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 free bird's description of its freedom (thinking of another breeze, trade winds, fat worms, naming the sky its own) contrasts with the caged bird's situation (standing on the grave of dreams, shadow shouting, wings clipped, feet tied). This contrast highlights the caged bird's emotional pain of oppression. When the caged bird sings, it's an expression of that pain. The other options are less supported: there's no indication the caged bird stands on a literal grave (so the second option is off - the "grave of dreams" is metaphorical), there's no mention of a nightmare leading to singing of freedom (third option), and the caged bird doesn't fear freedom (fourth option).

Answer:

why the emotional pain of oppression makes the caged bird shout