In 4-6 sentences, describe how a feminist literary critic might read Maya Angelou's poem, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Use your notes from class today to help you!
27 Comments
Joshua Eng
9/22/2011 05:52:08 am
A feminist literary critic may notice that the birds (the free and the caged)are males. For example, one of the lines about the free bird "...Lawn and he names the sky his own..." There is a lack of female birds or characters in this poem. A feminist literary critic might also notice the language of the author may seem more feminine, depending on the critic's thinking of a "female language" or if it even exists.
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Derek S
9/22/2011 07:07:58 am
In Maya Angelou's poem, a feminist literary critic would note that both of the birds are referred to as males. In fact, the only characters in this poem are the birds, meaning that the poem is lacking in male characters. The phrasing of the poem is very elegant and descriptive, hinting at a feminine language. However, this female author sees both of the characters as males, and thus is quite a mixed language.
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Rochelle Yang
9/22/2011 07:12:33 am
Feminists may see the poem 'I know why the cage bird sings' to be a sort of reference to the unbalanced world between men and women. Men, the 'free birds' have a whole world to explore and leisurely go about their business and 'he names the sky his own'. Women on the other hand, the 'caged birds', brood in an environment where they can't find many equal opportunities. They are overshadowed by their male counterparts. As such, their 'wings are clipped and their feet are tied' and they stand 'on the grave of dreams'. A feminist may also note that the author herself is a woman, and seems to view that the world for women is limited and looked down on.
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Elijah House
9/22/2011 07:23:41 am
A feminist literary critic might notice that both of the birds in the poem are male because of the use of masculine pronouns. Usually a bird in a piece of literature(such as this poem) represents a female. However, both the characters are male. Also, the language in this poem seems more like it was written by a female author rather than a male author, supporting the idea of a "female language" in literature.
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Andrew Lombard
9/22/2011 07:57:14 am
A female literary critic would definitely notice that both birds in the poem are male. This would be an indication of a male-dominated world. However, the writing style of the poem seems like it was written in a "feminine language." The poem was also written by a woman, and the poem may represent her view of a world dominated by men,
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Jamie T.
9/22/2011 08:02:06 am
A feminist literary critic may look at the poem, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and realize that the two birds are males. It says, "Till the current ends and dips HIS wing..." Being a female writer, Maya Angleou has a more "female language." However, by making the two birds males gives the story both a "male and female language."
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Beth Feindt- Scott
9/22/2011 08:05:56 am
A feminist literary critic would notice in the poem, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" sexist because only masculine pronouns are used. There are two different birds being described, yet both are male. A feminist critic may see this as unnecessary. Another thing a feminist critic may noticed is how the author is describing a caged bird and a free bird. Even though all the pronouns are masculine, she may see this in comparison to male and female gender. The male gender would be the free bird, because they seem to get more respect and more rights than women. Women would be the caged bird, because they are expected to just do what their husband says and not doing anything in the real world.
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Sophie E.
9/22/2011 08:07:56 am
The whole flow of the poem hints at the notion that the cage birds stands for women. In society, women have been "caged" for much of history, pretty to look at, but not having any freedom. A feminist critic would probably talk about how such injustices of imprisonment continually happen to women, whether it is culturally, politically or economically, mirroring the caged bird is not allowed to have any say in the matter of the world, unlike the free bird who "names the sky his own." Also, the line "So he opened his throat to sing," reminds one of the Suffrage Movement and how although women were still bond by social ideas, they managed to speak out against the establishment to gain rights. The bird, tied and trapped, still manages to be heard on a distant hill, telling of his sorrows and wants, just as women are still being heard in many places today.
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Samuel Yin
9/22/2011 08:20:42 am
If a feminist literary critic might have noticed that in this story, and see that both of the birds mentioned in this story are both male. It might also been seen that the cage is like a cage for women as women have been been kept in a cage for most of history. The caged bird could be the women in history and the free bird could be the males in history. However though, the poem was written by a woman, so this could be seen as her view on history and what is currently happening in the world.
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David Yin
9/22/2011 08:35:16 am
What a feminist literary critic would of read noticed how there are two birds and both of the birds are male. The free bird would be the men and the caged bird would be the women. The bird is caged, clipped, and his feet are tied but he still manages to sing just like how women were like the caged bird but still managed to speak out. The caged bird sang and longed about the unknown future and freedom, just like how women spoke and longed for equal rights as men. All the free bird sang about was the fat worms and the sky like how the men don't think about the they treated the women but just thought about themselves, how to make the future better for themselves, and that they thought everything was their possession.
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Adam T
9/22/2011 08:48:02 am
I think that a feminist literary critic would notice that although this poem is written by a female, both birds are male. I think that shows how this is a male-dominant world. I also think that they would notice that the caged bird relates to a woman. Even though "his wings are clipped and his feet are tied", the bird is still able to be heard on distant hills. That is trying to say that women were still able to have their voices heard even when they had less rights, or they were "caged".
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Anna J
9/22/2011 08:53:45 am
A feminist literary critic might read "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" with the 'free bird' representing men in history, and women being the 'caged bird'. It shows clearly how both 'birds' were not gaining the same amount of respect, or even freedom. It says "For the caged bird sings of freedom" and the free bird "...Names the sky his own." A feminist would say this shows how men got to be free and think big, whereas women were just stuck in 'cages' and not able to express themselves. You can even tell that there's inequality by the tone difference between the 'leaping', 'floating', and 'breezy' bird with the 'fearful', 'raging', and 'unknowing' bird.
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Holly S
9/22/2011 09:18:54 am
A feminist literary critic may read Maya Angelou's poem, and pick up on the fact that only masculine pronouns are used. This leads to the fact that both birds are male. However, the book is written in a style of writing that can be considered "female language." But, because the two birds are both males, it includes a "male language" as well as female.
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Kelly D
9/22/2011 09:57:11 am
In the poem "I Know Why the Cages Bird Sings", I beleive that the point the author is trying to make is that the only thing the caged bird had was it's voice and it's knowledge that there was more than just a cage out there so it used those things to overcome it's challenges. A feminist might interperate this as the women being the caged bird and the men being free. They might think that it is a way of saying that no matter how women are repressed and controled, there is always a way to reach out to others and acheive your goals if you have the will. At the very end of the poem the author says, "The caged bird sings---his tune is heard on the distant hill. For the caged bird sings of freedom." This line showes that, if you speak loud enough, you will be heard and there is always hope for something more.
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J Chang
9/22/2011 10:06:13 am
For years women were restrained from having equal status with men. People talk about hitting glass ceilings at work- during the time of this poem, the ceiling was made of hardened steel, a thousand more times so for poor black women, which is exactly what the author of this poem was. The poem is a metaphor of women under male dominance in the early 1900s, when women everywhere begin to speak for themselves, ergo the caged bird sings. For people like Angelou, however, must wait several more decades for the world to take notice of them also.
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Virginia Wolff
9/22/2011 10:21:50 am
A feminist literary critic might read "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" as a metaphor for the sexism in our country. Men are the "free birds", women are the "caged birds." In our society, men have many more opportunities than women. They are free to do whatever they like, have whatever job they want, and men are more respected than women. Men make more money than women for doing the exact same job, men have more opportunities in life, simply because of their gender. Women are like caged birds in that society does not treat us as equals. We are kept from doing certain things just because we are women. We are often not taken seriously because we are women. We are restrained from flying free and doing what we want as a free bird would do.
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Kat M.
9/22/2011 10:30:47 am
If a feminist critic were to read the poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, they might notice that both of the birds are described as males, while the language used in the poem is very light and wispy, giving the poem a very feminine aura.They might also notice that the males in the poem are living as the "free bird", he is able to see the world, and carryout his dreams. While the "caged bird" in the story relates to women, living his life in a cage, seeing only what is in front of him, without dreams, and singing of freedom.
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Virginia Wolff
9/22/2011 10:42:27 am
*Even though the caged birds, women, are trapped they still sing and are waiting for their voices to be recognized.
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Alyssa Graham
9/22/2011 11:33:22 am
If a feminist critic were to read the poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, they would notice that both birds are male or at least the pronouns used to describe them are masculine. How ever, they may also feel that the caged bird represents the oppression of women in a man's world. They may see the songs of the caged birds, like that of women seeking equal rights. It also seems like it was portrayed that, if the caged birds did represent women, they would never have equal rights, and never be free like the free birds did.
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Katie Sherry
9/22/2011 11:35:46 am
As we discussed in class today, almost all of the famous authors, artists, and politicians in history were men. There are, however, reasons for this. Women were not given the opportunity to express themselves freely, and if they tried, they were not accepted into society. I think if a feminist were to read, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," they would relate it to the lack of respect for women until very recently. The caged bird represents women, and the free bird represents men. We received more respect and opportunities after the Women's Rights movements, but we are still not necessarily treated as equals with men. The poem represents how women felt for hundreds of years; trapped like a bird in a cage. For such a long time, women sang for freedom but no one listened.
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Jimmy Donoghue
9/22/2011 12:03:23 pm
I think the way that a feminist critic would view this poem as symbolic to the strength of women. Women have always had to prove themselves twice as hard. The bird who sings although it is oppressed by its metal cage still sings a peaceful joyful melody that sings of freedom. Although throughout history they have been caged, they have made the best of what they are able to do. Today women have blossomed and are doing extraordinary things.
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Taylor Davey
9/22/2011 01:15:41 pm
The way I think a feminist literary critic might read the poem is that both birds are referred to as male birds. They birds may be male but it shows the strength of women through the caged bird because women have always been strong and try as hard as men to be free. Just like the caged bird's singing it's freedom. It shows how we don't give up and that for many years we have been "singing" for freedom but no one has listened until recently. Women now have changed the world in many ways, just like men and just like the caged bird, it will eventually show it's strengths and do amazing things once it becomes free.
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Caroline Lentz
9/22/2011 01:16:04 pm
To a feminist critic, Maya Angelou’s poem would represent the struggles and achievements of women. A feminist critic would compare the caged bird to the oppressed woman, because, while both have the ability to speak out, neither is liberated like the free bird (the man). The caged bird’s singing could be compared to feminism. The cage could be compared to society’s unspoken rules that are set for them, or, in a more literal way, to the house back when women stayed home all day. There have been obvious improvements for women since those days; the bars on our cages are much, much thinner. None of it would’ve happened if we didn’t sing.
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Selena Hunter
9/23/2011 12:47:05 pm
A feminist literary critic may read Maya Angleou’s poem, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, as being sexist. They would think this is sexist because the two birds in this poem are males. The lack of representation of women in this story would make a feminist believe that the author favors males over females. Feminist would also read this as men being move important because there are no female birds in Maya Angleou poem making it one gender sided.
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Selena Hunter
9/23/2011 10:51:46 pm
A feminist literary critic may read Maya Angleou's poem, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings", as being sexist. They would think this is sexist because the two birds in this poem are males. The lack of representation of women in this story would make a feminist believe that the author favors males over females. Feminist would also read this as men being more important because there are no female birds in Maya Angleou's poem making it one gender sided.
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Josh K
9/25/2011 02:02:13 am
"I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" is a poem that illustrates the differences between men and women's gender roles. While the man is encouraged to do whatever he wants with his life, to be free, the woman is encouraged to stay at home, to be caged. Maya Angelou is trying to point out the unfairness in what women are supposed to do, as opposed to men.
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Dylan C
9/25/2011 08:48:33 am
A feminist literary critic may notice in Maya Angleou's poem, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings", that both the birds, which are the only characters, are male. Therefore, a feminist literary critic would be upset that it seems the author favors male over female. However, a feminist literary critic might notice that the caged bird symbolizes how women were trated unfairly. The free bird then would represent a man and how men used to control everything. Now days, women have more and more rights because they began to "sing of freedom" as the poem says.
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