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How to Write a Biopoem
Last Updated: September 5, 2023 Fact Checked
This article was reviewed by Annaliese Dunne . Annaliese Dunne is a Middle School English Teacher. With over 10 years of teaching experience, her areas of expertise include writing and grammar instruction, as well as teaching reading comprehension. She is also an experienced freelance writer. She received her Bachelor's degree in English. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 71,610 times.
A biopoem is a poem with a very specific formula. It describes a person, and it is 10 lines long. You can write a biopoem about yourself or about someone else; the formula works either way.
Constructing a Biopoem
![autobiographical poem assignment Step 1 In the first line, use the person’s first name.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1d/Write-a-Biopoem-Step-1.jpg/v4-460px-Write-a-Biopoem-Step-1.jpg)
- Fierce unyielding brave tall
- Son of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, husband of Mary Lincoln
- Lover of freedom, tall hats, and good speeches
- Who felt patriotism for his country and who felt grief at a divided nation
- Who feared what would become of a divided country, feared the south would win, feared the costs of war
- Who issued the Emancipation Proclamation and who won the Civil War
- Who wanted to see the nation whole again
- Born in Kentucky, died at Ford’s Theater in Washington, DC
Writing and Formatting a Biopoem
![autobiographical poem assignment Step 1 Think about what characteristics make a person unique.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9e/Write-a-Biopoem-Step-12.jpg/v4-460px-Write-a-Biopoem-Step-12.jpg)
Sample Biopoem
![autobiographical poem assignment autobiographical poem assignment](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/ca/Biopoem_sample.png/340px-Biopoem_sample.png)
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- ↑ https://www.readwritethink.org/sites/default/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson398/biopoem.pdf
- ↑ https://www.canteach.ca/resources/english-language-arts/poetry/how-to-write-a-bio-poem/
- ↑ https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/bio-poem-connecting-identity-and-poetry
- ↑ https://www.dyslexiasupportservices.com.au/pdf_files/BioPoem.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pebblego.com/sites/default/files/files/Bio%20Poem.pdf
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Bio-Poem Examples
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Get the Bio-Poem Examples Handout
Bio-poem examples pdf, bio-poem examples google doc.
Share these bio-poem examples with students to use as a guide when they write their own bio-poems . Jackson Friendly, silly, athletic, tall Son of John and Brenda Who loves chocolate chip ice cream, the Grizzlies, and Saturdays Who feels happy, tired, and lucky And who is scared of tests, thunderstorms, and failure Who learned how to shoot a three-point shot and won a basketball trophy Who hopes to see an NBA game and make his parents proud Lives in Memphis, Tennessee Tillman Emily Loud, short, gymnast, smiley, responsible Friend of Lila, Carly, and Grace Loves to do cartwheels, eat raw cookie dough, and write poetry Who feels excited on weekends and embarrassed at school Who learned how to do a handstand when she was three years old Who hopes that everyone could get along Resident of Tennessee Garner Martin Proud, courageous, eloquent, wise Leader to millions Who loved nonviolence, god, and humanity Who felt outraged by hate and prejudice And who was inspired by acts of kindness Who gained greater dignity for his people And hoped everyone could leave in peace He lives in our hearts Luther King, Jr.
How to Cite This Handout
Facing History & Ourselves, “ Bio-Poem Examples ”, last updated February 17, 2023.
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How to Teach Your Students to Write Biography Poems
Students can tell their stories in a playful way
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Biography poems, or Bio poems, are a quick and easy way for young students to learn poetry . They allow students to express their personality and introduce themselves to others, making them a perfect activity for the first day of school. Bio poems can also be used to describe someone else, making them perfect for history lessons or other subjects where students might be studying key historical figures. You will see in the examples below that students can research someone like Rosa Parks , then create a Bio poem on her.
What Are Bio Poems?
Below, you can read three examples of Bio Poems. One is about a teacher, one is about a student, and one is about a famous person that students researched.
Sample Bio Poem of a Teacher
Kind, funny, hard-working, loving
Sister of Amy
Lover of Computers, Friends, and Harry Potter books
Who feels excited on the first day of school, sad when she watches the news, and happy to open a new book
Who needs people, books, and computers
Who gives help to students, smiles to her husband, and letters to family and friends
Who fears war, hunger, and bad days
Who would like to visit the pyramids in Egypt , teach the world’s greatest third graders, and read on the beach in Hawaii
Resident of California
Sample Bio Poem of a Student
Athletic, strong, determined, fast
Son of Janelle and Nathan and brother to Reesa
Loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, sports, and Baked Beans
Who feels happy when playing with friends, and happy when playing sports and being with his family
Who needs books, family, and Legos to by happy in life
Who makes people laugh when someone is sad, who likes to gives smiles, and loves hugging
Fears the dark, spiders, clowns
Would like to visit Paris, France
Resident of Buffalo
Sample Bio Poem of a Person Researched
Determined, Brave, Strong, Caring
Wife of Raymond Parks, and mother of her children
Who loved freedom, education, and equality
Who loved to stand up for her beliefs, loved to help others, disliked discrimination
Who feared racism would never end, who feared she wouldn't be able to make a difference, who feared she wouldn't have enough courage to fight
Who changed history by standing up to others and making a difference in equality
Who wanted to see an end to discrimination, a world that was equal, and respect was given to all
Born in Alabama, and resident in Detroit
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Poetry Center
![autobiographical poem assignment](https://poetry.arizona.edu/files/poetry-logo_0.png)
Autobiographical and Archeological: A Poetry Lesson
Sequence of activities:, welcome and introduction (10-15 minutes):.
The teaching artist can use this time to introduce themselves, what inspires them to write poetry, and perhaps even share some writing of their own. Students can also introduce themselves. In addition to sharing their names, students can answer/share their response to the following (or another fun question the teaching artist invents):
Imagine yourself as an animal, object, or color. What do you have in common with that animal, object, or color?
Following introductions, facilitate a relaxed, informal, low stakes discussion on the following question, reminding students there is no such thing as a “right/wrong” answer. We’re sharing our opinions, in so far as we are comfortable to do so. These questions set students up to think about their own personal histories:
What are the ingredients of you? How would you describe your character or personality?
What personal stories influence who you are? These could be family stories, family history, stories from your childhood, etc.
Literary Model and Discussion (10 minutes):
The teaching artist can share the following before inviting a student to read the below poem aloud:
Poetry (and any writing) can be autobiographical, meaning it tells your story. Your unique and specific background and journey, whether talking about your childhood, adulthood, or even your ancestry and family history as major ingredients of yourself.
“A Modified Villanelle for My Childhood” by Suzi F. Garcia does just that. As we read the poem, pay special attention to the way she strings words together. Words that sound alike or rhyme (or almost rhyme, which is a slant rhyme). As the poem is read out loud, try finding and listening to the rhythm. Is it a rhythm you can snap your fingers, clap your hands, or tap your foot to?
Read the poem here.
Questions for Discussion:
What is a myth? How can a poem about yourself be mythical? Think of one myth about yourself (write it down or share it out loud).
What do archaeologists do? How can a poem be archeological? Is a poet an archeologist?
Individual Writing (10-15 minutes):
In a quiet, focused atmosphere, perhaps with each student finding their own special place to write (a corner, the school garden, or simply at their desk with some folders up for privacy), invite students to dive into their own writing. Below is the full prompt:
Write an autobiographical poem that is both archeological and mythical. Write a poem about you . Fill it with lots of detailed images or description about your personality, family history, childhood, dreams and hopes and wishes, and more. Who were you? Who are you? Who do you want to become?
Mythical can also mean magical. Magical can mean telling a truth about yourself through metaphors, exaggerations, symbolism, or wild imagination. You can be bold here. You want wings? Give yourself wings. You want to be a fire-breathing dragon? Be a fire-breathing dragon. Stay playful, trust your imagination. Your imagination knows you deeply.
Sharing (15-20 minutes):
Never force sharing, that’s my personal philosophy. Writing and art can be intensely personal and if the atmosphere is right, students will decide if it’s timely to share. So this section is simply to create an inviting space for those who do feel ready to share. You can invite students to read their own poems, have a friend read it for them, or even have the teacher read it for them.
Illustration and Extension Activities:
If the teaching artist wished to extend the lesson over multiple days, they could use the below prompts:
- Write an autobiographical poem that takes one word and rhymes it throughout the poem in a song-like way. Garcia uses words that end in “-ical” like magical, radical, biblical, comical. Another example would be words that end in “-azing”, such amazing, star-gazing, razing. End most of your lines with these rhyming words and sprinkle them in other places throughout the poem too.
- Draw a self-portrait out of words. Instead of lines, use written words that describe who you are, who you want to be, who you were, who you could be, etc. Some words can be big, some small. Use regular handwriting, cursive, bubble letters, and more. The only rule is: you can’t draw lines. Words, words, and more words. Draw an outline with pencil and use pen to make the words follow the outline. When the portrait is done, erase the pencil outline so only the pen words remain.
- A challenge: Explore the villanelle aspect of Garcia’s poem! Learn more about villanelles here. Which lines or words are repeating in Garcia’s poem? Use several highlighters to color code repeating lines/words. Then write your own villanelle. You can use your poem from the initial autobiographical writing exercise in this lesson plan and modify it to fit the villanelle form.
Contributor:
Objectives: , education level: , genre: , format: , time frame: , prior knowledge/skills: , required materials: , literary model: , lesson plan: .
![application/pdf PDF icon](https://poetry.arizona.edu/modules/file/icons/application-pdf.png)
![autobiographical poem assignment PoemVerse](https://poemverse.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/cropped-poemverse.jpg)
- Expressing Identity Through Bio Poems
Poetry is a powerful tool for self-expression and reflection. One captivating form of poetry that allows individuals to share their unique stories is the bio poem. A bio poem is a structured poem that provides a glimpse into a person's life, thoughts, and experiences. By capturing key aspects of their identity, bio poems become a canvas for personal expression. In this article, we will explore the beauty of bio poems by providing examples that showcase the diverse ways in which individuals can tell their stories.
Example 1: A Bio Poem Celebrating Strength
Example 2: a bio poem reflecting on life's journey, example 3: a bio poem celebrating creativity.
Miranda Courageous, determined, and resilient Lover of adventure, seeker of the unknown Who feels exhilaration in the face of challenge Who fears conformity and mediocrity Who would like to see a world united in compassion Resident of a heart filled with wanderlust Smith
In this example, Miranda presents herself as a person filled with strength and determination. She embraces her love for adventure and seeks to push her boundaries. Miranda's poem also reveals her desire for a more empathetic world, emphasizing her longing for unity and compassion.
Liam Dreamer, philosopher, eternal student Lover of books, melodies, and starry nights Who feels the weight of time's passing moments Who fears the regrets of an unlived life Who would like to see a world connected by empathy Resident of a mind always seeking knowledge Johnson
Liam's bio poem reflects his introspective nature and thirst for knowledge. The poem suggests that he cherishes the beauty of literature, music, and the cosmos. By highlighting his fear of an unlived life, Liam emphasizes the importance of seizing opportunities and making the most of each passing moment.
Amelia Imaginative, artistic, free-spirited soul Lover of colors, melodies, and blank canvases Who feels joy in each stroke of a paintbrush Who fears the silence of a creative block Who would like to see a world where art is valued Resident of a heart that beats to a creative rhythm Anderson
Amelia's bio poem celebrates her creative spirit and passion for artistic expression. The poem suggests that she finds immense joy and fulfillment in the act of painting. Her fear of a creative block highlights the vulnerability and sensitivity that often accompanies the artistic process.
Bio poems offer a beautiful and concise way to express one's identity, aspirations, and fears. Through carefully chosen words and structured lines, individuals can create poetic snapshots of their lives. Whether celebrating strengths, reflecting on life's journey, or honoring creativity, bio poems provide an opportunity for self-reflection and connection. So why not give it a try? Write your own bio poem and embrace the power of poetry to tell your unique story.
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Write a Biography Poem
About this worksheet:.
A biography poem, also called a bio poem, is a short poem which describes a person or thing. While the actual format may vary, it usually follows a specific form. In this worksheet, students write a bio poem about themselves.
![autobiographical poem assignment Free, Printable Bio Poem Worksheet - Write One About Yourself!](https://www.k12reader.com/wp-content/uploads/write_a_biography_poem.jpg)
Autobiographical Poetry
- Living reference work entry
- First Online: 12 June 2021
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- Mihye Bang 2
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Victorian women poets wrote in diverse autobiographical modes. Victorian women’s autobiographical poetry was not confined to the “autobiography in verse” as defined by the male canon with explicitly autobiographical intentions, and an extended definition of it is necessary to illuminate their self-writing in verse. While prejudices about women self-exposure to public prevailed during the nineteenth century, women poets were not able to recount their private lives freely. Instead, they showed differing uses of self-reflexivity in their poems, including recollection of the poet’s past, appropriation of the poet’s biographical womanhood to create a lyric persona, and fictionalized self-reflection as the artist. Bourgeois women poets generally preferred to imply their biographical facts in their lyric poetry or mediate them through dramatization or fictionalization. Working-class women poets, in contrast, often explicitly revealed their nonnormative life experiences in an effort...
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Anderson, Linda. 2001. Autobiography . London: Routledge.
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———. 2006. Autobiography and the feminist subject. In The Cambridge companion to feminist literary theory , ed. Ellen Rooney, 119–135. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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Brown, Susan. 2000. The Victorian poetess. In The Cambridge companion to Victorian poetry , ed. Joseph Bristow, 180–202. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Easley, Alexis. 2019. Publishing and reception. In The Cambridge companion to Victorian women’s poetry , ed. Linda K. Hughes, 97–113. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Friedman, Susan Stanford. 1988. Women’s autobiographical selves: Theory and practice. In The private self: Theory and practice of women’s autobiographical writings , ed. Shari Benstock, 34–62. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.
Lejeune, Philippe. 1989. The autobiographical pact. In On autobiography. Trans. Katherine Leary, 3–30. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Pascal, Roy. 1960. Design and truth in autobiography . New York: Routledge.
Peterson, Linda H. 1999. ‘For my better self’: Auto/biographies of the poetess, the Prelude of the poet laureate, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Aurora Leigh . In Traditions of Victorian women’s autobiography: the poetics and politics of life writing , 109–145. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia.
Rosen, Judith. 2001. Class and poetic communities: The works of Ellen Johnston, ‘The Factory Girl.’. Victorian Poetry 39: 207–228.
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Bang, M. (2021). Autobiographical Poetry. In: The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Victorian Women's Writing. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02721-6_340-1
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By Maya Angelou
‘Caged Bird’, or ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ as the poem is sometimes referred to, by Maya Angelou, is arguably one of the most moving and eye-opening poems ever written.
Maya Angelou
Nationality: American
She's also known for her autobiographical works.
Key Poem Information
Unlock more with Poetry +
Central Message: Freedom versus oppression and resilient hope.
Themes: Desire , Disappointment , Dreams , Identity , Journey
Speaker: Unknown
Emotions Evoked: Anger , Bravery , Compassion , Fear , Freedom , Frustration , Grief , Hope , Pain , Passion , Resilience , Sadness , Worry
Poetic Form: Free Verse
Time Period: 20th Century
'Caged Bird' is a quintessential Maya Angelou poem, beautifully capturing the struggle between feeling trapped and yearning for freedom.
![autobiographical poem assignment Allisa Corfman](https://ebbg7broonn.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Allisa-Corfman.png?strip=all&lossy=1&resize=96%2C96&ssl=1)
Poem Analyzed by Allisa Corfman
Degree in Secondary Education/English and Teacher of World Literature and Composition
Angelou also wrote an autobiography with a similar title, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings . This title had great significance to Angelou, as it was the title of her entire life story. In her autobiography, she talked about the struggle of being a Black author and poet. She often felt that her words were not heard because of the color of her skin and sought to express her experience and that of others in her contemporary moment through t he lines of this text.
Before reading ‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou, consider the following tips:
- Understand that Angelou wrote during the Civil Rights Movement, drawing from her experiences as an African American woman.
- Look for themes of freedom, oppression, and resilience. The contrasting images of the free and caged birds highlight these ideas.
- Pay attention to the symbolism of the birds. The free bird represents unrestricted freedom, while the caged bird embodies confinement and longing.
- Note the emotional tone in the caged bird’s song, which combines sorrow and hope, reflecting deep-seated yearning.
- While rooted in specific historical contexts, consider the poem's broader existential themes about human nature and the quest for liberation.
Explore Caged Bird
- 3 Structure and Form
- 4 Literary Devices
- 5 Caged Bird Metaphor
- 6 Analysis, Stanza by Stanza
- 8 Similar Poetry
![Caged Bird by Maya Angelou Caged Bird by Maya Angelou](https://ebbg7broonn.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Caged-Bird-by-Maya-Angelou-1024x512.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou is an incredibly important poem in which the poet describes the experience of two different birds, one free and one caged.
The free bird flies around the wind currents, feeling like the sky belongs to him. On the other hand, the caged bird can barely move in its prison. It’s angry and frustrating. Its wings are clipped, and its feet are tied together. All it can do is sing fearfully of what it wants and does not know. It sings for its freedom, and everyone, even far distant, can hear its song.
All the while, the free bird is focused on the breeze, the sounds the trees make, and the words in the ground he’s planning on eating. Once more, the speaker reiterates the fact that the bird feels as though it owns the sky. The poem concludes with the caged bird singing once more as the poet repeats the third stanza in its entirety.
The Poem Analysis Take
![autobiographical poem assignment Angel Nicolin Suyman](https://ebbg7broonn.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Angel-Nicolin-Suyman-Profile-Picture.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&w=840&ssl=1)
Expert Insights by Angel Nicolin Suyman
Bachelor of Secondary Education in English and M.A. in English
While I interpret this poem as a clear metaphor for racial oppression, I also feel that the poem transcends specific socio-political contexts to explore existential themes. The caged bird's song might symbolize the universal human condition, trapped by life's inherent limitations yet perpetually yearning for transcendence.
‘Caged Bird’ is filled with powerful themes. These include racial oppression, freedom/captivity, and happiness/sorrow. These themes are all wrapped together in ‘Caged Bird’ through Angelou’s depiction of the two birds, one free and one caged.
The caged bird is an extended metaphor for the Black community in America and worldwide. Angelou is alluding to the lived experience of millions of men, women, and children since the beginning of time and the variety of oppressive tactics, whether physical, mental, or economic, employed by those in power.
Black men, women, and children see “through…bars” while the free bird sores in the sky. The bird sings from a place of sadness rather than joy to convey a broader history of sorrow.
Structure and Form
‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou is a six-stanza poem that is separated into stanzas that range in length. Angelou chose to write the poem in free verse . This means that there is no single rhyme scheme or metrical pattern that unites all the lines. But, there are some examples of an iambic meter .
This adds to the overall musicality of the poem. Iambs are also generally referred to as “rising” feet when the second syllable is stressed. This plays into the content of the caged bird and the free bird. Additionally, readers should take note of the instances in which the poet makes use of half-rhyme .
Literary Devices
Angelou makes use of several literary devices in ‘ Caged Bird.’ These include but are not limited to:
- Alliteration : another form of repetition , but one that is solely focused on the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of multiple words. For example, “sun” and “sky” at the end of stanza one and “cage / can” in lines three and four of stanza two.
- Enjambment : another important literary device that’s also quite common in contemporary poetry. It appears when a poet cuts off a sentence or phrase with a line break before its natural stopping point. For example, the transition between lines one and two of the first stanza and lines three and four of the second stanza.
- Repetition : is seen throughout the poem but most prominently in the structure of the stanzas and the continual reference to the “free bird” and “caged bird.” One of the best examples is seen in the sixth stanza, in which the poet repeats the entire third stanza.
- Symbolism : the use of an image to represent something else. In this case, the caged bird symbolizes the confined and oppressed African American community in the United States.
- Irony : occurs when an outcome is different than expected. For example, it is ironic that the free bird isn’t singing, but the caged bird is.
Caged Bird Metaphor
In Maya Angelou’s ‘Caged Bird,’ the poet uses two bird metaphors . The free bird symbolizes white Americans or all free people who enjoy equal rights. The caged bird is a metaphor for/symbolizes oppressed Black Americans who are kept captive through racist policies.
Analysis, Stanza by Stanza
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.
In the first stanza, Maya Angelou refers to nature. She describes how “a free bird leaps on the back of the wind.” She describes the bird’s flight against the orange sky. The free bird has the right “to claim the sky.” The way she describes the “orange sun rays” gives the reader an appreciation for the natural beauty of the sky, and her description of how the bird “dips his wing” helps the reader to appreciate the bird in his natural habitat enjoying his freedom.
But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage (…) his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.
This stanza of ‘ Caged Bird’ contrasts sharply with the first. By using the word “but” to begin this stanza, the speaker prepares the reader for this contrast . Then she describes the “bird that stalks his narrow cage.” The tone is immediately and drastically changed from peaceful, satisfied, and joyful to one that is dark, unnerving, and even frustrating. She describes that this caged first “can seldom see through his bars of rage.”
While the free bird enjoys the full sky, the caged bird rarely even gets a glimpse of the sky. She claims “his wings are clipped, and his feet are tied.” Text from her autobiography reveals that Angelou often felt this way in life. She felt restricted from enjoying the freedom that should have been her right as a human being. The speaker then reveals that these are the very reasons the bird “opens his throat to sing.”
The author felt this way in her own life. She wrote and sang and danced because it was her way of expressing her longing for freedom.
Stanza Three
The caged bird sings with a fearful trill (…) for the caged bird sings of freedom.
The third stanza reverts back to the free bird, further cementing the difference between the free bird and the caged bird in the readers’ minds. She writes that a “free bird thinks of another breeze” that he can enjoy the “sighing trees” and be free to find his own food. The tone with which she writes the first and third stanzas so sharply contrasts with the second stanza that readers can feel the difference. The first and third stanzas give the reader a sense of ecstasy and thrill, making the second stanza seem all the more droll and even oppressive.
Stanza Four
The free bird thinks of another breeze (…) and he names the sky his own
The fourth stanza of ‘ Caged Bird’ continues the parallel between the free bird and the caged bird. The first line serves to starkly contrast the last line in the third stanza. It is dark and daunting. The reality of the life of the caged bird is revealed in this line.
Mentioning of ‘fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn brings around a predatorial/prey juxtaposition too. It would be the worms that would be scared for their life, losing freedom as the birds feed upon such prey. However, with a bird entrapped by a cage, the worms are the ones that have the freedom, compared to the caged bird.
Stanza Five
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams (…) so he opens his throat to sing.
That bird “stands on the grave of dreams.” This reveals the author’s feelings about her own dreams. She has so many dreams that have died because she was never given the freedom to achieve all that her white counterparts could . Discrimination and racism made up her cage, and although she sang, she felt her voice was not heard in the wide world but only by those nearest her cage. The second line of this stanza is not only dark but even frightening.
The speaker describes the bird’s cries as “shouts on a nightmare scream.” At this point, the caged bird is so despondent in his life of captivity that his screams are like that of someone having a nightmare. The author then repeats these lines:
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied So he opens his throat to sing.
Reaffirming the idea that the bird opens his mouth to sing because his desire for freedom and his desire to express himself cannot be contained.
This last stanza focuses on the caged bird yet again. The author implies that even though the caged bird may have never experienced true freedom, deep down, that bird still knows it was created to be free. Although freedom, to the caged bird, is “fearful” because it is “unknown,” he still sings “a fearful trill” because he still longed for freedom.
Here, the speaker reveals that his cry for freedom is “heard on the distant hill.” This parallels to the author and her cry for freedom in the form of equality. She feels her cries are heard, but only as soft background noise. She still feels that she is caged and that although she sings, her cries are heard only as a distant noise.
The last line states, “For the caged bird sings of freedom.” With this, the speaker implies that although the caged bird may never have experienced freedom, he still sings of it because he was created for freedom. This is paralleled to the African American struggle in Maya Angelou’s time.
She feels that Black Americans wrote and sang and danced and cried out for the freedom they deserved, but they were only heard as a distant voice. Yet, this would not stop them from crying out for freedom and equality because they knew they were made for freedom, and they would not relent until they were given their rights as human beings to enjoy the freedom they were created to enjoy.
‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou is about the two different experiences of two birds. One is caged and suffers from its lack of freedom, while the other is free to do as it pleases. The caged bird sings to cope with its confinement.
The caged bird symbolizes the desire to be free. Specifically, the African American community’s efforts to achieve equality in every part of life and break free from the confines of personal and institutional racism.
‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings ‘ or ‘Caged Bird’ expresses the importance of freedom. She compares the plight of a caged bird to the suffering of the African American community.
The lack of freedom in ‘Caged Bird’ inspires the caged bird to sing while the free bird does not. Its desperate cry is not a happy one but it is the only way the bird can cope with being locked up.
The caged bird standing on a grave of dreams symbolizes the entire history of cruelty and confinement inflicted upon the African American community and other marginalized communities throughout history.
Similar Poetry
Readers who enjoyed ‘Caged Bird’ should also consider reading some other Maya Angelou poems . These include:
- ‘ Phenomenal Woman ‘ – defies the stereotypes women often face today. It is a poem filled with strength and determination.
- ‘ Still I Rise ‘ – describes, through positive and joyful language, a speaker’s allure as a woman. She has irresistibly beautiful features and a strength that makes her stand out.
- ‘ Life Doesn’t Frighten Me ‘ – is a simple poem that describes the fears, or lack thereof, that a child speaker has.
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20th century, disappointment, frustration, african americans, black lives matter, discrimination, life struggles, overcoming adversity, perseverance, personification, women's rights, women's strength.
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good analysis .it’s very helpful for literature students
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Thank you. That’s our goal.
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1. Before the lesson, write your own bio poem following the example on the next page. You'll need this to share with your students when you start the lesson. 2. Begin by telling your students that they are going to create simple poems about themselves called "bio poems.". Display and read your example to the class. 3.
This activity helps students clarify important elements of their identities by writing a poem about themselves or about a historical or literary figure. Bio-poems help students get beyond the aspects of identity that are often more obvious and familiar (such as ethnicity, gender, and age) by asking them to focus on factors that shape identity ...
Bio poems generally don't rhyme, and they can be autobiographical or biographical. It's best to have students begin by writing Bio Poems about themselves, but later they can write about famous historical figures or story characters. Pages 3 though 6 in this packet deal specifically with Bio Poems about oneself, but I've also included
4. In the fourth line, add a couple of things the person appreciated or loved. It can be people, as well. For example: "Lover of freedom, tall hats, and good speeches". [4] 5. For the fifth line, write about feelings that person had in his or her lifetime.
Biopoem Sample. Rosa. Determined, brave, strong, loving. Wife of Raymond Parks, mother of all children. Who loved equality, freedom, and the benefits of a good education. Who hated discrimination, loved to stand up for her beliefs, and loved to help others. Who feared that racism would continue, feared losing the opportunity to make a ...
Share these bio-poem examples with students to use as a guide when they write their own bio-poems. Jackson. Friendly, silly, athletic, tall. Son of John and Brenda. Who loves chocolate chip ice cream, the Grizzlies, and Saturdays. Who feels happy, tired, and lucky. And who is scared of tests, thunderstorms, and failure.
A biography is a description of the most salient aspects of a person's life. In most cases, a bio poem definition can also include an autobiographical poem that the individual writes about ...
Sample Bio Poem of a Teacher. Beth. Kind, funny, hard-working, loving. Sister of Amy. Lover of Computers, Friends, and Harry Potter books. Who feels excited on the first day of school, sad when she watches the news, and happy to open a new book. Who needs people, books, and computers.
Write an autobiographical poem that takes one word and rhymes it throughout the poem in a song-like way. Garcia uses words that end in "-ical" like magical, radical, biblical, comical. Another example would be words that end in "-azing", such amazing, star-gazing, razing. End most of your lines with these rhyming words and sprinkle them ...
This is an autobiographical poem about yourself and your life. Finish the sentence stems in ways that describe you and your feelings. Your name ... My Bio Poem. Title: My Autobiography Poem Worksheet Created Date: 8/3/2006 6:07:33 AM ...
Bio poems offer a beautiful and concise way to express one's identity, aspirations, and fears. Through carefully chosen words and structured lines, individuals can create poetic snapshots of their lives. Whether celebrating strengths, reflecting on life's journey, or honoring creativity, bio poems provide an opportunity for self-reflection and ...
Auto-Bio Poem Poetry deals with the emotions, just as music. An autobiographical poem is personal—it reveals something about the person writing the poem. It does not have to rhyme. Below is a simple plan to write your own autobiographical poem. Just follow the steps and—before you know it—it's done. 1. First name: 2. Four descriptive ...
Bio Poem Examples. Reading bio poem examples can be helpful in understanding how these poems are written. The following bio poem features the main character from William Shakespeare's play ...
Autobiographical Poem Project Choice Board and Rubric. This assignment will help all of us to get to know one another better! We will demonstrate the best and maybe what even makes us a little different than anyone else. You will have a variety of choices in how to demonstrate your poetry. This project should complete by Wednesday and ready
About this Worksheet: A biography poem, also called a bio poem, is a short poem which describes a person or thing. While the actual format may vary, it usually follows a specific form. In this worksheet, students write a bio poem about themselves. Click to View/Print Worksheet. Get Worksheet. Subjects:
These are examples of famous Autobiographical poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous autobiographical poems. These examples illustrate what a famous autobiographical poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).
Bio poems are simple poems that give biographical information about one person. This type of poem follows a specific pattern of writing, responding to given prompts designed to describe the focus person of the poem. ... Writing Assignments, Writing Workshop Guest User May 5, 2019 writing tips, writing workshop, end of the year writing, end of ...
Autobiography Poem Template . Line 1: First Name . Line 2: Four descriptive traits . Line 3: Sibling of... Line 4: Who likes (3 things) Line 5: Who fears (3 things) Line 6: Who needs (3 things) Line 7: Who gives (3 things) Line 8: Who would like to see (3 things) Line 9: Resident of...
Give your students this autobiographical poem project and rubric as a beginning of the year assignment. It is great to use for a poetry unit or on its own at anytime. This document breaks down the poem format and explains the project in detail, using a checklist, model example, and detailed rubric on the back. Total Pages. 2 pages.
An Autobiographical Poem. Read the poems on the following pages several times. Underline and/or note in the margin the poem's structure and characteristics. Look for metaphors, similes, sound devices, sentence/line structure, diction, detail, etc. Next, choose which poem you want to emulate and compose a poem that is about you or your family.
The Prelude was an influential predecessor to certain later autobiographical poems. Through this poem, Wordsworth founded a tradition of using recollection - revisiting one's past geographically or mnemonically - as a major poetic trope (Pascal 1960, 44-45).Unlike the Wordsworthian exaltation of memories that organically culminate in the poet's totality, autobiographical poems by ...
Summary. 'Caged Bird' by Maya Angelou is an incredibly important poem in which the poet describes the experience of two different birds, one free and one caged. The free bird flies around the wind currents, feeling like the sky belongs to him. On the other hand, the caged bird can barely move in its prison.
nditions Ezekiel was filled with a sense of frustration. He says, "I could no longer remain a wanderer; I decided to return to Bombay- to my roots."2 The same thing, he has mentioned in his poem "Background, Casually" also, where he says: Philosophy, Poverty and Poetry, three Companions. shared my basement room The L.