Mrs. Nelson 9Th Grade Literature Name______

Mrs. Nelson 9th grade literature Name______Sympathy By Paul Laurence Dunbar

I KNOW what the caged bird feels, alas! When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, And the river flows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume from its chalice steals — I know what the caged bird feels!

I know why the caged bird beats his wing Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; For he must fly back to his perch and cling When he fain would be on the bough a-swing; And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars And they pulse again with a keener sting — I know why he beats his wing!

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,— When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings — I know why the caged bird sings!

1. Name an instance of personification in the poem.The bird has feeling and is sad, lonely, depressed.

2.What do you think the cage symbolizes?

It may represent slavery or discrimination and it hinders the bird, the same way discrimination hinders black people

3.What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?

ABAABCC DEDDEDD FGFFGHH

4.What is the overall metaphor in the poem? What is he comparing with the caged bird?

Metaphor for the black man or black people-they are all caged, kept from the things they want, prevented from true freedom

5.Give me at least 1 example of alliteration.When the wind stirs, soft through springing grass; he beats his bars and he would be free; sends from his heart's

6.Is this lyric or narrative? Free form or fixed form?lyric and fixed form

7.What is the tone of this poem?sympathetic, feels, beats, fain know

8.Give me an example of a simile from the poem.and the river flows like a stream of glass Mrs. Nelson 9th grade literature Name______