Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird'.
Key learning points
- An extended metaphor is a detailed comparison which develops one idea over a number of lines, paragraphs or stanzas.
- In 'Caged Bird', the idea of a bird in a cage is an extended metaphor for the unjust experiences of the Black community.
- In 'Caged Bird', Angelou is perhaps referencing the racial segregation enforced by the 19th-20th century Jim Crow laws.
- When comparing two poems, it can be useful to first think about what connects them.
- After finding a point of connection between poems, you could consider the differences within this point of connection.
Keywords
Extended metaphor - a detailed comparison which develops one idea over a number of lines, paragraphs or stanzas
Legacy - long lasting impact of a certain event
Resilient - being able to cope, withstand and recover from difficult physical or mental challenge
Persevere - to keep doing something even if it is difficult
Oppress - to treat someone, or a group of people, unfairly
Common misconception
The caged bird is presented as completely powerless.
Although the bird in the cage is confined, he still has power, through his song which speaks to his unbroken spirit. We are meant to draw a parallel to the strength of the Black community.
Teacher tip
Consider how you wish to read 'Caged Bird' with your pupils in Learning Cycle 1. Who will read, when and why? What further questions do you wish to ask? Are there any words you want to define further? Could watching Angelou perform this poem aid enjoyment and understanding?
Equipment
You need access to a copy of 'Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou published by Penguin Random House in 1978 and 'Caged Bird' by Maya Angelou published by Penguin Random House in 1983.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Poems are usually divided into …? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q2.Match each of these poems, all written by Maya Angelou, to their overall focus. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
a 1st person speaker explains why they are confident and amazing
a 1st person speaker tells us how she overcomes oppression
a 1st person speaker lists what they don’t find scary and why
Q3.Match these words to their definitions ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
to keep doing something even if it is difficult
being able to cope, withstand and recover from hardship
long lasting impact of a certain event
to treat someone, or a group of people, unfairly
Q4.A is a method of comparison where a writer uses a non-literal word or phrase to describe something. For example, 'My sister has a heart of gold.' ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q5.Which of these is a metaphor? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q6.To persevere means to keep doing something even if it is difficult. Which of these sentences uses the word persevere correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Maya Angelou wrote a poem called ' Bird'. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q2.Which of these verbs describe the bird that is free in Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q3.Which of these verbs describe the bird that is in the cage in Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q4.Starting with the first that was published, put these Maya Angelou poems in the order they were published ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Q5.An metaphor is a detailed comparison which develops one idea over a number of lines, paragraphs or stanzas. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q6.The final word in Maya Angelou's poem 'Caged Bird' is " " ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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