What does the poem caged bird mean?

Answer 1

"Caged Bird" is a poem by Maya Angelou that represents many ideas, themes, and thoughts, so it doesn't necessarily have just one meaning. This poem states that there are two birds, one trapped in a cage, and the other in free and flying in the sky. The trapped bird represents an African American man or woman, while the free bird represents a white man or woman. The poem is portraying the relationship between an African American person and a Caucasian person (AKA: segregation). Maya Angelou is explaining the feelings of racial discrimination, segregation, and domination. The poem describes how she was the bird that was trapped and tied up and unable to reach freedom. The caged bird can be interpreted as the black race being held back from freedom by their skin color. The fat worms and breeze in the poem symbolize hope and opportunity. In the poem, it is constantly repeated that "his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing." This is implying that even though this bird is trapped, it still has hope. The bird will continue to persevere and not give up. It sings about the hope of things to come, not necessarily of happiness.

Answer 2

If you are referring to the title of Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,'' you have to take the "caged bird" literally. The bird is caged, i.e. is without freedom, but yet it sings. Throughout the book Maya endures adversity and racism, and yet she is able to sing for freedom.

Answer 3

It means that you take something that is free and then locking it up. In other words, slavery