WorksheetsI Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
Total questions: 31
Worksheet time: 24mins
What is this poem mainly about?
Freedom and slavery
The lives of birds
Joy and singing
The dreams of birds
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
What does the caged bird’s singing reveal about him?
He is terribly unhappy.
He prefers to sing rather than to fly.
He does not know how to sing.
Singing is the only way he can talk to other birds.
The poem alternates between describing the free bird and the caged bird. This structure emphasizes
the contrast between being free and confined.
the similarity between the experiences of being free and confined.
the complicated struggle of being free.
the caged bird and free bird are the same species.
According to the poem, the free bird can best be described as
Hungry
Content
Cautious
Thoughtful
The caged bird can be interpreted as a metaphor expressing the importance of
acceptance
helping others
protecting birds
freedom for all
Which words provide a negative connotation?
floats dips claims
shouts sings freedom
clipped stalks rage
worms trill tune
In stanza 2, the only rhyming words are ____________ and _________.
stalks and through
sing and tied
rage and cage
bird and bird
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
What does the caged bird represent?
oppression of African American people
The fight for women's rights
Maya Angelou's loneliness
Used in Stanza 3 the word trill most likely means
that the caged bird cannot sing
A peaceful song
trembling song made by a bird or insect
1. What does the caged bird represent?
African Americans
a bird in a cage... dah!
White Americans
2. What does the free bird represent?
freedom
the freedom the white man enjoys
a bird in the fields.. silly !
3. What is this poem mainly about?
love and happiness
the pains and struggles of African Americans
the importance of music and singing
5. Which line of the poem shows 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)
“The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still” (lines 31–34)
6. What does the caged bird’s singing reveal about him?
he is using the only way of resistance left for him
he loves singing
he is better at singing than the free bird
7. 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 is satisfied with his condition
the caged bird is angry at his condition
the caged bird has problems flying
10. The content of stanza 3 is repeated in stanza 6. This repetition reveals that the bird
has resigned himself to a captive life.
is now content, understanding that life in the cage is safer.
has never known freedom, but understands what it is and hopes for it.
The “bird that stalks down his narrow cage” represents the person who seems
angry, confined, caged, but still expressive.
discontent, confined, bound, and empowered.
In the second stanza, which phrases connote confinement or limitation?
“He opens his throat to sing.”
“narrow cage…bars of rage…”
“wings are clipped…His feet are tied.”
In the second stanza, the tone, or speaker’s attitude, seems
tranquil and content.
nostalgic, longing for the past.
triumphant or victorious.
discontent but still hopeful.
The “caged bird sings with fearful trill of the things unknown but longed for still” suggests that the person
has never tasted true freedom but wants it desperately.
Is afraid of the outside world
seems too terrified to carry out his dreams.
“The free bird thinks of another breeze” means the free person
becomes wayward, weary or lost.
imagines accomplishing yet another dream.
considers other possibilities.
Choose all that apply: “The fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn” suggests
anticipation and abundance.
having more than enough.
new beginnings.
opportunity.
“He names the sky his own” parallels which other line?
“The free bird…dares to claim the sky.”
“But the caged bird stands on the grave of dreams.”
The caged bird stands “on the grave of dreams” because he
gets discouraged and gives up on his dreams.
has had to bury his hopes and aspirations.
Choose all that apply: Describe the caged bird’s song.
angry
wistful
mournful
still hopeful
In the first stanza, the tone, or speaker’s attitude, seems
bitter and enraged.
discontent and despairing.
melancholy or morose.
triumphant and elated.
Choose all that apply: “Dares to claim the sky” means to risk
living out, or realizing, his dreams; combating his fears and insecurities.
attempting the seemingly impossible; conquering his fears.
achieving greatness; authoring his own life; proving himself.
demanding equal opportunities despite opposition.
“Dips his wings in the orange sun rays” serves as an example of
simile; onomatopoeia.
dialect; dialogue.
irony; alliteration.
imagery; symbolism.
The speaker refers to herself as
I.
Maya Angelou.
a caged bird.
a free bird.
