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The theme of "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" is being fearless, brave, and having trust that everything will be okay. In this poem, there is not a rhyme scheme, but many rhyming couplets are used throughout the poem.  The true meaning of this poem is that there is really nothing to fear, because fear only makes things worse. The author is trying to express that no one can hurt her, and she will do the things that she wants to do. When she was young, Maya Angelou was a victim of abuse and poverty. She also lived through the time period of World War II, which was a scary time for everyoneHer hardships made her a stronger person and more courageous, which shows in this poem. She wrote this poem in order to show that it is important to be strong and believe in yourself. This poem is something that everyone can relate to and apply to their lives because fear is a common trait in society.

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The theme of "Caged Bird"  is restrictions that are placed on people and how speaking up about issues is important. The description of the caged bird and the free bird are actually references to black and white people. During the author's time she lived in a time period where segregation was huge, and so was discrimination. She was a black woman so she knew what it was like to have restrictions and that is why she calls them caged birds.  The poem is basically all about speaking up for what is right. Maya Angelou was a Civil Rights Activist, so she was definitely able to use her words to stick up for what she believed in. There is no rhyme scheme used in this poem, but that just adds to the intensity that the poem serves. Maya wrote this poem to show that people are not alone and that people should never silence their beliefs because they are important, and that is what the birds singing represents.

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By: Isabelle Pavese

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Metaphor- a comparison between two unlike things without using"like" or "as". In the poem, "Caged Bird" Angelou writes, "But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams"(Angleou,27).The caged bird is a metaphor for people who are struggling with freedom and expressing themselves.

Repetition-a technique in which a sound, word, phrase or line is repeated for emphasis or unity. in the poem "Caged Bird" Angelou writes, " his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing."(Angelou,13-14).This phrase is used twice in this poem which gives it more emphasis.

Imagery- the descriptive language used in literature to recreate sensory. Imagery is shown in "Caged Bird" when the author says, "till the current ends and dips his wing in the orange sun rays" ( Angelou,4-6). This is an example of imagery because it creates a clear mental picture for the reader.

Onomatopoeia- use of words whose sounds echo their meanings. Onomatopoeia is shown in the poem "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" when it says, " I go boo Make them shoo" (Angelou, 13-14). This is onomatopoeia because boo is really the sound that word makes.

Hyperbole- a deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. In the poem "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" it is stated,"I can walk the ocean floor And never have to breathe." (Angelou,39-40) This is a hyperbole because obviously people can't walk in the ocean, or breathe in the ocean so it is an exaggeration.

Personification- when a nonhuman object is given human characteristics. Personification is shown in "Caged Bird" when Angelou writes, "his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream" ( Angelou,28). This is a clear example of personification because shadows cannot shout.

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Shadows on the wall
Noises down the hall
Life doesn’t frighten me at all

Bad dogs barking loud
Big ghosts in a cloud
Life doesn’t frighten me at all

Mean old Mother Goose
Lions on the loose
They don’t frighten me at all

Dragons breathing flame
On my counterpane
That doesn’t frighten me at all.

I go boo
Make them shoo
I make fun
Way they run
I won’t cry
So they fly
I just smile
They go wild

Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Tough guys fight

All alone at night
Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Panthers in the park
Strangers in the dark
No, they don’t frighten me at all.

That new classroom where
Boys all pull my hair
(Kissy little girls
With their hair in curls)
They don’t frighten me at all.

Don’t show me frogs and snakes
And listen for my scream,
If I’m afraid at all
It’s only in my dreams.

I’ve got a magic charm
That I keep up my sleeve
I can walk the ocean floor
And never have to breathe.

Life doesn’t frighten me at all
Not at all
Not at all.

Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

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Angelou, Maya. "Caged Bird." Poetry Foundation. Poetry   Foundation, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.

Lobo✔, Posted By Carmen. "Life Doesn't Frighten Me – Maya Angelou / Jean-Michel Basquiat." ART & Thoughts. N.p., 08 June 2014. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.

"Maya Angelou." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, 05 Aug. 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2017.

Popova, Maria. " Life Doesn't Frighten Me: Maya Angelou's Courageous Children's Verses, Illustrated by Basquiat. " Brain Pickings. N.p., 22 Dec. 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.

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A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till 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 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.

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.

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Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928. When she was very young, she was abused and was so traumatized that she didn't talk for five years. Not only was she a poet, but she was also a civil rights activist. In the 1960s Maya became northern coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. She has won several awards in her lifetime. For example, in 2000, she was given the National Medal of Arts, and in 2010 she was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On top of all her other accomplishments, Maya was also the first black woman director. Some of her most well-known poems/ poetry books include; "Still I Rise", "Caged Bird", " A Brave and Startling Truth", "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie", and many more. She achieved many great things in her lifetime, and died on May 28, 2014.