Sympathy Poem Lesson

According to the speaker in “Sympathy,” how does the caged bird feel?

• bright, happy, perfumed

• alarmed, shamed, fearful

• constrained, oppressed, imprisoned

• faint, clinging, ill

Which of the following BEST explains the title “Sympathy”?

• The speaker feels bad for the caged bird because of its injuries.

• The speaker also shares the caged bird’s desire for freedom.

• The speaker is critical of the caged bird’s reasons for singing.

• The speaker admires the caged bird’s courage.

Which of the following BEST summarizes lines 10-11in "Sympathy"?

• The bird stays in his cage because his injuries might cause him to faint.

• The bird stays on his perch because he is afraid of the wind.

• The bird must return to the perch when he would rather be on a swing.

• The bird has to stay in the cage when he would rather be perched on a swinging tree branch.

Lines 12-14 of “Sympathy” suggest that...

• the bird is so crippled it will never be able to enjoy freedom.

• the bird has not given up hope despite a lifetime of captivity.

• as the bird gets older, its desire for freedom increases. (

• the bird could enjoy its captivity if only it would stop fighting.

"Sympathy" and "Caged Bird" both talk about the Black American struggle for freedom. Which figurative language element do they use to describe this in their poem?

• metaphor

• onomatopoeia

• alliteration

• hyperbole

The poet compare the cage bird's song to

• Lullabuy

• Symphony

• Carol of Joy

• Prayer

Based on what you know about the author, who or what does the "caged bird" represent?

• people who do not express themselves or their emotions

• African-Americans following the Civil War

• women

• children

When the poet says the "I know why the caged bird beats his wing...", what is he referencing?

• Sometimes, oppressed people rebel and protest the injustice of their situation.

• Birds who want to be free often flap their wings in annoyance.

• People often conflict when they do not feel free to be themselves.

• Sometimes oppressed people are hurt by their oppressors.

Which of the following identifies the central theme of the poem?

• Freedom can be achieved as long as you fight hard enough for it.

• No one can live a full or happy life if they are denied freedom.

• Birds specifically cannot be denied freedom due to their need to fly,

• With enough tie, any person will lose the pull they feel towards freedom.

What is most closely the meaning of "fain" in line 11

• prefer to

• hate to

• pretend to

• refuse to