Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 8 Caged Bird Question Answer to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse throughout different chapters Assam Board HS Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 8 Caged Bird, Class 11 Alternative English Question Answer, HS 1st year Alternative English and select needs one.
Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 8 Caged Bird
Also, you can read the SCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per SCERT (CBSE) Book guidelines. These solutions are part of SCERT All Subject Solutions. Here we have given AHSEC Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 8 Caged Bird Solutions for All Subject, You can practice these here.
Caged Bird
Chapter: 8
| POETRY |
| COMPREHENSION |
I. Answer these questions in one or two words.
1. Where was the poet born?
Ans: The poet born in St. Louis Missouri, U.S.
2. What does the word ‘clipped’ mean in the poem?
Ans: The word ‘clipped’ in the poem means to be tied or fastened to something.
3. What does the caged bird do inside the cage?
Ans: The caged bird sings the song of freedom with a fearful voice in the cage.
4. Where does the free bird dip its wings?
Ans: The free bird dip its wings in the orange sun rays.
5. What does the free bird think of?
Ans: The free bird thinks of Another breeze, the trade winds, fat worms.
II. Answer these questions in a few words.
1. What does the free bird do downstream?
Ans: The poem opens with a bird leaping ‘on the back of the wind’ demonstrating the freedom it experiences to move about and glide freely through the air. It hovers over a stream of wind and floats downstream to where the current of the stream ends and the wind is calm. It dips its wings in the sea of orange sunlight and the bird is shown in a state of great tranquillity. It has the freedom to move about wherever it desires.
2. What is a trade wind?
Ans: A trade wind is a strong wind continually blowing towards the equator from the southeast to the northeast.
3. Why does the caged bird sing ‘a fearful trill’?
Ans: The author implies that even though the caged bird may have never experienced true freedom, deep down, the 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.
4. What kind of song does the caged bird sing?
Ans: The caged bird sings a song of longing and desire for freedom. Its song represents the yearning for the things it doesn’t have, the unknown experiences beyond its confinement.
5. What does the phrase ‘grave of dreams’ mean?
Ans: The caged bird is signing in a wavering voice, a song of unknown things which the bird so longs for. Freedom seems to be the subject matter of ist song as it longs for freedom. The bird seems to sing this song to express its feelings and emotions, to stay motivated and also to inspire others. Thus, the caged bird is singing the song of freedom.
III. Answer these questions briefly.
1. What does the free bird symbolize?
Ans: The free bird symbolizes people who ruled over the ones who are discriminated against because of the colour of their skin. She has indicated that the free bird as people who do not face discrimination and the caged bird as people who face discrimination or the Blacks. With the use of these metaphors. Angelou represented the inequality and injustice in society during her times. The free bird is compared to the white race retaining freedom and aversion towards black people of America. They have the freedom to pursue their ambition easily. They are unaware of the cries and needs of the oppressed black community.
2. What does the caged bird symbolize?
Ans: The caged bird has its wings clipped and feet tied which prevents it from taking a free flight, it continues to sing of freedom. It represents those who are trapped in difficult circumstances, whether it be physical, emotional, or societal. The caged bird is a metaphor for individuals who are constrained by various forms of oppression, such as racism, discrimination, or personal struggles. It symbolizes their longing for liberation and their yearning to break free from the barriers that restrict them.
3. Describe the helplessness of the caged bird?
Ans: The helplessness of the caged bird is portrayed through several aspects of its condition. To begin with, its wings are clipped, preventing it from flying and severely restricting its movement. This physical limitation symbolizes the bird’s lack of freedom and control over its life. Moreover, its feet are tied, making any attempt to escape or explore impossible. The narrow cage represents the confined space it is trapped in, unable to experience the vast, open world beyond. The bird’s limited view through the bars highlights its restricted perspective and deepens the sense of confinement. Its helplessness is further conveyed through its emotional response an expression of anger and frustration as it opens its throat to sing. In this way, the bird’s song becomes a powerful symbol of its longing for freedom and a means of voicing its pain to the world.
IV. Answer these questions in detail.
1. What is the theme of the poem ‘Caged Bird’?
Ans: Maya Angelou’s “Caged Bird” explores several powerful themes such as freedom versus enslavement, discrimination, oppression, and unfulfilled dreams. All these themes are connected to the broader issue of racism. The free bird, soaring high in the sky, symbolizes individuals who enjoy equality and freedom in society primarily referring to White Americans. In contrast, the caged bird represents African Americans who have been historically oppressed and denied their basic rights.
By contrasting the experiences of the two birds, Angelou highlights how the free bird feels a natural entitlement to freedom, while the caged bird having never experienced it yearns for it with deep passion. This comparison creates a paradox: the bird who has never known freedom understands its true value more profoundly than one who takes it for granted. Just as an insomniac understands the worth of sleep, the caged bird sings of freedom as a form of resilience and hope.
Thus, through vivid symbolism and emotional contrast, the poem emphasizes the deep longing for liberty, the pain of oppression, and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of injustice.
2. Compare and contrast the condition of the caged bird and the free bird.
Ans: Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird” describes the contrasting states of two birds: the free bird and the caged bird. The free bird lives without restrictions; it “floats” and “dares to claim the sky,” enjoying the liberty to explore the world around it. It chooses its path and food freely and flies wherever it pleases.
In contrast, the caged bird is trapped behind “bars of rage.” Its wings are clipped, and its feet are tied, making it incapable of flying or exploring the world beyond the cage. The bird can hardly even see the sky. Despite its fear and physical limitations, the caged bird continues to sing a song filled with longing for freedom.
Angelou emphasizes the hopeless condition of the caged bird by repeating the stanza describing its suffering. While the free bird dreams of “another breeze” and enjoys the “sighing trees,” the caged bird expresses its pain and desire for freedom through its song.
The poem uses the metaphor of birds to highlight a powerful contrast: the free bird symbolizes privilege, pride, and control, whereas the caged bird stands for anger, struggle, and determination. This contrast effectively conveys the broader themes of freedom versus captivity and racial oppression versus hope and resilience.
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