I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou

Discussion Questions

COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON A WORD DOCUMENT AND ANSWER THEM. THEY WILL BE CHECKED AND DISCUSSED IN CLASS.

1. What can you tell about Marguerite’s character from her actions in the Store?

2. What was the ‘lifeline” Mrs. Flowers threw to Marguerite?

3. How did this ‘lifeline” change Marguerite?

4. Why does Mrs. Flowers tell Marguerite to read aloud and in as many different ways as possible?

5. How do you think Marguerite changes as a result of her meetings with Mrs. Flowers?

6. Why has Mrs. Flowers remained “the measure of what a human being can be”?

7. Angelou’s memoir takes place during a time in which segregation laws governed most of the South. How might Angelou’s self-esteem have been affected by these laws?