I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. It provides a thorough exploration of the book’s content, characters and main themes, as well as a useful discussion of Angelou’s approach to the autobiography genre. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 46-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of Maya Angelou
• Presentation of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
• Summary of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
• Character study
  • Marguerite
  • Bailey Jr.
  • Momma
• Analysis of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
  • Autobiography vs. fiction
  • Parenthood
  • Oppression

About I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the first volume of Maya Angelou’s acclaimed autobiography. It traces the young Marguerite’s childhood and adolescence, up to the birth of her son while she is still in her teens. Marguerite was largely raised by her paternal grandmother, a respected member of the community in Stamps, Arkansas whose store served both black and white customers. Her childhood was marked by the trauma of racism and sexual assault, but also by an enduring sense of hope and optimism thanks to the love of her brother Bailey (to whom I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is dedicated) and the birth of her son.

About Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, actress, singer and activist. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but spent much of her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas, where she was raised by her paternal grandmother. Her exceptional career saw her take on a series of jobs, from cable car conductor to sex worker to actress, and took her all over the world. She subsequently gained critical acclaim as one of the first authors to write truthfully and unapologetically about the African-American experience. She composed and delivered the poem “On the Pulse of Morning” for the inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1993, and in 2011 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.