I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou | In-Depth Summary & Analysis

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Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, characters, symbols, and themes of Maya Angelou's autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Download the free study guide and infographic for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings here: https://www.coursehero.com/lit/I-Know...

Detailing the early years of young Maya, the book follows its author through her childhood and early adulthood.

Bouncing between her grandmother and mother, her childhood is unstable but filled with moments of happiness and discovery.

Her rape at the hands of her mother's boyfriend causes her to retreat into herself for a time, but she is ultimately undaunted by this and other hardships.

Defying social expectations and overcoming challenging circumstances, she graduates high school and carries an unplanned pregnancy to term. Forging ahead in an era defined by racial prejudice, she makes a place for herself in the world.

This parable of resilience in the face of adversity is all the more poignant when bearing in mind Angelou's eventual status as one of America's most beloved poets.

African American author Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was first published in 1969. Her iconic memoir provides some of American literature's most stunning insights into black life in the early 20th century. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings spent two years on the New York Times paperback best seller's list.

The memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings contains many enduring themes, including names and identity, as young Maya searches for her identity; racism, as many of Maya's struggles are the direct result of racism and racist policies during segregation; finding community, as Maya finds a sense of community in unexpected locales; and the power of words, as speaking and silence are explored as forces of both destruction and healing. Important symbols include the doll, the Easter dress, and the caged bird.

Explore Course Hero’s collection of free literature study guides, Q&A pairs, and infographics here: https://www.coursehero.com/lit/

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