Journal+Entry+2

__** "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" **__ ** By Maya Angelou ** ** Journal Entry 2- 10th December 2010 (Pages 53-108) ** ** S. Ana Sutherland **

Since the last section of the book, many things have happened. First, Maya's father comes from California. Maya and Bailey go with him, thinking that they are going to stay with him. INstead, he drops them at their mothers house in St Louis. Maya's mother, a nurse, is very beautiful and kind but Maya can't get used to life in St Louis: more modern appliances and indoor plumbing. At the age of eight years old, Maya is raped by her mother's boyfriend, Mr Freeman. At the trial Maya lies when the Judge asked if he ever touched her inappropriately before, and he escapes jail time. Later, Maya's uncles murder Mr Freeman. Maya feels that her words her him, so she vows to never speak to anyone again except her brother Bailey. Because of this, they are sent back to Stamps to live with their grandmother. While there, Maya meets Bertha Flowers, a beautiful lady who gives Maya tea and cookies and lends her book. Maya begins to speak again in front of her. Maya also starts to work for Mrs Viola Cullinan, but purposely breaks her favourite china when Mrs Cullinan shortens her name to 'Mary'.

What was a major event that helped resolve the plot? I think that Mr Freeman's actions really changed Maya's life. Because of him, she had to face shame and was sent back to stamps. She also resolves to never speak again because of him- an act that causes many people to become angry with her and call her sullen and naughty. Without the evil character of Mr Freeman, the novel would have just been any other normal autobiography. He really changes the mood and atmosphere with what he did. He also threatened to kill Maya's brother, who Maya loves more than anyone, which would have been very traumatic for her.

Who is a new character that has been introduced? What is their purpose? I think a new important character is Miss Flowers. She is in Maya's eyes perfect in every way- beautiful, successful, and makes wonderful cookies. I think her purpose is to help Maya come out of her shell, and it is to her that Maya first speaks again (aside from Bailey) even though her words were just 'Yes, Ma'am'. Her ability to read aloud like the book is a song shocks Maya, and she feels the book that Miss Flowers is reading is new to her, even though she had already read it. I think that later on in the novel, Miss Flowers will be a refuge for Maya and continue to help her to grow and view the world differently.

What new things are added to the plot as the story progresses? Not too many new elements have been added to the plot- racism is still a main theme, although now the family relations between the characters become more prominent. For example, Maya is greatly angered when Mrs Cullinan calls her Margaret instead of Marguerite, and is further insulted when she shortened it to Mary. She finds the nickname a disgrace, and because of that drops Mrs Cullinan's china. Maya has a good relationship with most of her family, although I find her grandmother very frightening- she whipped Maya and Bailey for saying 'by the way' because it means 'by Jesus' or 'by God' and she would not have the lord's name taken in vain in her house. Other than that, not many new things were added to the plot- the setting is still basically the same since she moved back to Arkansas. The most important new things added to the plot are the appearances of Miss Flowers and Mrs Cullinan.

10/10