1. How do the caged birds sing in each of the poems? (Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar and Caged Bird by Maya Angelou).

A: The caged birds in each of the poems sing with both fear and hope.

2. Why do you think they sing as they do?

A: I think the caged birds sing as they do because they long for freedom and know they might not ever experience it, but will not give up the hope for it?

Do you have the poem so i can read it?

This is the first poem:

Sympathy
BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
I know what the caged bird feels, alas!
When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals—
I know what the caged bird feels!

I know why the caged bird beats his wing
Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
For he must fly back to his perch and cling
When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars
And they pulse again with a keener sting—
I know why he beats his wing!

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,—
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings—
I know why the caged bird sings!

This is the second poem:

Caged Bird
BY MAYA ANGELOU
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

i Believe your answers are correct, Great Job!

-Hinata ♥

May I have your opinion of my answers?

Yes they are correct if I had that question I would have chose those answers

To delve deeper into the meaning behind the caged birds' singing in the poems "Sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar and "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou, we need to analyze the texts.

In "Sympathy," Dunbar uses the metaphor of a caged bird to convey the African American experience of oppression and confinement. The bird sings in order to express its emotions, seeking solace and release from its captivity. Despite being trapped in a cage, the bird's singing symbolizes the resilience and determination of the African American community, who strive for freedom and equality despite their restrictive circumstances.

Similarly, in Maya Angelou's poem "Caged Bird," the caged bird represents the African American community and their struggle against racism, segregation, and inequality. The bird's singing reflects the indomitable spirit and unwavering hope that even in captivity, they refuse to give up on their dreams of freedom and equality.

Now, to answer the question, "Why do you think they sing as they do?" we need to consider the historical context and the themes conveyed in the poems. The caged birds in both poems sing primarily due to their longing for freedom and their refusal to be silenced by their circumstances.

In both poems, the caged birds are aware of their limitations and the possibility that they may never experience true freedom. However, they choose to sing with fear and hope, using their voices as a means to protest, express their emotions, and assert their humanity. The singing symbolizes the power of the human spirit, the will to resist oppression, and the quest for liberation.

To fully grasp the depth of the birds' songs in these poems, it is essential to read and analyze the poems themselves, as the poets utilize various literary devices such as metaphors, imagery, and symbolism to convey their intended messages.