After reading a chunk of the novel, I must say, WOW! “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou is an amazing read.
This autobiography is set in two small Southern towns in America, Stamps, Arkansas and St. Louis, Missouri. Maya grew up in Stamps with her grandmother and his brother, Bailey, then had to move to St. Louis, Missouri with her parents. Throughout the story, it covers a lot of very serious themes like sexual, racism and segregation, that Maya Angelou has experienced when she was young.
When I read this autobiography, it just saddens me. How did Maya deal with sexual assault, racism at such a young age? How can someone just take a child’s innocence away? How cruel can humans get?
In my own personal experience, when I moved here to Canada back in the spring of 2013, I experienced racism for the first time ever. A peer of mine told me some racist statements about being Asian, which they thought it was funny. Being a newcomer to a country full of opportunities and freedom, then greeted with a racist welcome, just destroyed me when I was a child. I didn’t talk to anyone about my experience for a long time. Thankfully, that kid who said racist comments to me became a good friend of mine.
“If growing up is painful for the Southern black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat. It is an unnecessary insult” (Angelou, 6)
Quote about what growing black in the 60’s in America for Maya
The purpose of this autobiography is an attempt to expose racial discrimination and sexual assault. The fact that this book has been published around 50 years ago, although we have improved as a society, racial discrimination and sexual assault are still prominent to this day.
Literary devices are commonly used in this writing. For example, symbolism in the title of the book, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”. Before reading the novel, I was confused as to what the title meant, but after reading a chunk of the book, I understood what the title symbolizes. The bird symbolizes freedom, while the cage symbolizes oppression.
Last time I read a novel was last year’s online English class, and since then I haven’t read a book for pleasure. While reading this book, I learned a few things about myself. I learned how I get distracted easily while reading a book, I sometimes catch myself going off track and have to re-read a page since I just read without understanding. However, after a few chapters and turning off all distractions, I was in focus mode. As a visual learner, every time the book is describing something, I visualize like I am in that setting, really using my senses to enhance my time while reading the book. I really love that feeling and for that reason, I value books more.
Overall, I love this book so far! 5 stars! So I highly recommend you guys to listen to the audio book, it’s narrated by the author, Maya Angelou herself and you can tell right away when she narrates, it comes from her heart.
This post will be one of the two blogs I will be posting. Stay tuned for the second one!
Works Cited
Angelou, Maya. I know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Random House. 2015.
Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. CNIB, 2001.“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey: 9780345514400: Gateway.”
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey: 9780345514400: Gateway – Amazon.ca, http://www.amazon.ca/Know-Why-Caged-Bird-Sings/dp/0345514408/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JHT5V1LXJ6KS&keywords=i know why the caged bird sings&qid=1562819081&s=gateway&sprefix=i know,aps,193&sr=8-1.
Literary Devices. “Symbol.” Literary Devices, 19 Dec. 2018, literary-devices.com/content/symbol/.“Literary Devices and Literary Terms.” Literary Devices, literarydevices.net/literary-devices/.“The Visual Learner.” PRIDE Reading Program, 21 Sept. 2018, pridereadingprogram.com/the-visual-learner/.
Literary Devices. “Symbol.” Literary Devices, 19 Dec. 2018, literary-devices.com/content/symbol/.“Literary Devices and Literary Terms.” Literary Devices, literarydevices.net/literary-devices/.
“The Visual Learner.” PRIDE Reading Program, 21 Sept. 2018, pridereadingprogram.com/the-visual-learner/.
“You’re Getting a Free Audiobook.” Audible.com, http://www.audible.ca/pd/I-Know-Why-the-Caged-Bird-Sings-Audiobook/B071F5R896?qid=1562821940&sr=1-1&pf_rd_p=65c74350-6dfb-47fa-85fd-1459a4762abd&pf_rd_r=S8HT7MCP5YF44HWH7WHX&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1.
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