Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How does the contrast between the images of the free bird and the caged bird affect your emotional response to the poem? Which visual created the strongest impression, and why?

2. Angelou’s “Caged Bird” serves as a companion piece to her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. How does the poem’s extended metaphor illuminate aspects of her personal journey that resonated with you? For those who have read both works, how does the autobiography enhance your understanding of this poem?

3. What effect did the repetition of the stanza about the caged bird singing of freedom have on your reading experience? How did this structural choice influence your understanding of the poem’s message?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The caged bird sings “with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still” (Lines 16-18). What aspirations or experiences have you yearned for without having directly experienced them? How has that yearning influenced your choices or outlook?