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04:03
Feature
Sympathy
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,5
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 cling10
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,15
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--20
I know why the caged bird sings!
Question
Which statement best summarizes the irony of the situation regarding the bird?
Responses
A The bird sounds sad, but is actually happy.The bird sounds sad, but is actually happy.
B The bird sounds content, but actually wishes to escape.The bird sounds content, but actually wishes to escape.
C The bird sounds confident, but actually wishes to hide.The bird sounds confident, but actually wishes to hide.
D The bird sounds shy, but actually wishes to make friends.