Name: _____________________________
Date: _________ Period: ___
“from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”
Guided Reading Questions
Directions: As you read, answer the following questions using complete sentences.
1. Describe Mrs. Bertha Flowers. (Supporting Details)
2. Marguerite describes the smiles from Mrs. Flowers as “graceful and inclusively
benign.” What does this mean? (Clarify)
3. In the first few paragraphs, Marguerite introduces Mrs. Flowers. Marguerite also
explains why she is embarrassed by her own grandmother. Record some details
from the text that show why Marguerite is embarrassed. (Supporting Details)
4. Why was Marguerite upset when Momma called Mrs. Flowers “Sister Flowers”?
(Infer)
5. How does Marguerite feel about Momma’s way of speaking to Mrs. Flowers?
(Clarify)
6. Who did Mrs. Flowers want to carry her bags back to her house? (Supporting Details)
Name: _____________________________
Date: _________ Period: ___
7. In two or three words, summarize the qualities that Marguerite admires in Mrs.
Flowers. (Clarify)
a. _______________________
b. _____________________
c. ______________________
8. In your own words, explain why Marguerite is sometimes ashamed of her
grandmother. (Clarify)
9. Both in an out of school, Marguerite has a problem. What is her problem? (Clarify)
10. Describe Mrs. Flowers beliefs about language. (Supporting Details)
11. What does Mrs. Flowers want Marguerite to do? (Clarify)
12. How does Mrs. Flowers view the illiterate, or those that can’t read? (Draw
Conclusions)
13. Read the passage below.
“To be allowed, no, invited, into the private lives of strangers, and to share their
joys and fears, was a change to exchange the Southern bitter wormwood for a cup
of mead with Beowulf or a hot cup of tea and milk with Oliver Twist. When I said
aloud, ‘It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done…’ tears of love
filled my eyes at my selflessness.”
Angelou says she was “invited into the private lives of strangers.” What is she
referring to here? (Infer)