Maya Angelou’s influences: exploring ‘Sympathy’ by Paul Laurence Dunbar | English

Starter quiz

Maya Angelou wrote a poem called 'Caged ______'. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- 'Bird' ✓
Match each of these perspectives to their definitions ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- first person
  
  ⇔
  
  narrator is a character, using pronouns like 'I' and 'me' ✓
- second person
  
  ⇔
  
  narrator speaks directly to the reader, using pronouns like 'you' ✓
- third person
  
  ⇔
  
  narrator isn’t a character; uses pronouns like 'he', 'they' etc. ✓
Match each method to its definition ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- extended metaphor
  
  ⇔
  
  a comparison that's developed over a number of lines ✓
- repetition
  
  ⇔
  
  the purposeful recurrence of a word or phrase ✓
- contrast
  
  ⇔
  
  when things are considered side by side to emphasise their differences ✓
- alliteration
  
  ⇔
  
  when two or more words close by start with the same letter or sound ✓
Match each word to its definition ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- persistent
  
  ⇔
  
  the ability to keep doing something even when it is difficult ✓
- oppression
  
  ⇔
  
  the unjust treatment of an individual or group ✓
- soar
  
  ⇔
  
  to fly high in the air ✓
- belittle
  
  ⇔
  
  to treat someone as if they are unimportant or insignificant ✓
What were the Jim Crow laws? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- laws which legalised segregation by gender
- laws which legalised segregation by nationality
- laws which legalised segregation by religion
- laws which legalised segregation by race ✓
What is the final word of Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- "bird"
- "sings"
- "freedom" ✓
- "caged"
- "song"

Exit quiz

Maya Angelou was inspired to write 'Caged Bird' by Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem '______'. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- 'Sympathy' ✓
Match each section of the single paragraph outline to its purpose ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- topic sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  first sentence of a paragraph stating its main idea (full sentence) ✓
- supporting detail
  
  ⇔
  
  ideas, methods key vocabulary for your paragraph (note form) ✓
- concluding sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  final sentence in your paragraph summing up main ideas (full sentence) ✓
The first line of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem 'Sympathy' is "I know what the caged bird feels, alas!" What perspective is this written in? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- first person ✓
- second person
- third person
What is true of Paul Laurence Dunbar? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- he was British, born in the 19th century
- he inspired Maya Angelou ✓
- he experienced racial discrimination ✓
- his work was discovered after his death
- he wrote 'Caged Bird'
Which sentences use the word persistent, or its forms, correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- I gave up after a while – it seemed useless to persist. ✓
- She is unpersistent. If you tell her to stop, she will.
- If you persist in leaning on the back of your chair, you will eventually fall. ✓
- I had a persistent cough for about three weeks. It was annoying. ✓
What are some of the differences between Dunbar's poem 'Sympathy' and Angelou's 'Caged Bird'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- Angelou contrasts the bird in the cage to a bird that is free. ✓
- Angelou uses repetition; Dunbar doesn't.
- Angelou uses third person; Dunbar uses first person. ✓
- Angelou writes in stanzas; Dunbar writes in paragraphs.

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Angelou was inspired to write 'Caged Bird' after reading a poem called 'Sympathy' by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906).
Inspired by Dunbar, Angelou relies on the extended metaphor of a bird in a cage to present discrimination and injustice.
Like Angelou, you can be inspired by texts you have read.
A single paragraph outline is a way of planning a paragraph.
First and final sentences of a single paragraph outline are written in full; supporting detail is written in note form.

Common misconception

Angelou copied Dunbar. Copying is not allowed.

Many writers learn from, and are inspired by, others. Angelou's poem is very different to Dunbar's - her personal style and voice come through - but the central metaphor 'speaks' from one poem to another, developing a relationship between them.

Keywords

Extended metaphor - a detailed comparison which develops one idea over a number of lines, paragraphs or stanzas
Persistent - continuing to do something even when it is difficult
Methods - the tools a writer uses to create their work; extended metaphor is one example
Single paragraph outline - a way of planning a paragraph by writing the first and final sentences in full, and developing the detail of the paragraph in note form