Imagine that you have been asked to direct one scene for a stage production of this poem. Choose your favourite image and describe how it would look on the stage. Refer to at least three of the following elements: setting, characters, lighting, music, costume.
The next poem is called ‘Caged Bird’. This idea was obviously important to Maya Angelou as one of her autobiographies was called I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This poem is an allegory.
REMEMBER:
An allegory is a story or poem or picture that has a hidden meaning beyond the literal meaning.
‘Caged Bird’
A free bird leaps on the back of the wind and fl oats 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.
