Question

read the stanzas.
the free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms 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.
—\caged bird,\
maya angelou
what can the reader better understand about the caged
bird after having read about the free bird?
○ why the emotional pain of oppression makes the
caged bird shout
○ why the caged bird stands on the grave and shouts
○ why the caged bird sings of freedom after having a
nightmare
○ why the caged bird fears freedom and sings instead

Explanation:

The poem contrasts the free bird with the caged bird. The free bird has access to natural elements like breeze, trees, and worms, and claims the sky. The caged bird, with clipped wings and tied feet (symbolizing oppression), has its dreams (represented by "grave of dreams") restricted. The caged bird's "shadow shouts on a nightmare scream" shows its emotional pain. When the reader knows the free bird's situation (freedom, access to resources), it highlights the caged bird's lack. The caged bird sings as a response to its oppression (emotional pain). The other options:

• "stands on the grave" is more about the state of dreams being dead (from the text "grave of dreams") rather than the main contrast with the free bird.
• There's no indication in the text that the caged bird's singing is after a nightmare in a causal way related to the free bird's description.
• The caged bird doesn't fear freedom; it's restricted from it (as shown by clipped wings and tied feet).

Answer:

why the emotional pain of oppression makes the caged bird shout