I Know Why the caged Bird Sings Study Guide – Flashcards
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What did Marguerite hope the made-over lavender dress would do for her?
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She wanted it to make her look like a movie star.
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How do you think Marguerite feels about being an African American?
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I think she hates it in the beginning but in the end she is proud.
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Why did the children's parents send them to Stamps, Ark.?
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her parents got divorced. they were 3 and 4
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What is the guiding force in Momma's life?
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GOD
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How does Marguerite describe the cotton-picker's lives?
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happy in the morning and sad in the afternoon. they will always be in debt
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How does Marguerite feel about Uncle Willie? How is he related to her?
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he is Momma's son. She is sympathetic of his lameness and looks up to him.
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Do you think Momma's dislike for white writers reflects prejudice against whites?
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Yes, because she was treated unfairly because of her race, she treated Shakespeare unfairly on account of his race.
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8. How do you know that Marguerite has a good deal of self-discipline for a small child?
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Because she always tries to follow the rules and she knows what is and isn't expected from her and she tries to be good and do what is expected of her. She disciplines herself and doesn't treat herself and has a lot of willpower.
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How is opening the front door of the Store like "pulling the ribbon off the unexpected gift"?
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You don't know what is inside but you think it will be something wonderful, or something not so wonderful.
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Why did Uncle Willie hide in the vegetable bin?
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Because there's a white lynch mob (KKK) out looking for scapegoats.
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Describe Bailey. Include Marguerite's feelings about him.
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He is Maya's brother. He is the only consistent and strong thing she has in her life. He is better looking, smarter, and more graceful than her so she looks up to him. He is the center of her entire world. "My pretty black brother was my kingdom come."
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Would you describe Stamps as integrated or segregated? How do Bailey and Marguerite regard "whitefolksville"?
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Segregated. they aren't really sure what white people look like. it is a strange place where they have a lot of luxury. Scary and unreal.
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What are Momma's two most important rules? Are these good rules to live by for children today?
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Thou shall not be dirty and thou shall not be impudent. Little kids should be allowed to get dirty but should be respectful.
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Why does Momma "keep her cool" so well when she is being aped by the "powhitetrash" girls? How does witnessing this incident affect Marguerite?
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she was trying to show she wasn't going to let them take over or control her. It affected Maya because she saw that she shouldn't let herself be pushed around. She was kind of scared by it. Easy to picture.
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Why is it important to Marguerite to rake the yard after the girls leave?
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Because Momma was upset and she knew it would make her proud. To erase the memory.
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Why do the children loathe Reverend Thomas so much?
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Because he eats sunday dinner and take too long for prayer and it gets cold. He doesn't remember their names and he is fat.
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Briefly describe the incidents that occur with Sister Monroe in church. Were you overcome with "the giggles" as you read this chapter?
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Sister Monroe gets too into the sermon and beats up the pastor. yes i want that to happen to me.
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What is meant by the "fine line between humor and hysteria"?
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That like laughing being humorous can be a good thing but it can turn bad to hysteria.
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Why was the judge from Pine Bluff so surprised when he saw "Mrs. Henderson"? Why has the story became legend in Stamps?
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Because black women don't normally get married and if they do don't carry the title Mrs. it got the guy out of trouble. She is the only one ever called Mrs.
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Why did it take so long for the Depression to affect the African-American population of Stamps?
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Because they functioned within their own little community and they were already hurting so it didn't feel any different.
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Why do the children have such negative reactions to receiving Christmas presents from their parents?
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Because they thought they were dead and it was a wakeup call when they go the gifts. they felt abandoned.
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What is Marguerite's reaction to her father?
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intimidated. she sees him as a stranger. he is really big and she thinks hes like a white man who is disguised as a black man.
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With what illegal activities is Grandmother Baxter involved? What do you think Momma would say about the situation?
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gambling. she got people out of trouble. she was involved with gangs. she would say.. idk probs to go shower and be respectful.
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How does the children's lifestyle in St. Louis differ from the one they were accustomed to in Stamps?
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They got more things and food. They had to do all the chores in STamps and in S. Louis it wasn't so hard and their clothes were store bought.
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How does the St. Louis school compared with that in Stamps?
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It is bigger and the teachers were more distanced.
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What are the children's uncles like?
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angry, but very family oriented.
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How do Marguerite and her mother get along?
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Idk i think may just really admires her and listens to anything she says because she was raised that way. she thinks that she likes Bailey more. They're distant. She doesn't feel like she belongs.
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Who is Mr. Freeman? How does he feel about "Mother Dear"?
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Her mom's boyfriend. he really loves Mother Dear and wants to make her happy. adores her and treats her like she is a sex goddess. He was obsessive about her.
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How does Marguerite's feeling of "I didn't come to stay" affect her behavior while she is in St. Louis?
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She didn't want to get attached.
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Why do you think Bibbi decided to live with Me. Freeman? Why does Marguerite compare her pity for him to that felt for the pigs being fattened for the slaughter?
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she knew her mom was doing other things and using him for his money.
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How did Marguerite find herself in an abusive situation? Was her mother irresponsible in trusting Mr. Freeman to sleep in the same bed with her daughter?
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she was sleeping in her moms bed because she had nightmares. her mom left and he masturbated next to her. Yes, she trusted him too much.
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Why didn't Marguerite tell her mother the truth of what Mr. Freeman did? Had she really understood what Mr. Freeman had done? Why didn't she feel lonely "for the encasement of his big arms"?
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He threatened to kill Bailey. No she didn't get it she thought she was just being held which she had never been hugged before.
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Why do you think Marguerite escaped into reading?
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Because then she didn't have to think about him and her guilt about what happened. She was lonely and found friends in books.
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What do you think Mother and Mr. Freeman argued about the night of the rape?
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Probably over something really minor but it escalated because of his guilt.
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What are some of the feelings Marguerite had after the rape. In addition to Mr. Freeman's threats, what other reasons did she have for not wanting her mother and Bailey to find out what had happened?
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She was scared and really confused. She didn't want them to know she had a hand in it happening.
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How does Bailey reassure his sister? Is she foolish to believe him?
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He says Freeman couldn't kill him. Yes, he is only 9 but it is a good thing that she did.
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Why did Marguerite feel so guilty about Freeman's death?
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She thought her lie had killed him. So, she decided to stop talking.
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What was comforting to Marguerite about the resignation of the people in Stamps?
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They didn't have expectations of her and she could be as quiet as she wanted.
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What was meant by the advice "Be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy"?
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Even if people seem uneducated but they can still be wise and you should respect them.
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How does Mrs. Flowers come to Marguerite's rescue emotionally?
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She showers her she can talk because words are a things of beauty
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Why was Marguerite sent to work at Mrs. Cullinan's
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Because she had to learn life skills, to be a servant.
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Why did she break Mrs. Cullinan's favorite china? Was she justified?
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Because she was calling her the wrong name. yes and no because she wanted to leave but didn't want to quit
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Why did Bailey stay in town so late? Why was he depressed?
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because he saw a women at the movie that looked like his mother dear.
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What is Marguerite's feeling about the portrayal of Blacks in the Kay Francis movie?
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She feels like it isn't accurate and it makes her mad.
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What does the author note about standard of living and its relationship to God's will?
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the lowest will be rewarded.
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Why were the exhausted cotton-pickers anxious to attend the revival meeting?
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Yes because it makes them feel superior
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Who does the preacher mean when he refers to "Charity"?
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White people, says they serve because it looks good
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What compassion does the author make between the revival meeting and the activities at Miss Grace's house?
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Both to forget their troubles and unite
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Why is it so important to the people at the Store that Joe Louis win the fight they are listening to on the radio?
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Because it shows they are stronger than the whites. They get to be superior.
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Explain the last sentence of Chapter 19.
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Whites could be angry and mean and kill them. White people could be out to get them.
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Explain: "...after being a woman for three years, I was about to become a girl."
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That she had been trying to be a grown up for so long and how she can let loose her inhibition
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Why do you think Marguerite thinks of love as a treacherous, hateful word?
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Every time someone shows her love it ends up bad.
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Why did Tommy Valdon finally stop paying attention to Marguerite?
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She ripped it because she didn't understand what it meant
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Who was Joyce?
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Older girl who taught Bailey about sex.
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What did Bailey learn from Joyce? What did Marguerite learn?
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Bailey learned about sex. Maya learned more about the male perspective. She lost some trust and faith in Bailey
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What do you find ironic about chapter 21?
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Maya saw him as the person who protected her. But then he did the thing that had hurt her the most.
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What were Marguerite's feelings about Florida Taylor's funeral?
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Scared of seeing her dead
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How does the weather heighten the atmosphere for the story told by Mr. Taylor?
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Its all rainy which makes it creepy and such
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How is the white school different from the Lafayette Country Training School? How are the black graduates different than the white?
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They were segregated and it was NOT equal. Whites= Scholars Blacks= Athletes. Blacks got leftover stuff from the white school.
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Why is Marguerite proud of herself at the beginning of Chapter 23?
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Because she had on a pretty dress and she was 2nd in her class. 8th grade was as far as you got in Stamps
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On graduation night, what is the first clue that the ceremony will be a disappointment?
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they didn't sing the negro national anthem at the beginning of the ceremony
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Why is Marguerite so upset by Edward Donleavy's speech? What would she have preferred for him to talk about?
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Talks about things going on with other schools. He was a politician who was running for election.
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How did Henry Reed bring a feeling of redemption to the graduates and the members of the audience?
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He was top of the class. led the class in the negro national anthem
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Why does the author call the entire human species "an abomination" (page 153)?
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Because we are mean and judge mental. full of hate towards anyone a little bit different. MONEY LOVERS
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If you could talk to Dr. Lincoln, what would say?
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I'd stare at him and make him uncomfortable. Then I would punch him in the face and take his wallet.
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How does Marguerite's imagined version of Momma's conversation with the dentist differ from what actually happened?
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She thought Momma would be alot more assertive. She got money to go to another one.
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What incident prompts Momma to get the children's out of stamp? Do you think she made the right decision?
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Bailey is staring to follow the wrong crowd. She decided to send them away.
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Considering what you know about Momma and the children's mother, Vivian Baxter, how do you think the two women got along?
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Polite but do not like each other.
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Do you imagine Momma was relieved to get back to Stamps-or did she wish she could stay in California?
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Excited to get home but would miss Bailey and Maya.
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Why did San Francisco change so much at the beginning of World War II. Why do you think the Blacks were so willing to profit from the displacement of the Japanese?
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Japanese went to internment camps and whites took their places and benefited.
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Compare Marguerite's experiences at the neighborhood girls' school, at George Washington High School, and at the California Labor School.
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she went through schools she didn't like very much. Not very good educated at Gloh. at ClS she liked dancing. Helped shape her
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Who was Miss Kirwin? Was she a good teacher? Did she treat students fairly?
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She treated everyone equally
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Why is Daddy Clidell important to Marguerite?
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He is her first father figure
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The black con men in Chapter 29 feel that anything they take from the white man is their just due. Do you agree with that philosophy?
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No, they would have conned anyone and its not good to con.
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How are Maya and her classmates "bi-lingual"
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They speak proper English at school but on the streets they use slang.
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Describe Daddy Bailey's girlfriend.
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She is super jealous of Maya, she is pretentious and stuck up.
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What excuse does Daddy Bailey make for his frequent trips to Mexico?
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Grocery Shopping
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Why is Maya so pleased when her father invites her to go to Mexico with him?
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Because she feels special.
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Explain what is meant by "How maddening it was to have been born in a cotton field with with the aspirations of grandeur."
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Because everyone has low expectations for you but you want more for yourself
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Why does Maya end up driving the car?
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Because her dad goes out drinking to and comes back too drunk to drive and passes out in the car.
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Does the conflict between Dolores and Maya become solved in a satisfactory way?
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No. She gets stabbed. That is much less than satisfactory.
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Why doesn't Maya simply go back to her mothers?
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Because she doesn't want her parents to fight even more and the last time she spoke up about being hurt the person died and she doesn't want to kill anyone else.
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What does Maya gain from living in the junk yard?
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She learns to accept people of all kinds and she learns independence
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Does it seem strange that no one seems to wonder where Maya was for a month?
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Yes, but also her parents don't talk to one another so they probably thought Maya was at the others house
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What would be the reactions of other father's if their child went missing?
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FREAKING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Why does Bailey move out? Is Mother Dear supportive of this decision? Is Maya?
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Because they were clashing too much and he wanted to be a grown up out on his own. She bought him an apartment so it would appear she is supportive. Maya of course wasn't supportive.
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How is Marguerite treated when she goes to the Market Street Railway Company to apply for a job? Why do you think she kept going back?
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Badly they laugh at her, but she is stubborn
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What is meant by, "I had gone from being ignorant of being ignorant to being aware of being aware"?
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She went from having alot to learn but not knowing it to learning alot and knowing it
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Reread the last two paragraphs of chapter 34. Is the plight of Black females still the same today—or have things changed?
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Yes things have changed
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Why is Marguerite, at 16, worried about her sexual orientation? Is this a question which occurs to most teenagers?
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Because she is growing and she thinks she is a hermaphrodite which she equates with lesbianism. Yes, completely and totally 100% normal.
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What prompts Marguerite to invite one of the handsome brothers to be intimate with her? What is the result?
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She sees another girls boobs and she feels jealousy but she thinks it is attraction and decides that the only way to settle the feelings is to have sex with a guy. She gets pregnant.
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Why does Marguerite to wait so long to tell her mother about the pregnancy?
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Because Bailey told her to keep it a secret.
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How do Vivian Baxter and Daddy Clidell react to Marguerite's news?
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accepting
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What feelings does Marguerite have when her son is born?
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Love.
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React to: "If you are for the right thing, then you do it without thinking." Would you consider this good advice for living?
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If you are raised right you will have faith and do the right thing.
