The excerpt from Maya Angelou's autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'' has many contrasti
School
Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
ENGLISH TAFT 2A
Subject
Arts & Humanities
Date
Dec 17, 2024
Pages
1
Uploaded by JusticeDog4611
The excerpt from Maya Angelou’s autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’’has many contrasting themes, but the most prevalent is childhood memories shape what peoplebecome. There are many instances in this excerpt that convey the theme of childhood memoriesshape what people become. One of these instances is expressed when Mrs. Flowers talks toMaya about Maya’s school work. Mrs. Flowers compliments Maya’s good school work, but thenbrings up the topic of the teacher having trouble getting Maya to talk in class. Mrs. Flowers thenexplains, “It takes the human voice to infuse them with the shades of deeper meaning.” (36.)This led to Maya memorizing this phrase which shaped her future by inspiring her to read aloud,which improved her English and helped her to write this book. Another occurrence of the themechildhood memories shape what people become is when Mrs. Flowers lent books to Maya. Mayalikes reading books, which led to Maya reading aloud often. The excerpt states, “I have triedoften to search behind the sophistication of years for the enchantment I so easily found in thosegifts.” This proves that she read and studied the books for many years to try to search behind thesophistication of years for the enchantment she found in the gifts (books). There are many otherinstances in which this excerpt of Maya Angelou’s autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged BirdSings’’ expresses that childhood memories shape what people become, and these are just some ofthem.
