Caged Bird

1. In what ways is Angelou’s poem similar in structure and theme to Black spirituals? Consider expressions of pain, Freedom and Imprisonment, as well as the condemnation of racism. Choose a specific Black spiritual to address in your discussion. Cite textual evidence to support your claim.

2. In addition to the allusion, what is the relationship of Dunbar’s poem “Sympathy,” published in 1889, to Angelou’s poem, published in 1983? Think about the events of Black history that take place during this 90-year span. How do the two poems utilize The Power of Voice? Cite textual evidence to support your claim.

3. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds, while consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds. Alliteration is a special kind of consonance that takes place at the beginnings of words. What effects do assonance and consonance have on the poem? Locate examples of each. Then describe the function of each example in the poem. Cite textual evidence to support your claim.