Home > I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Summary & Study Guide > I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Group > Question and Answer

Question:

Answers:

1. 
   gbeatty Teacher
   College - Freshman

   eNotes Editor

   How she responds to violence depends on when in her life the violence happens, and its nature. She accepts violence in general, as part of life, because of the time and circumstances in which she is growing up. She expects violence to happen, and, tragically, knows that it is an all too common occurrence for Black Americans.

    

   However, when it strikes at her personally—when she is raped in Chapter 12—she withdraws. She blames herself, withdraws, and sickens. Even then, though, she is trying to keep things from getting worse; she doesn't want to tell so she can protect Bailey. Later, she learns to express herself, and to dig her way out of the pit of violence, in part through writing her autobiography.  

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/know-why

   http://www.enotes.com/know-why/chapter-12-summary-analysis

   Rate answer:

   • Flag as inappropriate

   Posted by gbeatty on Friday October 10, 2008 at 11:03 AM