I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

The Autobiographical Book

A 1969 autobiography about the early years of American writer and poet Maya Angelou. It is a coming-of-age story that illustrates how strength of character and a love of literature can help overcome racism and trauma. The book begins when three-year-old Maya and her older brother are sent to Stamps, Arkansas, to live with their grandmother and ends when Maya becomes a mother at the age of 16. In the course of Caged Bird, Maya transforms from a victim of racism with an inferiority complex into a self-possessed, dignified young woman capable of responding to prejudice.

Essential Questions

  • What causes social inequalities?
  • Do you think everyone should have the same opportunities in life? Why?
  • How do characters overcome adversity?
  • How do stories of others affect our perceptions of ourselves?
  • How do authors use language to communicate their emotions and experiences?
  • How do readers use inspiration from author’s experiences to forge an understanding of life?
  • What are the elements of the Bildungsroman (coming-of-age stories), and how does this novel reflect those elements?