Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," has been deemed one of the most controversial, yet influential autobiographical novels of all time. Although somewhat unappreciated by the general public, this work is held to be a classic work of literature despite its taboo themes and figurative language for its time period. The novel will leave a long lasting impression of Angelou that will evermore be embedded into the readers mind. Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" has gained a tremendous amount of criticism ... for its disputable topics concerning Racism and prejudice, The Amer...

• Word Count: 673
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Maya Angelou writes on her experience living in Southern rural then in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the book is a heartwarming yet tragic story of her life from birth to young adulthood. She grew in unstable home environment, moving between her grandmother, father, and mother with her brother Bailey. She was sexually molested by her mother's boyfriend at the age of eight that made her shut off from the world and spoke only to Bailey for years, until her teacher helped her come out of the silence after which she moved to California. She says, "If growing up is painful for the Southern Black g...

• Word Count: 649
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... them to commit to such a consciousness. This was the foundation of every African - American's understanding of self, and his social environment, and when recognized by an adolescent, this was the marking of their independence. This was their rite to move on to the next level of their life. Maya Angelou's novel I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is no stranger to a classic novel expressing such a ... consciousness within the Black community. The exceptional novel illustrates the sheer duality of growing up Black in the American South in the 1930s and 40s. We note Maya's ... coming of age af...

• Word Count: 952
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate