I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou, who was born Marguerite Johnson, recounts her experiences as an African-American youth in the United States during the 1930's and 1940's. She candidly explores the complexities of racism, family life, and growing up. The thirty-six chapters of Angelou's 250-page autobiography are arranged chronologically and geographically, following Angelou and her brother, Bailey, from home to home. Angelou sets the tone of the autobiography with a three-page vignette preceding the first chapter. She describes herself as a young child standing before a congregation in a church and reciting an Easter poem. She forgets her lines, becomes nervous, and flees the church. Angelou's flight from a traditional sanctuary, where she has found only discomfort, will be one of many flights. In 1931, when Marguerite and Bailey Johnson began their moves, she was three and he was four. Their parents, on the verge of divorce, sent the children by train from Long Beach,
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Bertha Flowers, Uncle Willie, Carnera Louis, Angelou Bailey, Bird Sings, Marguerite Johnson, Viola Cullinan, Momma's Store, Bailey Johnson, Reverend Thomas, bird sings, author unifies, caged bird, voice author, easter poem, caged bird sings, voice author unifies, uncle willie,
Approximate Word count = 670
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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