Viewpoint in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Read the passage, and highlight the words spoken by Mrs. Flowers. "I don't need to see the inside, Mrs. Henderson, I can tell . . ." But the dress was over my head and my arms were stuck in the sleeves. Momma said, "That'll do. See here, Sister Flowers, I French-seams around the armholes." Through the cloth film, I saw the shadow approach. "That makes it last longer. Children these days would bust out of sheet-metal clothes. They so rough." "That is a very good job, Mrs. Henderson. You should be proud. You can put your dress back on, Marguerite." —I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,Maya Angelou What inference can be made about Mrs. Flowers based on what she says to Mrs. Henderson? Mrs. Flowers is aware of how other people feel. Mrs. Flowers is not impressed by Mrs. Henderson's work. Mrs. Flowers is interested in learning how to sew. Mrs. Flowers is jealous when other people are proud.

A. Mrs. Flowers is aware of how other people feel.

Highlight the detail that reveals one of Momma's actions. Mrs. Flowers didn't belong to our church, nor was she Momma's familiar. Why on earth did she insist on calling her Sister Flowers? Shame made me want to hide my face. Mrs. Flowers deserved better than to be called Sister. —I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,Maya Angelou What inference can be made about Momma based on her action in this passage? She wishes Mrs. Flowers went to her church. She dislikes Mrs. Flowers. She believes she is equal to Mrs. Flowers. She hopes she can be like Mrs. Flowers.

C. She believes she is equal to Mrs. Flowers.

Write four to six sentences describing Momma or Mrs. Flowers. In your analysis, include at least two personality traits of the person. Support your ideas about the individual's personality traits with evidence from the text.

Ms. Flowers is the "aristocrat" of black Stamps, she is a gracious woman who encourages Maya's love of literature, and also helps Maya to break out of her muteness. Maya regards her as the pinnacle of humankind. Maya finds Ms. Flowers a unique role model. She is a black woman who refuses to bend to the stereotypes placed upon black women at the time. Maya finds Ms. Flowers to be intelligent, self aware, proud and sincere. Ms. Flowers instills a sense of pride both in Maya and in her identity as a black African American woman. To Ms. Flowers, academics, afternoon tee and literature were not merely white past times. She showed Maya that intellectual and emotional enlightenment were her right as a human being. OR Ms. Flowers is the "aristocrat" of black Stamps, she is a gracious woman who encourages Maya's love of literature, and also helps Maya to break out of her muteness. Maya regards her as the pinnacle of humankind. Maya finds Ms. Flowers a unique role model. She is a black woman who refuses to bend to the stereotypes placed upon black women at the time. Maya finds Ms. Flowers to be intelligent, selfaware, proud and sincere. Ms. Flowers instills a sense of pride both in Maya and in her identity as a black African American woman. To Ms. Flowers, academics, afternoon tee and literature were not merely white past times. She showed Maya that intellectual and emotional enlightenment were her right as a human being.

"Now no one is going to make you talk - possibly no one can. But bear in mind, language is man's way of communicating with his fellow man and it is language alone which separates him from the lower animals." That was a totally new idea to me, and I would need time to think about it. "Your grandmother says you read a lot. Every chance you get. That's good, but not good enough. Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with the shades of deeper meaning." —I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,Maya Angelou Based on the details in the passage, what can be inferred about Mrs. Flowers' personality? Check all that apply. She values speaking up for oneself. She is concerned about others. She is indifferent to those who have less. She believes that animals are unimportant. She has high expectations of others.

She values speaking up for oneself. She is concerned about others. She has high expectations of others.

Then her large hands were at my neck, opening the button loops. I was terrified. What was happening? "Take it off, Sister." She had her hands on the hem of the dress. "I don't need to see the inside, Mrs. Henderson, I can tell . . ." But the dress was over my head and my arms were stuck in the sleeves. Momma said, "That'll do. See here, Sister Flowers, I French-seams around the armholes." Through the cloth film, I saw the shadow approach. "That makes it last longer. Children these days would bust out of sheet-metal clothes. They so rough." "That is a very good job, Mrs. Henderson. You should be proud. You can put your dress back on, Marguerite." —I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,Maya Angelou Read the passage, then complete the statements. Momma makes Marguerite . Momma does this because she wants to . One inference the reader can make about Momma's personality traits based on this action is that she is .

✔ take off her dress. ✔ impress Mrs. Flowers ✔ proud