An effective way to engage your students is through the creation of storyboards that examine Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, and Theme. This activity is referred to with the acronym “TWIST”. In a TWIST, students focus on a particular paragraph or a few pages, to look deeper at the author’s meaning. For this activity, students will create a 5 cell storyboard, illustrating each letter of TWIST for Maya Angelou's poem "Caged Bird".
| T | TONE |
The tone of this poem is sad and serious, yet the caged bird perseveres. One example of this is, “his wings are clipped and his feet are tied, so he opens his throat to sing.” |
|---|---|---|
| W | WORD CHOICE |
When describing the free bird, Angelou uses uplifting and bright words, and when describing the caged bird, she uses dark and sad words. |
| I | IMAGERY |
“And dips his wing in the orange sun rays, and dares to claim the sky”. This illustrates the free bird flying freely in the beautiful morning sky. |
| S | STYLE |
This poem is unstructured. Sometimes it rhymes, the number of syllables is not consistent, and there is some repetition. This is a free verse poem. |
| T | THEME |
The themes of this poem are freedom and captivity. The free bird represents white people, and the caged bird represents the oppressed African American people. |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a TWIST analysis of "Caged Bird".
Student instructions:
Encourage students to share their storyboards and observations in small groups or as a whole class. This builds confidence and deepens understanding as students explain their thinking and listen to peers.
Ask questions like, "How does the imagery make you feel?" or "Why do you think the author used certain words?" Open-ended prompts spark critical thinking and invite all students to participate in the discussion.
Relate the themes of freedom and captivity to situations students may encounter. This helps students make personal connections, making the poem more meaningful and memorable.
Compare how different students illustrated or described the same TWIST element. Discussing varying perspectives fosters respect for diverse ideas and deepens comprehension.
Wrap up by inviting students to share what they learned about the poem and the TWIST process. Summarizing together reinforces the lesson and helps students internalize new skills.
A TWIST analysis is a structured activity where students examine Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, and Theme in Maya Angelou's poem "Caged Bird" to better understand the author's message and literary techniques.
Start by explaining each TWIST element with examples from "Caged Bird." Then, have students create a storyboard with five cells, illustrating and describing each aspect. Guide them with prompts and discussion to deepen understanding.
One vivid example is "And dips his wing in the orange sun rays, and dares to claim the sky", which paints a picture of the free bird soaring in a bright, open world. This contrasts with the caged bird's confinement.
Word choice shapes the mood and meaning of "Caged Bird." Angelou uses bright, uplifting words for the free bird and dark, somber words for the caged bird, highlighting the contrast between freedom and oppression.
The main themes are freedom and captivity. The free bird symbolizes those with privilege, while the caged bird represents oppressed individuals longing for liberation.