Treasure Trove I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Line 1 to 7 Poem by Mary Angelou

Treasure Trove I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Line 1 to 7 (Stanza-1) Poem by Mary Angelou Workbook ICSE English Solutions. Workbook Exercise Question and Answer of I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Mary Angelou. Visit official website CISCE for detail information about ICSE Board Class- 9/10 English.

Treasure Trove I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Line 1 to 7 (Stanza-1)Poem by Mary Angelou

Board	ICSE
Class	9th / 10th
Subject	English
Book Name	Treasure Trove
Chapter	I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
Lines	Line 1-7 (Stanza-1)
Topic	Workbook Question and Answer
Session	2022-23

Treasure Trove I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Line 1 to 7 (Stanza-1) Poem by Mary Angelou

Question:– Read the following extract from the poem ‘ I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings ’ by Mary Angelou and answer the questions that follow:

A free bird leaps on the back
Of the wind and floats downstream
Till the current ends and dips his wing
In the orange suns rays
And dares to claim the sky.

Question 1. Explain with reference to the context.

Reference : These lines are taken from the poem, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ written by Mary Angelou.

Context: The theme of the poem is the suffering of African- Americans and the contrast of slavery versus freedom. Maya Angelou’s 1983 poem “Caged Bird” compares the plight of a caged bird to the flight of a free bird. Many readers have interpreted Angelou’s poem as an extended metaphor with the caged bird representing the historical struggles of African Americans.

Explanation:

In these lines the poet refers to nature. She describes the way “a free bird leaps on the back of the wind”. She describes the bird’s flight against the orange sky. The free bird has the right “to claim the sky”. The way she describes the “orange sun rays” gives the reader an appreciation for the natural beauty of the sky, and her description of the way the bird “dips his wing” helps the reader to appreciate the bird in his natural habitat, enjoying his freedom.

Question 2. What does the caged bird’s singing reveal about him?
Answer: It reveals that he is unhappy and wants to be free.

Question 3. Who is referred to as a free bird in the poem? Why?

Answer:  The white Americans are referred to as free birds in the poem because they are enjoying their freedom like free birds. Their lives are full of happiness and joy. They are given all types of privilege in American society

Question 4: To what is the free bird compared in the first two lines of the extract? How is the action of the bird shown to be free and enjoyable?

Answer: In the first two lines of the extract, the free bird is compared to those who have favorable circumstances in life. The free bird leap on the back of the wind, float downstream, dips his wings in orange sun rays and claims the sky these action of the bird shown to be free and enjoyable

Question 5: What implied comparison is made here?

Ans. A free bird can fly where they will…. without limitations, as opposed to the caged bird that cannot fly at all. A free bird flies and enjoys flying with the wind. a caged bird does not have any freedom and is imprisoned between the bars.

Question 6: Explain what is meant by “the orange sun rays”?

Answer. It means the reflection of the free and lively atmosphere that the bird lives in. The orange color symbolizes the freedom and happiness enjoyed by the free birds.

Question 7: How does the free bird dare to claim the sky? Whom does the free bird represent in the poem? Why?

Answer: The free bird flies high with his wings spread. He floats along with the currents of the wind. It seems as if the whole sky belongs to him. The free bird represents the white Americans who also enjoyed their freedom in American society.