Passage - 1

(i) The white race in America is referred to as a free bird in the poem. The people of the
white race enjoyed every type of luxuries whereas the caged bird which are referred to
blacks could hardly move about.

(ii) In the first two lines the free bird is compared to who has favourable circumstances
in life. The free bird float effortlessly on the downstream current of the wind and enjoy
himself in the glow of orange rays of the sun.

(iii) The implied comparison in these lines is that circumstances are favourable to the
free bird, and he easily and effortlessly enjoy the comforts and luxuries of life

(iv) Orange sun rays symbolize happiness, and freedom, comforts and luxuries of life.

(v) The free bird is the only bird to fly in the sky. The other
bird is caged. The free bird can fly wherever and whenever
it wants to fly as if he is the sole owner of the sky.

Passage - 2

(i) This stanza begins with 'But' because it presents a contrast to the first stanza. The
first stanza describes a happy free bird. This stanza describes an unhappy bird in
captivity.

(ii) The cage is narrow because the caged bird's movements are restricted. The
African-Americans were to stay in a restricted areas. The bars and rage means that the
caged bird is angry, and his vision is restricted because of his anger.

(iii) The caged bird is in captivity. His feet are tied and his wings are clipped. His
movement in the narrow cage is restricted. He is angry about his imprisonment but he
is also helpless. In his anger he cannot think about anything except about his
helplessness.

(iv) The caged bird is miserable and helpless. His wings are pared and his feet are
bound. He can hardly move in his narrow cage. He is helpless. Now, in this a situation,
he can do nothing but give expression to his feelings in a song.

(v) The poet writes about a free bird and a caged bird without a hint who the two
represent. The poet is an African- American. In America the black race was enslaved by
the white people. From the context it is obvious that the African- American are
represented by the caged bird and the white
race by the free bird.
 Passage - 3

(i) The caged bird is not only imprisonecl in a cage, its wings are also clipped and its
feet are tied too. It is utterly helpless. Instinctively, it wants to fly free. But it does not
know what it means.It can do nothing but opens his beak to sing about his plight
and aspirations.

(ii) The caged bird has never known freedom. He has born enslaved. Though he does
not know what freedom is, he feels he was not born to be kept in a cage. There is an
instinctive urge about those 'things unknown' that makes him to open his beak and
sing.

(iii) Fearful trill is the song sung by the caged bird. The caged bird sings it despite his
physical enslavement. His spirit can not be enslaved. It is a song of revolt, and it'
causes fear, so it is called 'fearful trill'

(iv) He is singing a song of freedom. It is a song of resentment against his slavery. He

sings because there is no way to give expression to his feelings.

(v) The spirit of the caged birds cannot be suppressed. His song is a song that causes
fear, and needs to be taken notice of. So the songs is heard far and near.
…..
The free birds has not to look for his livelihood. Fat worms are there on a lawn which
are within easy reach of the free bird. He can eat them to his fill without having to
make any effort to search for his food.
……
The caged bird represents the African-American race metaphorically. The African-
Americans were enslaved by the white people. Every sort of restrictions were imposed
on them. They were banned from walking in areas dominated by the white people. They
could not use public transport
reserved for the white people. Thus they enjoyed neither freedom nor equality. This
metaphorically is presented as clipped wings and bound feet and narrow cage.
.....

caged bird had aspirations and desires to achieve something. But on account of his
captivity, he was helpless. His dreams were sniffed and stifled.
He remained imprisoned in his cage which has turned into the grave of his dreams.