When did Maya Angelou write caged bird poem?
“Caged Bird” was published in Maya Angelou’s 1983 poetry collection Shaker, Why Don’t You Sing? The poem describes the opposing experiences between two birds: one bird is able to live in nature as it pleases, while a different caged bird suffers in captivity.
Why does the caged bird sing Maya Angelou?
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a 1969 autobiography describing the early years of American writer and poet Maya Angelou. Angelou uses her autobiography to explore subjects such as identity, rape, racism, and literacy. She also writes in new ways about women’s lives in a male-dominated society.
What is the historical context for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Historical Context: Reconstruction in the US. After the American Civil War in 1865, there was a period known as Reconstruction which meant getting the country back together after a savage war between Northern states and Southern states that killed 750,000 fighting men.
Why is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings important?
After the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., Angelou was inspired by a meeting with writer James Baldwin and cartoonist Jules Feiffer to write I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as a way of dealing with the death of her friend and to draw attention to her own personal struggles with racism.
What happens at the end of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
Maya Angelou’s autobiographical book ends with the birth of her son because it reinforces the main theme of the novel, the maturation of the main character Marguerite. By keeping the pregnancy a secret, Marguerite is able to graduate from high school, something she would not be able to do if her pregnancy is known.
What does momma say it’s not safe to do?
Summary: Chapter 7 Momma does not believe it is safe for black people to speak to whites and certainly not with insolence. Once, a black man accused of assaulting a white woman took refuge in Momma’s Store. He eventually left, only to be apprehended later.
Where does Vivian live in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
St. Louis