Critical Analysis: Sympathy

The poem Sympathy presents the same rhyme scheme in the three stanzas it is composed of. The text is plethoric of imagery and rhythm, which grants it characteristics that are similar to the ones songs have. The title, Sympathy, references the point of view that the speaker has about the situation presented.

At first, the world that the bird is not able to be part of is depicted through beautiful imagery: “When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, // And the river flows like a stream of glass…” This effect is projected through the use of alliteration. And as it can be appreciated, via the repetition of the “s” sound, onomatopoeia constructs the sound that the wind would reproduce as it whirls through the grasslands. It shows an external beauty and tranquility which the caged bird longs for, and it feels segregated from.

After understanding his desire, the will that the caged bird owns is presented full of obstinacy and persistence, and it achieves this effect on the reader through the use of a sympathetic, comprehensive tone. We can appreciate this in the following lines: “…the caged bird beats his wing // Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; // For he must fly to his perch and cling…” Sensory images predominate to portray the experience the bird goes through, these build up the tone and contribute to the purpose of the poem. This last lines use pathos to cause the reader to identify with the fowl.

The intention of the text exposes symbolic characteristics that could be connected with the context the poem was written in. “I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, // When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,- // When he beats his bars and he would be free…” If we connect the fact that the author was an Afro-American poet and writer from the late 19^th and 20^th century to the poem, we can recognize an allegory when the will and intentions of the caged bird are discussed. It could be linked to the Afro-American situation of that time, the way in which they were oppressed and they sang songs as prayers and a symbol of strength.  


Sources:

University of Dayton. (2003) The Life of Paul Laurence Dunbar . Retrieved from: http://www.dunbarsite.org/biopld.asp

Introduction to Maya Angelou

a) When and where was she born?

Maya Angelous was born on April 4th , 1928, in St. Louis (United States of America) and was raised in segregated rural Arkansas.

b) What is her birth name?

Her birth name is Marguerite Johnson.

c) What was the inspiration for the title of her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?

She wrote a poem called Caged Bird, and her autobiography's title and that poem have their bases on Sir Lawrence Dunbar's text Sympathy. Which itself talks about a caged bird and why it sings. We learn that the author, Maya Angelou, has felt like a caged bird some times in her life and that she can relate and feel empathy towards the bird. Hence, we can understand her choice of title. 

d) In her opinion, what is the most important virtue and why does she believe that?

For her, the most important virtue is courage. Because without it, all the other values that can be cultivated individually cannot be consistent.

e) What position did Angelou hold in the 1960s and who asked her to take on that role?

In that time she was appointed as the northern coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as requested by Martin Luther King Jr. 

f) How many other influential posts has she held?

She became part of the National Comission on the Observance of International Year and also part of the American Revolutionary Bicentennial Advisory Council.

g) Find two notable ‘firsts’ that Angelou has achieved in her lifetime.

• She became one of the first afro-american women whose book reached the best-sellers.
• Her screenplay, Georgia, was the first one written by an afro-american woman to be filmed.

h) Locate some of Angelou’s poetry or notable quotes online. Find a line, image or quote that you like and describe why it appeals to you.

"The ancestors remind us, despite the history of pain
We are a going-on people who will rise again.And still we rise. "

MIllion Man March Poem, Maya Angelou.

I like this fragment from Angelou's poem because it conveys a message of hope and faith for people. It invites us to look back into our pasts, the history that directly, or indirectly, has influenced our existance. 

It portrays our ability to overcome difficulties and to be human, as she writes in other of her texts.
i) Write one thing you have discovered that has surprised you, and one question you have about Maya Angelou.

It surprised me that she turned out to be such a multi-faceted person. Well-rounded being, incredibly 'human', that even participated in activist movements for human rights. 

• What inspires her to write a poem?

The Village of Umuofia

We had the opportunity to take part in a roleplay that was situated in the village of Umuofia. We were supposed to engage a discussion and appeal in favor of the point of view of the character we represented. It was an interesting, definitely enriching and didactic activity that allowed us to connect a little bit more with the characters of the book.

The system had three different types of 'speech' from which you could choose to either say, emote or (and I didn't really understand how to use the last one) normal. Most people stayed in character and permitted an adequate development of ideas, but others spoke hardly anything or stated things that were completely out of context.

Overall, it was a nice experience.

Mr. Brown's Diary

XX/XX/XXXX

From a humble servant of God,

The mission of preaching our religion in this land, swollen with impurity and disbelief, is more important than anyone could believe. These men that seem so unnatural to our fellow messengers of the queen are very similar to us, and an excess of zealotry or fanaticism is not going to help us purge their sins. We must be humble servants of god and not impose our religion with a frontal attack, like an army of heavily armed knights with sharp spears and swords, but shall we be patient and bring a small doses of our Father’s panacea every day, and we will see the change take place.

I think Mr. Kiaga would agree with me, I have visited his little church in Mbanta and he seems to be taking it through a good pathway. He is strong and resilient to the adverse tempest winds that are presented against him...

XX/XX/XXXX

May the will of the Lord lie in our hearts,

I cannot explain the reason behind the clan’s action, but I may say I suspect they have begun respecting me to some point. They even presented me a carved elephant tusk! It is supposed to be a very noble symbol to them... I try my best to follow God’s word and keep our devotees in line. A couple of them have incredible ideas, but they may bring trouble with the tribes and I am meant to prevent that as much as it is in my power.

I dialogue with important figures of the tribe, and I think I have made a significant progress with my idea of founding a school. Some of them seemed to be reluctant at first, but step by step, they are turning out to be a great acquisition to the converting power!

Today I maintained incredibly interesting and fructiferous conversation with the great man Akunna. I have received knowledge about their religion copiously, and although it does not convince me completely... It does have its basics on a similar logic as ours.

XX/XX/XXXX

Joyful days will come to us,

Indeed, they have started heading our way. Change in the hearts of these people has begun sprouting and now it can be respected as completely noticeable. The villagers have started considering the schools I founded important! I suspect they see how it brings peace to the mind and bliss to the soul, apart from some interesting job positions! Haha!

I know that time runs through the veins as poisonous as spider venom, and it is getting to me little by little, but I shall not let this feeling of uncertainty in my bones get to my heart! I shall serve the Lord until the end of my days...Although the time foreseen of heading back to England draws near. I feel responsible and blissful for the effectiveness of the religion in this land. We still have some problems, but they will solve over time.

As I always preached, the small doses of our God’s will have converted the villagers and I think they are beginning to understand the supremacy of our Lord.