Text: Caged Bird Genre: Poetry Author: Maya Angelou

SOAPStone Analysis Chart

rd
Speaker 3 person narrator - Someone who wants to address inequality and the conditions
for someone who does not have opportunity; oppressed; discriminated

Perhaps this is an autobiographical poem a narrator who understands oppression

(persecution; discrimination; cruelty)

Occasion Prior to Civil Rights Movement when there was segregation and inequality. The
author is African American Speaker may be addressing inequality.

Audience Open to everyone

Purpose The poem is contrasting the lives of oppressed people with no opportunities verse
the lives of free people with opportunity (based on historical context, perhaps the
poem is referring to racism).

Based on the time period and the race of the author, the poem is most likely
comparing a caged bird to an African American.

Although a person may be physically trapped, his voice can still be heard. A
persons voice can never be taken from him.

Structure Structure:
& Style 6 stanzas: 2 of them are about the free bird and 4 are about the caged bird.
More focus on the life of the caged bird.
List the Comparing (similarities) and contrasting (differences)
Literary and Description
Rhetorical Rhyme Scheme (sporadic)
Devices the
writer utilizes Style:
to create Metaphor or Symbolism:
meaning. Free Bird = a person with freedom who has a lot of opportunity. Nature = freedom
Provide Caged Bird = a person who is oppressed with little to no opportunity. Cage =
evidence. oppression
(Refer to your
Glossary of Free Bird Diction pertains to elements of nature/positive.
Literary and Caged Bird Diction pertains to confinement/negative.
Rhetorical
Devices Repetition:
packet.) Stanzas 3 and 6 are repeats to emphasize/stress the longing of caged bird
who sings for freedom
Also, when Lines 6 and 16 are repeats to emphasize that the caged bird is crippled;
analyzing cant move; has no mobility; is trapped, but he still has his voice; he can be
poetry, heard.
consider the his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing
text on both a
literal and Lines 3 and 13 repeat the phrase claim the sky to emphasize the free bird
abstract has the ability to do anything
level: What is
the text Figurative Language: Personification:
literally about? sighing trees
How does the back of the wind
text function shadows shout (alliteration)
on a nightmares scream
secondary
level? Diction:
Stanza 5 grave, shadow, nightmare negative, death, haunting, eerie,
threatening
These are words used to describe the life of the caged bird.
Tone Analytical Considers the conditions of the lives of those who are free in contrast
to those who are not
Serious but Light The subject matter is serious, but it is a little light because of the
bird imagery and rhyme scheme