What does trill mean in Caged Bird?

‘Fearful trill’ refers to the song of the caged bird. ‘Trill’ means a quavering or vibratory sound, especially a rapid alternation of sung or played notes.

Why is the caged bird’s song fearful?

Thus, the caged bird’s fear is about the uncertainty of achieving freedom in the future. Its fears reflect those of the blacks who no more wish to go through the pains of racism, discrimination and bestial treatment at the hands of the whites.

What is the metaphor in Caged Bird by Maya Angelou?

Metaphors: There are two major metaphors. The first metaphor is of the free bird that is for the white Americans or free people, while the caged bird is the metaphor of African Americans and their captivity in the social norms.

What figurative language is in Caged Bird?

The poet uses metaphor (an indirect comparison) when she compares wind to water. The words ‘downstream’ and ‘current’ make us think of the tides in a sea or ocean. Again, she uses metaphors in the use of two birds — “free bird” and “caged bird”.

What is fearful trill?

The poetess says that the caged bird sings with a fearful trill. It means that the bird sings in trembling and fearful voice. The word ‘fearful trill’ make us realise that the caged bird is not singing a happy song but is scared and desperately hoping for freedom.

What does the caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still mean?

Although freedom, to the caged bird, is “fearful” because it is “unknown”, he still sings “a fearful trill” because he still longed for freedom. With this, the speaker implies that although the caged bird may never have experienced freedom, he still sings of it because he was created for freedom.

What does the caged bird’s singing reveal about him?

What does the caged bird’s singing reveal about him? Answer: It reveals that he is unhappy and wants to be free.

How is imagery used in caged bird?

IMAGERY IN CAGED BIRD Maya Angelou uses caged and free birds to symbolize the dream of attaining freedom. The poem illustrates the contrast between imprisonment and freedom through symbolism of a caged bird and a free bird and then between their dreams and desires.

What is the use of the alliteration shadow shouts on a nightmare scream?

To directly answer your question – the line “his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream” means that the caged bird is calling out, using its shadow as a method of reaching beyond its cage. The scream still indicates that the bird nurses a dream of freedom.

What is the style of caged bird poem?

“Caged Bird” is an example of unstructured verse. The number of beats per line varies; for example, line 1 has four beats, line 2 has six, line 3 has four, and line 4 has five. The number of lines in each stanza fluctuates as well; stanzas 1 and 2 have seven lines each, but stanzas 3 and 4 have eight.

What figure of speech is used in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?

Metaphor- It is a figure of speech in which a comparison between two different things is made indirectly. In this poem, the “caged bird” is a metaphor for the poet herself. The “caged bird” represents the misery and distress of all African-Americans who had to face inhuman treatment during the apartheid.

How is the encaged bird different from the Freebird?

The encaged bird cannot have any freedom. His wings are clipped and his feet are tied. He is different from the free bird who has no restrictions on his movement. HOPE IT HELPS YOU.

Why does the Caged Bird still sing a fearful trill?

The author implies that even though the caged bird may have never experienced true freedom, deep down that bird still knows that 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.

Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou is important?

‘Caged Bird’, or ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ as the poem is sometimes referred to, by Maya Angelou, is arguably one of the most moving and eye-opening poems ever written. Angelou also wrote an autobiography with a similar title, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

What does the Caged Bird Sing of in the poem?

Lines 31-38: “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.” Unlock all 546 words of this analysis of Pathetic Fallacy in “Caged Bird,” and get the poetic device analyses for every poem we cover.

How does Maya Angelou use the two birds metaphor in her speech?

Using the extended metaphor of the two birds, Angelou paints a critical portrait of oppression in which she illuminates the privilege and entitlement of the un-oppressed, and conveys the simultaneous experience of suffering and emotional resilience.