I am… I am a mother of 2 I am a teacher of many I am a trainer of teachers I am constipated with ideas and creativity I am a learner I am a creative person I am concentrated; I generally operate at full strength I am an interesting person I am hooked on technology I am a worthwhile individual I am resident of New Orleans and a survivor of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina I am gray or grey or a combination of black and white; in other words an oreo
I can… I can make people comfortable I can make people cry I can make people laugh I can cause chaos I can dance, kind of, a little bit I can yell REALLY LOUDLY I can eat a lot I can spend hours on the computer I can cook, some things, kind of, a little bit I can energize a room I can Tweet I can steal good ideas I can aggravate students I can ignore students I can talk too much and I DON'T MIND IT AT ALLLLLLL I can build websites I can guide students in their creation of websites I can call the police I can text fast i can type without looking I can say NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO all day I can not fight
Some of the things that I know to be true… I love my family I don’t like all of my family I can change the future Love, hope and drive CAN and WILL change the world. You must love yourself before anyone else can love you. That teaching is one of the hardest jobs in the world. That teaching is one of the most fulfilling jobs in the world. That my students are future doctors, lawyers, thieves, hairstylists, governors, mayors, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, killers and healers. That to inspire my students, I must first find the secret tool that engages them. That if family doesn't come first, all is lost. That today family is made up of mother, father, cousin, friend, pastor, teacher, coach, aunt, grandmother, and so on and so on. That all children have a glorious future. That not all children realize this and squander their futures. That I am sarcastic
I KNOW what the caged bird feels, alas! When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, And the river flows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume from its chalice steals — I know what the caged bird feels!
I know why the caged bird beats his wing Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; For he must fly back to his perch and cling When he fain would be on the bough a-swing; And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars And they pulse again with a keener sting — I know why he beats his wing!
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; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings — I know why the caged bird sings!
Alliteration: the repetition of initial consonant sounds. Example: The Cute Cuddly Kitten hid in the pantry. Activity: Describe two family members using their first name and alliteration. (Tiny Terrible Tina) Tacky Ted takes no time with tasks and duties Marvelous Morrah makes Mommy merry and joyous
Allusion: reference to a well-known person, place, literary work or work of art. Example: I compared myself to Toni Braxton, thought I would never catch my breath. Activity: Describe your school using an allusion. Classes at West Jeff are better than the ones at Joe Clark’s school but not as fun as the ones on Glee.
Figurative Language: Writing or speech not meant to be interpreted literally. Example: Donny was so angry flames of fire came out of his mouth. Activity: Write two sentences about your English class using figurative language. Ms. Burton’s English class is full of scholars who are eager to be filled with knowledge and purpose. Ms. Burton’s English class fills me with such joy and pleasure.
› Why does he repeat the phrase “I know why the caged bird”?
Thoughts and feelings
› “I know what the caged bird feels, alas”
› “Till its blood is red on the cruel bars”
› “But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings”
Connect to the poem
› When I read this poem, I felt:
› I felt this because:
› How does the speaker feel about slavery:
› I know this because:
Paraphrase these lines
“When the first bird sings and the first bud opes”
“I know why the caged bird beats his wing/ Till its blood is red on the cruel bars”
“It is not a carol of joy or glee./ But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core.”
Literary Devices from poem Alliteration - when the wind stirs soft through the springing grass Simile - the river flows like a stream of glass Metaphor - Caged bird = slaves or African Americans who are not FREE Rhyme - Alas, grass and glass Imagery - first bird sings (hearing) and the first bud opes (sight), and the faint perfume from (smell) Repetition - I Know what the caged bird feels
"Sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a poem about a ‘caged bird.’ Mr. Dunbar was the son of slaves and often wrote about slavery and life in the South.
The poem is arranged in stanzas that consist of 7 lines each. Dunbar uses a ABAABCC rhyming pattern to tell his tale of a bird in a cage. Each of the stanzas tells the plight of the poor bird and his desire to be free.
“Till its blood is red on the cruel bars”
Dunbar uses this line in his poem to engage our senses. It is easy to see a bird beating his wings against a cage so much that he has broken his wings and bleeds. This image makes me feel sympathy for the bird and all other creatures that have been in captivity. Dunbar seems to be able to write about the plight of the bird because he too has felt its pain.
“I know why the caged bird..”
This feeling is repeated throughout the poem and indicates that Mr. Dunbar was familiar with the pain of a creature in imprisonment. He knows what it is like to want to be trapped and longing to be somewhere else. We all know how this feels; each time we go to work, school, church, a family function, etc. and daydream of being on a beach, at home in the bed or at the movies.
Some of the other literary devices in the poem are Alliteration - when the wind stirs soft through the springing grass Simile - the river flows like a stream of glass Metaphor - Caged bird = slaves or African Americans who are not FREE Rhyme - Alas, grass and glass Imagery - first bird sings (hearing) and the first bud opes (sight), and the faint perfume from (smell) Repetition - I Know what the caged bird feels