The title of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings comes from the 1899 poem “Sympathy” by the celebrated Black American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Consider what the “caged bird” represents in Angelou’s book, reflecting upon the following questions in your discussion:

• Who exactly is the “caged bird”? Is it one person or a group of people?
• What are the types of “cages” that confine or restrict? Is there one type of “cage,” or are there many?
• What does “singing” represent?
• Does the “caged bird” find freedom at the end of the book?

Teaching Suggestion: It would be beneficial to have students read “Sympathy,” either together as a class or individually, before answering the questions in this prompt to introduce them to the original idea of the caged bird. Reviewing or introducing figurative language concepts with students may also be beneficial.

• “Poem of the Week: ‘Sympathy’ by Paul Laurence Dunbar” is a 2009 article from The Guardian that contains biographical details about Dunbar and a copy of the poem.
• Figurative language guide from SuperSummary

Differentiation Suggestion: A mind map may prove useful for students who would benefit from a visual approach to brainstorming what the caged bird represents in Angelou’s book.