The Caged Bird in Springtime (Analysis Questions)

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.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

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.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

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.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

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

• Hungry

• Content

• Cautious

• Thoughtful

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CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

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.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

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.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

In stanza 2, the only rhyming words are ____________ and _________.

• bird and heard

• stalks and through

• rage and cage

• sing and tied

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CCSS.RL.7.4

What do the rhyming words rage and cage in stanza 2 emphasize?

• the anger that can accompany a lack of freedom

• the sadness that can accompany a lack of freedom

• that it is possible to feel free even in a cage

• that the caged bird cannot sing

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CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.2

What does the word trill most likely mean, based on its context in stanza 3?

• strong, confident tone.

• another animal of a similar species.

• a peaceful song sung by a bird or insect.

• trembling or quivering sound made a bird or insect.

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CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.L.7.4A

The caged bird can be interpreted as a symbol expressing the importance of

• acceptance

• helping others

• protecting birds

• freedom for all