SympathyPaul Laurence Dunbar

(1872-1906)

Calum, Sheryl, Brendon and Nadège

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

Born on June 27 of 1872 in Dayton (Ohio), Paul LaurenceDunbar was the first African-American poet to reach literacy intothe American press.

He wrote many poems, dialect, essays, novels, and even shortstories. A lot of his work addresses the difficult times his race hasgone through, racism and discrimination.

His parents have been imprisoned; his mother was a slave inKentucky and his father escaped to serve in the Civil War (1861-1865).

Dunbar was given national fame after publishing two books,Oak and Ivy (Poems, 1892), and Majors and Minors (1995). Hedied on the 9th of February 1906. He wrote throughout his life 12poetry books, 4 short story books, one play and 5 novels.

1/ Title

The Title Sympathy could imply that someone understands another person’s misfortune, have common feelings and might have gone through a similar situation.

SympathyI know what the caged bird feels, alas!

When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;When the wind stirs soft through the springing grassAnd the river flows like a stream of glass;

When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,And the faint perfume from it’s chalice steals -I know what the caged bird feels!

I know why the caged bird beats his wingTill blood is red on the cruel bars;

For he must fly back to his perch and clingWhen he fain would be on the bough a-swing;

A pain still throbs in the old, old scarsAnd 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!

Paul Laurence Dunbar

2/ ParaphraseI know what the caged bird feels, alas!

When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;When the wind stirs soft through the springing grassAnd the river flows like a stream of glass;

When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,And the faint perfume from it’s chalice steals -I know what the caged bird feels!

In the first paragraph, the speaker says

that he knows how the bird feels when he sees

other free birds in a beautiful world.

The caged bird wants to see the sunrise

and the sunset, feel the wind blow, smell the

perfume of the flowers opening in the

morning, go by the river and enjoy life. He can

only see the world behind bars.

Here the slave is compared to a caged

bird using a metaphor.

2/ ParaphraseThe bird beats his wings trying to go

out and see all the amazing things he wants

to see. Sadly the bars of his cage won’t break

nor move and the bird wounds his wings.

Even with many failures and a lot of

scars that won’t heal, he keeps trying again

and again until he must stop to go fly back

on his perch.

I know why the caged bird beats his wing

Till 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;

A pain still throbs in the old, old scars

And they pulse again with a keener sting -

I know why he beats his wing!

2/ Paraphrase

The caged bird suffers from being imprisoned. As a last hope, he sings, praying for what

he wants the most. His voice is the only thing in him that can’t be locked behind bars. This

somehow seems to be giving some freedom to his heart.

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!

3/ Connotation

Repetition:The speaker repeats “I know …” before and after each stanza to show how muchhe understands the bird since he was in a similar situation because of his skincolor.

I know … the caged bird ...

I know … the caged bird ...

Till blood is red on the cruel bars (line 9)

Personification:The bars refer to the slaves’ masters who keep them prisoners and won’t letthem go. They would beat them and dirty their hands in blood.

sends from his heart’s deep core,

a plea, that upward to Heaven…

(lines 19-20)

Hyperbole:Singing for the bird or praying for the slave is so important that it is impossibleto describe is without using the most exaggerated image. It shows it is their onlyfreedom.

the river flows like a stream of glass (line 4)

Simile:A simile is used to help the reader imagine the beauty of the world through a caged bird’s or slave’s eyes. because they can’t go they see it more beautiful than we do.

Rhymes:ABAABCCDEDDEDDFGFFGHH

Rhymes:The Author used rymes which helps see the landscapes for flowing sounds such as “-opes” or “-eals” or feel the bird’s pain with rhymes in “-ing” or “-ars”.

4/ Attitude

The speaker feels sympathy, pity towards the bird. He has been in a similar situation in the past and he can relate to the bird on an emotional level, which is why he can dive into such detail as if he was the bird himself.

5/ Shifts

There are shifts between each stanzas; in the first paragraph the speaker seems to be describing a

scene with an awe wonder.

Then in the second paragraph, the awe wonder disappears to show

compassion; the speaker feels the bird’s pain.

Finally, the most important shift; The speaker gives a lot of

importance to the bird’s only way out. Even though it is just spiritual,

it is still an escape.

6/ Title

Said in part 1/:The Title Sympathy could imply that someone understands another person’s misfortune, have common feelings and might have

gone through a similar situation.

The speaker, who was certainly a slave, feels sympathy towards the caged bird since sees himself in him and identifies to him. He knows what the caged bird feels, why he acts like he

does in a desperate situation and what his only escape is; singing.

Thank you

7/ Theme

* SYMPATHY

* PAIN

* IMPRISONMENT

* PRAYING

* SINGING

This Poem talks about relatively sad subjects but what the author might say is that you shouldn’t give up wanting to be free. Even if you face obstacles you should always try to

find a way out even if it is spiritually.