Caged Bird

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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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.11-12.8

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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.11-12.8

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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.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.10

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

• Hungry

• Content

• Cautious

• Thoughtful

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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.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.10

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What is this poem mainly about?

• Freedom and slavery

• The lives of birds

• Joy and singing

• The dreams of birds

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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.11-12.8

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Select the two line combination that best describe the difference between the two birds.

• “...a bird that stalks”; and “...dares to claim the sky.” (line 8)

• “his wings are clipped; and “his feet are tied” (line 12 & 13)

• “and his tune is heard”; and “sings of freedom.” (line 35 & 38)

• “the narrow cage” and “on the distant hill.” (lines 8 & 20)

• “on the back of the wind; and “floats downstream” (line 2 & 3)

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What inference can you draw about the caged bird based upon the following lines from stanza 3: “The caged bird sings/with a fearful trill/of things unknown/but longed for still…”

• The caged bird is afraid of freedom

• The caged has not given up on being free

• The caged bird is unsure of why he is trapped

• The caged bird is jealous of the free bird

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.4

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CCSS.RL.9-10.9