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I would say this book is a "good story" in the sense that Angelou is able to effectively retell her lived experiences in a way that is enjoyable to read. The book almost reads like fiction, as it provides a very detailed and chronological recount of Maya Angelou's life and has a lot of dialogue. Angelou uses specific, detailed language and symbolism that helps convey her personal thoughts and feelings towards her experiences.

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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: And Still I Rise | "Caged Bird" | PBS LearningMedia

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In this video from American Masters | Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, students analyze an excerpt of the poem Caged Bird. Through discussion questions and a short activity, students analyze the poem by doing a close read of the text and examine the literary techniques used.

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Maya Angelou was born April 4th, 1928 in St. Louis Missouri. She was one of the most influential Black American authors and a devoted civil rights activist. In her 50 active years as a writer, Angelou wrote autobiographies, essays, poetry, and worked on plays, films, and television shoes. As an activist, she spent time working for Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.  In 2010, Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. She passed away on May 28th, 2014 at the age of 86 but her impact remains.

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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1969, is the first of seven autobiographies by Maya Angelou. It covers Angelou's life from age three to age seventeen. She was inspired to write it by fellow author James Baldwin.

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Maya Angelou is one of those important figures that most people know of but don't know much about. I was inspired to read this book after a class in AP Lang a couple months ago where we covered a poem of hers. I had no knowledge of Angelou's background prior to reading the book. It has given me a new perspective and given more meaning to what I initially learned in class. From what I have read so far, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a story about perseverance. The book covers extremely dark topics yet maintains a feeling of hope. When I have the time, I would love to continue reading the book and see how the story progresses. The fact that I am thinking of Angelou's own life as a story in the same way as the plot of a fiction book speaks to her ability as a writer.

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Brief summary of what I have read so far

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Brief summary of what I have read so far

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After their parents break up, three year old Maya and four year old Bailey are sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Stamps was a heavily segregated town and the Black side had to endure much racism from the white side. Their grandmother, known as Momma owned a small store which provided some stability. The children grew up and settled into life in Stamps until, at age seven, their father takes them to live with their mother, Vivian, and her boyfriend, Freeman, who molests and rapes Maya. Evidence of the rape is discovered and Freeman is found guilty but he is found dead  a day after the trial. In the aftermath of all of this, Maya goes mute to everyone except for Bailey and the children are returned to Stamps.

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In the early 1980s, many parents began to complain about the book's inclusion in schools. They claimed ts subject matter of racism and rape was inappropriate. Many schools caved to the complaints and removed the book from the curriculum and from school libraries. The book ranked third on the American Library Association's list of 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000.