountain

• A cage

• A river

• A tree

What happens to the bird's wings as it tries to escape?

• They become stronger

• They get bruised

• They grow larger

• They change color

What does the poet mean by 'old world scars'?

• Natural disasters

• Historical events

• Emotional pain

• Physical injuries

What does the poet suggest about the bird's scars?

• They are healing

• They are forgotten

• They still cause pain

• They are invisible