Caged Bird Sings

Words: 551
Pages: 3
Open Document
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings CRR: Question Three
Maya Angelo’s self-hatred developed from her misguided perception of beauty shaped by her personal admiration of her mother and brother’s physical appearance. Comparing herself to her mother and brother led her to unfortunately dismiss her own beauty as “ugly.”
In the text, Maya describes her older brother, Bailey, as “small, graceful, and smooth,” while she negatively shames herself as being “big elbowy and grating.” Furthermore, she noted that “his hair fell down in black curls” while her hair resembled “black steel wool.” It didn’t help that her playmates also contributed to her low-self-esteem by cruelly describing her gorgeous brown skin tone as being “shit color” but admiringly described …show more content…
Viola Cullinan repeatedly calling her “Mary” instead of “Maya” which led to Maya to break Mrs. Cullinan heirloom china and intentionally getting fired. This vignette can be considered a short story because it includes characteristics that literary critics assert should be included in short stories.
The chapter exclusively discusses the single incident of Maya working for Mrs. Cullinan and getting fired. Although, the chapter also presents further details about Mrs. Cullinan and Ms. Glory’s personal life, the focus of the chapter is about Maya being called the wrong name and her decision to get fired. Moreover, the plot was solely set at Mrs. Cullinan’s house except when Maya vented her frustration to brother, Baily, at home.
Furthermore, the entire vignette was only one chapter long and it is inferred that Maya was fired not long after she began working for Mrs. Cullinan. This could be inferred from the fact that Ms. Glory was giving Maya beginner’s insight for working for Ms. Cullinan such as informing Maya of Mrs. Cullinan’s personal history such as her infertility. Additionally, there were only three main characters, Maya, Mrs. Cullinan, and her cook Ms. Glory, that were relevant to the plot of the
Show More

Related Documents: Caged Bird Sings

Caged Bird Sings

and whites have existed since ancient times. The title “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” are the words expressed from Maya Angelou which is written in a way that she exemplifies the true metaphor of what inequality and prejudice is perceived from her generation. The expression of hardship will all be from viewpoints of: Henry Reed, the Communities and the Minorities living in the United States. The definition of a “caged bird” is a free flying animal that had the right to roam in nature and is now…

Words 707 - Pages 3

Caged Bird Sings Thesis

In the novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, the author reflects on her own experiences as an African American female throughout her adult life in the 1930’s and 40’s. Maya Angelou was born on April 4th, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri and had one brother, Bailey Johnson Jr. She was the younger sibling but was still the one who always took care of her older brother. At the age of four or five Angelou and her brother traveled regularly back and forth between her mother, Vivian Baxter…

Words 1358 - Pages 6

Caged Bird Sings Influences

In the autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, the major figures and events that helped make Maya the wonderful, courteous, and intriguing person that she was. The three most important events or people that she encountered during her childhood that helped shape her, were her grandmother, Momma, her neighboring, adult friend, Mrs. Flowers, and her stay at the Junkyard. The biggest influence that Maya had growing up was Momma, her beautiful, and loving grandmother. Momma is…

Words 234 - Pages 1

Caged Bird Sings Figurative Language

Maya Angelou wrote I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings in 1969. In her book, she uses a several rhetorical devices to help us better understand her perspective on how poorly black peoples lived and were treated during this time. One theme in this book is race, the reader gains more knowledge on the subject of living life as a black young woman. Maya also applies imagery in her book to give the reader context and to bring them in while reading the story. Another strategy this author uses is symbolism…

Words 619 - Pages 3

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Most people are kind they don't think much about it, but even a simple act of kindness can impact someone's life greatly. One example is how Mrs.Flowers inspired Maya by being polite and giving her some advice in the short story “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings’’. She was just trying to be polite…

Words 323 - Pages 2

Bailey In 'I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings'

because he is in almost every chapter and also because the bond that connects maya with Bailey is so strong and also because Bailey would do anything for his sister and that is something you can't forget about him in the book,’I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings’. Bailey is small, graceful, smooth and he has velvet-black skin with curly hair. Bailey is a responsible kid, he finishes all his chores in time and he still has time to read to himself and also to his sister he did his homework also when…

Words 340 - Pages 2

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Analysis

on and let this one thing haunt them for the rest of their life. This causes them to not live life to the fullest. Which is why it is important for a person to live life to the fullest and to not hold onto the past. The story “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” also supports the claim by saying, “For nearly a year, I sopped around the house, the store, the school and the church, like an old biscuit, dirty and inedible” (Angelou 53). In this text the author, Maya, is saying how she didn’t live life…

Words 684 - Pages 3

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings By Ortiz Cofer

reacted to the actions of their elders. What type of conflict is typically revealed in personal narratives? The type of conflict that is typically revealed in personal narratives is man versus self; as seen in “The Medicine Bag,” “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” and “Abuela Invents the Zero.”…

Words 536 - Pages 3

Essay about I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

born in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her given name is Marguerite Annie Johnson; however, her brother gave her the name Maya. Maya Angelou is the author of best-selling novels such as: “Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now,” “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” “Gather Together in My Name,” and “Heart of a Woman.” In theater she has produced, directed, and stared in “Cabaret for Freedom.” She has been active in film and television, writing screenplays and musical scores. In 1975, Maya Angelou received…

Words 1166 - Pages 5

Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Angelou joined the Harlem Writing Guild which is where she began writing one of her most popular autobiographies I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings about her childhood. She has starred in many TV series and movies and even recorded songs and albums.To count, she has written 30 books, received over 36 Bestselling Awards, and even won a Grammy for best spoken word album. Angelou recited her…

Words 1004 - Pages 5