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. 

  

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.

Personification- is when a nonhuman object is given human characteristics, "The caged bird sings -with a fearful trill -of things unknown -but longed for still" (Angelou, 40-43) This makes the connection to the caged bird stronger, we can relate more to him because we feel the same emotions that he feels. 

Repetition-is a technique in which a sound, word, line, or phrase is repeated for emphasis "his wings are clipped and his feet are tied-so he opens his throat to sing. " (Angelou, 13-16) Angelou uses these lines to make sure the concept of being cage and not free is apparent.

Diction-is word choice. Diction can be formal or informal, abstract or concrete, plain or ornate, ordinary, or technical." But a bird that stalks-down his narrow cage-can seldom see through -his bars of rage" (Angelou, 9-12) The word rage and stalks portrays feelings of frustration and a trapped feeling. Rage is a stronger word than mad and that's why Angelou choose these words. 

 
Connotation- an association that a word calls to minding addition to its dictionary meaning."his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream" (Angelou, 45-46) Scream and shout are very powerful words. The fact that the caged bird is screaming to get out is very saddening.

Figurative Language- is writing or speech not meant to be interpreted literally. It creates vivid word pictures makes writing more emotional. "and dips his wing 

in the orange sun rays-and dares to claim the sky." (Angelou, 4-7) The bird cannot physically dip it's wing into the sun rays, it just creates the picture of a free bird flying around in the morning sun.