Mr. Colegate Dec 2015 Symbolism in Poetry
Symbolism occurs when an author uses an image to represent something more significant. The image is
concrete (can be touched), but the symbol is abstract (cannot be touched).
Set up a chart with two columns, like below. If you can figure out what you are lacking, by putting the
image in, you will get a better sense of what the image represents. For each image (Want), you will need
two or three interpretations (Lack). Watch…
What I Want
Dog
Car
Bird
Stairs
What I Lack












Companionship
Responsibility
Security
From the chart, we can now argue that a dog (image) represents companionship, responsibility and
security. The dog, then, is a symbol for those three abstract ideas: you cannot “touch” responsibility.
Poets and authors use symbols to add depth to their writing (you can too!). Readers analyze symbols to
add depth and conviction to their arguments (you will too!).
After reading the poem on the following page, please answer one of the following questions.
Remember: before you start writing out an answer, be sure to create a T-Chart with poem on one side,
and your novel on the other side. You NEED to include quotes in your response (8 - 10 sentences).
To Kill a Mockingbird
 How would Scout respond to the caged and free birds?
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
 Compare Junior’s life at Reardon and on Rez with the caged and free birds from the poem.
The Chrysalids
 How would David respond to the caged and free birds?
The Book Thief
 Compare and contrast Max with the caged bird from the poem.
Speak
 Compare and contrast Melinda with the caged bird from the poem.
Mr. Colegate Dec 2015 Quick Analysis
Ask yourself these questions, and start putting together an answer (point form notes).
Pre-Reading
 What does the title mean?
Reading
 Paraphrase the poem, stanza by stanza
Post-Reading
 Are any literary devices used, and are they relevant to your understanding of the poem? How?
 Go back to the title: examine the title on an interpretive level.
 Symbols: What do they represent? Use a chart (front of page) to help you.
 What is the theme of the poem? What is it trying to teach us about life, or human experience?
Remember, this must be a full sentence.
Maya Angelou (1928 - 2014)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange suns 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.