Setting the Scene
This small Arkansas town is where Maya and Bailey are sent to live with their grandmother.
What is Stamps?
She is Maya’s strict and religious grandmother who runs a store in Stamps.
Who is Momma (Annie Henderson)?
This theme is shown through Maya’s admiration for strong female figures like Momma.
What is resilience or strength of women?
This traumatic event in leads Maya to stop speaking for a long time.
What is her sexual abuse
This technique is used when Maya recalls events from her early childhood.
What is flashback?
This decade marks the beginning of Maya’s story, reflecting the racial tensions of the time.
What is the 1930s?
He is Maya’s older brother and closest companion.
Who is Bailey?
This concept is symbolized by Maya’s silence after her trauma.
What is loss of voice or voicelessness?
This emotion dominates Maya’s reaction after returning to Stamps following the court case.
What is guilt or shame?
This point of view is used throughout the memoir, giving insight into Maya’s personal experiences.
What is first-person narration?
This type of store is run by Momma and serves as a central location in Maya’s early life.
What is a general store?
This woman is Maya’s biological mother, known for her beauty and independence.
Who is Vivian Baxter?
This theme is evident in the way Maya and Bailey are treated differently because of their race.
What is racism or racial inequality?
This consequence befalls Mr. Freeman after the court case.
What is his death (possibly murder)?
This genre best describes I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
What is autobiography or memoir?
This state is where Maya and Bailey originally lived before being sent away.
What is California?
This man is Maya’s biological father, who briefly reappears in her life.
Who is Bailey Sr.?
This recurring theme explores Maya’s struggle with identity and self-worth.
What is coming of age or self-identity?
This coping mechanism is used by Maya to deal with her trauma.
What is silence or mutism?
This tone is often used when Maya reflects on painful memories.
What is reflective or somber?
This mode of transportation is used to send Maya and Bailey to Stamps.
What is a train?
This nickname is used by Maya’s family instead of her real name.
What is Ritie?
This metaphor in the book’s title represents Maya’s feelings of confinement and longing for freedom.
What is the caged bird?
This societal issue is highlighted by the lack of justice Maya receives.
What is systemic injustice or victim blaming?
This literary device is used when Maya compares herself to a caged bird.
What is a metaphor?