Caged Bird Comprehension Check

In “Caged Bird,” how many stanzas are devoted to the experience of the caged bird?

• One (1)

• Three (3)

• Four (4)

• Two (2)

In this poem, Angelou is comparing and contrasting....

• a sympathetic bird to a songbird

• a free bird to a caged bird

• the bird in her poem with the bird in “Sympathy”

• pet birds and birds in a zoo

Angelou repeats lines 12 – 14 later in lines 29 – 30.

Why did Angelou most likely repeat this particular description?

• to fit the pattern of rhyme within the poem

• to show change over time

• in case the reader did not understand it

• to emphasize the bird’s helplessness

Tags

RL.7.5

In line 4, the word current means...

• up-to-date

• circulating, like a coin passing between people

• a large body of water moving in one direction

• popular

Tags

RL.7.4

Re-read lines 8 -11 of 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 satisfied with its life

• The caged bird has difficulty flying

• The caged bird is aware of its surroundings

Tags

RL.7.5

Which lines from the “Caged Bird” show that the bird has never been free?

• “But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams / his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream” (lines 27 – 28)

• “his wings are clipped and / his feet are tied / so he opens his throat to sing.“ (lines 12-14)

• “The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still” (lines 31 – 34)

• “his tune is heard / on the distant hill / for the caged bird / sings for freedom.” (lines 19-22)

Tags

RL.7.1

Why does the caged bird sing?

• It wants to challenge the free bird

• It has to make others feel good

• It has only one way to express itself

• It wants to entertain people

In “Caged Bird” each stanza ends with

• the word freedom

• a restriction placed upon the bird

• the bird expressing himself in some way

• one line being repeated several times

Tags

RL.7.5