Question

Which lines from the poem show that the caged bird has never been free?

1) "his wings are clipped and / his feet are tied / so he opens his throat to sing." (lines 12–14)
2) "but a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams / his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream" (lines 27–28)
3) "his tune is heard / on the distant hill / for the caged bird / sings for freedom." (lines 19–22)
4) "the caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still" (lines 31–34)

Answer 1

The lines that suggest the caged bird has never been free are those that describe its clipped wings and tied feet, signifying physical constraints and unattained freedom.3) "his tune is heard / on the distant hill / for the caged bird / sings for freedom." (lines 19–22)

Step-by-step explanation:

The lines from the poem that show the caged bird has never been free are 'his wings are clipped and / his feet are tied / so he opens his throat to sing.' (lines 12–14). These words explicitly describe the physical restrictions placed upon the bird, suggesting that it cannot fly or even move freely, which indicate a lack of prior freedom. They metaphorically point to the bird's longing to be free through the act of singing, which serves as an expression of its unfulfilled desires and a state it yearns for but has never experienced.