Final answer:
Both 'Sympathy' by Dunbar and 'Caged Bird' by Angelou explore themes of freedom versus confinement using the metaphor of a bird to symbolize the struggle against oppression and the desire for liberation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The similar theme being developed between Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar and Caged Bird by Maya Angelou is the theme of freedom and confinement. Both poems use the metaphor of a bird to represent the longing for liberation juxtaposed with the experience of being trapped.
Dunbar´s poem conveys this theme through the imagery of a caged bird beating its wings against the bars of its prison, an action that reflects the physical and emotional pain of captivity. Angelou expands on this idea, juxtaposing the caged bird’s stifled reality with the freedom of a bird flying in the open air. This parallel draws attention to the struggle for freedom and the inherent desire for it, despite the confines imposed, whether they are literal bars or societal limitations.
The use of these metaphors allows both authors to comment on broader social issues, particularly those related to African-American experiences of oppression and the longing for racial equality. Each poet reflects their respective time periods and personal experiences, but they both touch upon universal human desires for freedom and self-expression. These works demonstrate the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, which remains a potent theme across generations.