Maya Angelou A Caged Bird Analysis

“A Caged Bird” is a poem by Maya Angelou, that describes the struggle of a bird ascending from the restrictions with adverse surroundings. The poem renders the oppression that has affected African Americans over the years. As Angelou explains, the bird fights its imprisonment even with fear, but rises above with the stance of freedom. “Phenomenal Women” by Maya Angelou discusses beauty being in the eye of the beholder. You don’t have to have a perfect physique or focus entirely on outer beauty. Inner beauty has more definition, she explains that women should appreciate their flaws. After all there is only one of you and everyone was created differently.
“A Caged Bird” was a poem that represented the early stages of Angelou’s life. There are several themes like race, change and freedom, which explains the survival of the fittest. The imagery used in the poems allows a vision of what the bird was like before being in a cage. There is a sense of abandonment because of the unfortunate faith that period of life has produced. Another major theme is

In a way, Angelou sets her own tone, with a unique style. She captivates a historical period, that is turned in to a story of its own. Angelou uses a metaphoric way to compare a free bird to the “white race” while the encaged one is “African American”. There is also some assonance where she states, “But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams.” Another poetic device is alliteration, she explains “A bird in a narrow cage, can see through his bars of rage”. The tone is angry but yet determined, whereas the surroundings will not cause defeat. There is hope, hope for a better place but also hope for a better future. One that looks past race, but expresses freedom. The freedom to not judge one by color but embrace one another, live with in equality. Angelou describes the denial of basic freedom, actually being held down because of the shade of one’s