Lesson video

Hello, and welcome to your English lesson.

Well today, we are going to be exploring the poem "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou.

But before we begin, please make sure you've got something to write with and something to write on.

If you don't, you can pause the video here to go and grab it.

I'd also like you to make sure that all distractions are out of your way.

So you can fully focus on today's lesson content, right? If we've got everything let's begin.

We need to consider our agenda for today's lesson.

Before reading the poem, we're going to consider the use of symbolism.

Then we're going to read Angelou's poem "Caged Bird." Before writing about her use of contrasting images and then we're going to finish by considering Maya Angelou's use of free verse.

So let's get started.

Symbolism.

Now symbolism, is a technique that a number of writers use.

And very simply it means, using symbols to represent bigger ideas or qualities.

Can you read that definition with me? Symbolism means using symbols to represent bigger ideas or qualities.

So I'm going to talk you through an example of this.

Here we have on the screen the colour red.

Now, red can be used as a symbol, it could represent danger and destruction.

And so a writer might use the colour red as a symbol of danger or destruction.

However, the colour red could also represent love and romance.

Now, here we've got a good example of how symbolism needs to fit specifically the text and the occasion it is being used in.

And we need to analyse it in reference to that.

We need to analyse it in the context that is used in, because if the symbol of red is being used in the middle of a love scene in a text, it's probably unlikely that it's going to be representing danger and destruction and an imminent threat.

Its probably going to be used because it does symbolise love and romantic ideas.

So let's have a look at some more examples of symbols that could be used in a text.

And what bigger ideas, bigger qualities they might represent.

Here we have an image of the dove.

I would like you to pause the video here and note down some ideas about what bigger qualities, bigger ideas, a dove may symbolise.

Please resume the video, once you're finished.

Great.

Let me talk you through some of my ideas.

I wonder whether you've got any similar ones.

Doves are synonymous, they're related to the idea of peace and tranquillity of purity and also of innocence.

This is also in relation to their white colouring.

So we've also got use of colour imagery there.

So if a dove, as a bird is using a piece of text, often it's symbolising wider ideas of peace, purity and innocence.

Let's have a go at another one.

AH! A lion.

What wider ideas, what bigger ideas might a lion represent? Might a lion symbolise? Pause the video here and jot down your ideas and resume the video once you're finished.

Great.

Let me talk you through my ideas.

Lions are really good symbol of strength and of leadership and bravery.

And so if a lion is being used in a text, whether it's a character or simply a reference to a lion, perhaps in a simile or a metaphor form.

The lion may symbolise bigger ideas, of strength, leadership and bravery.

And the importance of those in the context, which that writer is writing in.

Great.

So now I would like you to consider what the image on the left represents.

Please note that this is a flying bird.

Pause the video here and note down some ideas about what this symbol of a flying bird may represent.

Please resume the video once you're finished.

Thank you.

I'm not going to oppose this with this image here of a caged bird.

I'd like you to pause the video and write down some ideas about what this caged bird could symbolise.

Please resume the video once you're finished.

Thank you.

So let's talk through, what each of these images could symbolise.

First its interesting because they are of the same animal, aren't they? We've got a bird on the left and a bird on the right.

However, the way they're being presented to us is very different.

So the bird on the left hand side, the flying bird could perhaps symbolise more widely freedom and power and having control over your own life, control over your destiny.

This bird is not confined by anything.

It's got its wings and it is free to fly.

However, the bird on the right contrasts this enormously it's caged, which more widely could represent imprisonment being confined against your will.

This bird, unlike the one on the left is really lacking freedom.

And the fact that it is caged and imprisoned suggest perhaps that this bird is actually controlled by others.

It does not have its own autonomy, it does not have its own control over its life.

And so, is our representations of a bird.

They contrast one another enormously.

Perhaps suggesting that while yes, we might have associations that we make towards the bird as an animal itself.

But actually the way it's presented can differ enormously and can affect our responses enormously to the bird as a symbol.

So with this in mind, we are going to complete this task.

I would like you to consider, what might this poem, Maya Angelou's "Caged Bird," be about? This is a personal response based on the images that we have just explored together, the symbols of the birds, I would like you to write down your ideas.

It can be in the form of simple bullet points or you might want to make a mind map.

Please pause the video here to complete this task, considering what the poem may be about, then resume the video once you're finished.

Great, thank you.

Now we're going to take some time to read Angelou's poem.

Please note, the use of images on the screen when the free bird is being referred to versus when our caged bird is being referred to.

Lets read.

"A free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream to 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.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worm waiting on a dawn bright lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams. His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream, his wings are clipped and his feet are tied.

So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown, but longed for still.

And his tune is hard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom." So that, that was Angelou's poem "Caged Bird." And hopefully you could see throughout how she uses these contrasting images of the free bird versus our caged bird.

And so what I would like you to do is I would like you to reread the poem "Caged Bird." You may have to rewind the video slightly.

And as you read, I'd like you to pause and choose three quotations to describe the free bird, the flying bird.

And I'd like you to find me three quotations that describe the caged bird.

And I'd like you to write these down.

So please pause the video here and complete that task.

Rereading the poem and choosing for me three quotes to describe the free bird and three quotes to describe the caged bird and please resume the video once you're finished.

Thank you.

Hopefully you can see that the free bird is presented in a very different way, in a very contrasting way to our caged bird.

So I'm going to talk you through some of the quotations that I have found in response to our free bird.

"He leaps on the back of the wind." We've got the use of that leap suggesting freedom.

"He dares to claim the sky."" If you claim something and you have ownership over it, and finally, "he names the sky his own." So not only is he claiming the sky, but he's also naming it his own.

He is in control, this free bird is in control.

We're going to look at these quotations in a little bit more detail on our next slides.

Now let's consider our contrasting quotations in relation to the caged bird.

"His wings are clipped." So when a free bird leaps, this bird does not have the ability to do that.

"His wings are clipped," he's been controlled.

"He stands on the grave of dreams." So you've got this opposing image here.

We've got the free birds soaring into the sky.

The land of opportunity for this bird.

However, this caged bird is standing on a grave of dreams, those dreams are dead, they exist no more.

And finally our caged bird, "sings of freedom." While our flying bird, names the sky his own, he controls the sky, he owns the sky, he owns his movement.

The caged bird cannot do that, his wings are clipped.

So, "he sings of freedom." Let's have a look at these quotations in a little bit more detail.

So we're going to begin with the three key quotations that I've identified in relation to the free bird.

Now don't worry if you had some different quotations you're welcome to annotate your own, but I'm going to talk to you through mine.

You can copy down these quotations and the annotations that I discussed.

So you had referenced those later in the lesson.

Let's start with this quote, "leaps on the back of the wind." Here, leaps suggests a freedom of movement and control over its decisions.

It's really suggesting that this bird has a very carefree and easy going life.

He is in control, he is free.

He can leap It's not just flying, he's leaping on the back of the wind.

The enormity of his freedom of his movement is emphasised here by Angelou.

And we have that phrase, "he dares to claim the sky." Well, if you dare to do something, it means that you are in power, you are in control.

If you dare to do something it means that you can take risks.

And that suggests in this bird, a confidence and an entitlement.

I can dare to do this because if it goes wrong, if it doesn't go my way, then I have the freedom, I have the control to change this.

And finally, "he names the sky his own." If you name something, it's suggesting ownership and control over it.

So more than anything, these three quotations are really emphasising this free birds freedom through his movement, through his ability to soar through and claim a name, the sky.

His life his carefree, is easy going.

He knows he is in control, he is confident.

You're welcome to pause the video here and take down these three quotations, along with their annotations.

Make sure you resume the video when you're done.

Now, we're going to consider your posing image of the caged bird.

Remember Angelou describes this bird as having "his wings clipped." Now if wings are clipped It means that they're immobilised.

That means you're unable to move.

It perhaps suggests oppression because this bird is being controlled by a more powerful authority and thus it lacks freedom.

This bird, "stands on the grave of dreams." The grave of dreams is suggesting that there is now a lack of opportunity.

There's no freedom of movement, there's no freedom or control over their own life, They are all stuck.

They had dreams, but they have died.

And so they stand on the grave of those dreams, knowing that they will never have the opportunity to fulfil the dreams that they had.

And finally "sings of freedom." Now this is a lovely image and really interesting one.

It's suggesting that for them, freedom is this unknown quantity that they hope for.

They know it exists, but they don't know it themselves.

Now, the fact that the caged bird "sings of freedom" is suggesting that freedom is a natural thing that is deserved by all.

So let's go into that in a little bit more detail.

It feels in this poem, like the caged bird has been caged since birth.

So it knows nothing else other than being caged.

It's experienceD nothing else other than being caged.

However, it feels like this bird has this inner, this built in natural knowledge of what freedom is, whether or not they've experienced it, they know what freedom is.

And so perhaps Angelou was suggesting that freedom in all shapes and forms, that is what is natural.

That is what is deserved by everyone.

And it's actually oppression and control in the form of those clipped wings that is unnatural.

So freedom being an inner naturally inbuilt thing that we all need and we all desire.

As with the previous quotations, you're welcome to pause the video here and take down some annotations.

Now, it's important to note that this image on the left hand side of the caged bird is actually an image that Maya Angelou uses in her own autobiography.

And an image that really is important to her because this image of this caged bird controlled, lacking power, lacking freedom is an image that resonates with her.

It means something to her and many other African American people, because this caged bird is a representation of oppression of control by those in power, by those who have authority over you.

And so in her poem, Angelou, isn't simply talking about a free bird versus a caged bird.

She has very specifically constructed, she's made the image of a caged bird as a symbol, more widely for the struggles that were faced by African American people.

Angelou felt that her words were often ignored due to simply the colour of her skin.

The caged bird, can also serve more widely as a symbol for anyone, anyone who has suffered depression.

So here you can see, how Angelou has used symbolism.

Her poem is not on the surface, a literal exploration of a free bird in the sky versus a caged bird in its cage.

These birds are symbols.

The free bird is a symbol for those in society who are lucky enough to be free and in control over their own lives and their decisions for whatever reason that may be, that society deems them worthy of that.

However, the caged bird represents the opposite.

It represents those groups in society that have suffered from oppression and control and a lack of freedom.

And so Angelou writes from her own personal experience, on this occasion, but the bird symbol can serve more widely as a symbol for anyone who has suffered from oppression.

So, you'll find a task for considering symbolism in the poem is to do the following.

I'd like you to write me a paragraph to answer, why does Angelou use contrasting images of a bird in her poem, "Caged Bird?" You've got some useful vocab there.

You may wish to use freedom versus oppression, equality and lack of opportunity.

So please pause the video here and complete your task and resume the video once you're finished.

Thank you.

Let's talk through an example response to this question.

I'm going to talk you through it in sections.

In her poem, "Caged Bird," Maya Angelou uses contrasting images of a bird to highlight the different opportunities, afforded different groups in society.

Great.

So this person has introduced the poem, they've introduced the poem title, they've introduced the poets themselves.

And they've said, the worth of the poem is to highlight the different opportunities that are given that are afforded different groups in society.

She begins by describing a free bird who "leaps and dares to claim the sky." Her use of "leaps" emphasises the birds freedom of movement and control over its decisions.

Great.

So this person has suggested in the opening that Angelou uses contrasting images.

Now in this next section, they are analysing the image of the free bird.

This leads me to think that they're going to.

In the rest of the paragraph, analyse images of the caged bird, let's see how they continue.

Oh yes.

On the other hand, Angelou's image of the caged bird suggests quite the opposite.

This bird is confined by limitations beyond its control.

The caged bird's wings are clipped making it immobilised and depressed.

Excellent.

This person now uses on the other hand to analyse the contrasting image of the caged bird, and they use some really nice high level vocabulary here, immobilised and also a word oppressed.

Angelou's "Caged Bird" serves as a symbol for the struggles faced by African American people.

Angelou felt her words were often ignored due to the colour of her skin.

The "Caged Bird" can also represent more widely, the oppressive experiences suffered by other marginalised groups in society.

Great.

So this person has tied up their paragraph by considering why Angelou does this.

What is the "Caged Bird?" We've talked earlier about the fact that it isn't meant to be taken on the literal sense.

Angelou isn't saying, "Oh, there's some birds that are free and there was some birds that are caged." Although I'm sure she does feel sympathy for those animals, she's using them as a symbol, more widely to represent society.

So her and her own personal struggles faced as an African American woman, but also we can look at this as a comment on anyone who has suffered oppression in society.

So you're welcome to pause the video here and make any necessary additions or edits to your own work, based on this example paragraph.

Please resume the video once you're finished.

So just to tie up our lesson, we're going to look at Angelou's use of free verse.

So free verse is a form of poetry that does not use a regular rhyme or rhythm.

Can you read that with me? Free verse is a form of poetry that does not use a regular rhyme or rhythm.

So with this in mind, why do you think a writer might use free verse in their poem? I'd like you to pause the video here and put a point a couple of ideas.

To consider why might a writer use free verse in their poem? Please resume the video once you're finished.

Thank you.

I'd love to hear your ideas.

So, after three, why might a writer use free verse in a poem? One, two, three.

Thank you.

Lets consider is that he, why a writer might use free verse? Specifically Angelou in her poem, "Caged Bird." So let's consider, why Angelou's decides to use free birds in her poem? Consider this quotation, "sings of freedom." Freedom is a key idea that is explored throughout the poem.

Either, freedom that is afforded the free bird and those groups in society, or the lack of freedom for our caged bird and oppressed members of society.

So how can we relate that to free verse? Well, free verse equals freedom.

There's no constraints, there's no regular line.

There's no regular rhythm that the poet has to abide by.

And so perhaps, the free verse in Angelou's poem, the freedom of expression could represent her and society's desire freedom for the caged bird.

So those oppressed controlled members of society.

Through her use of free verse, she is suggesting what she wants for society.

She wants no constraints, she wants freedom.

She wants to end any form of oppression.

So with this in mind, I'd like you to write me a short paragraph to answer, why does Angelou, use free verse in her poem "Caged Bird?" With your answer, I would like you to include a short definition of what three verses and a link to Angelou's poem.

Why specifically does Angelou choose to use free verse? Please pause the video here to complete your task and resume once you're finished.

Great.

Let's talk through this example response.

Maya Angelou uses free verse in her poem "Caged Bird." This means the poet does not use a regular rhyme or rhythm.

Great.

This person has introduced the poet, the poems title and they have given us a very short, succinct definition of free verse.

Free verse allows the poet complete freedom as there is no constraints on their verse.

Perhaps Angelou uses this form of poetry to echo her desired freedom for the "Caged Bird." And more widely the oppressed members of society.

Great.

So this person ends on a really nice detailed but concise sentence that explores why Angelou uses free verse, to echo or as a symbol of freedom for the caged bird and more widely the oppressed members of society, because free verse has no constraints, no regular rhyme, no regular rhythm, she wants that to be echoed in society.

She does not want oppression to exist in any way shape or form in the wider world.

You're welcome to pause the video here and make any necessary edits or additions to your own answer.

Please resume the video once you're finished.

Thank you for all of your hard work and engagement during both this lesson and our whole scheme of work.

I'm hoping that I have proved to you the power of the written word, especially in its poetic form.

Please don't forget to complete the end of lesson quiz and I hope our paths cross in the future.

Bye for now.