I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiographical novel by Maya Angelou that illustrates how the strength of character and a love of literature can help overcome racism and trauma. When reading this book, keep in mind that the author used her own personal life to guide literature in a way that creates a new outlook on how you can handle your own personal situation based on any trial or tribulation in your own life. A book like this can be used in a classroom and can help students to understand how to speak up for themselves in situations they feel they are voiceless in. Maya Angelou has written a plethora of novels that include Mom & Me & Mom and And Still I Rise.

Classroom Activities:

1.) Students can write a short story about their own lives and use the text in the book as a way to figure out how they can overcome the trials and tribulations in their own lives.

2.) Have students write to Maya Angelou (pretend letters) asking what her life was like and how she really got over her obstacles and prejudice and what advice she would have for them.

Goals:

Help students grasp the concept of using literature to writing their own literature.
Allow students to reach out to authors they might feel relatable to.

Bibliography:

Angelou, M. (2015). I know why the caged bird sings. London: Virago.

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