I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Lesson Plan

Who is Mrs. Flowers, and how does she bring Maya back to life? (

Mrs. Flowers is the Black aristocrat of Stamps and a benign, graceful gentlewoman. In Maya’s opinion, she is “the measure of what a human being can be.” When Mrs. Flowers takes Maya under her wing, Maya is still grappling with the aftereffects of her rape. By encouraging Maya’s love of literature and instructing the young girl to read books aloud, Mrs. Flowers helps Maya get her voice back. Furthermore, when Mrs. Flowers shows a particular liking to Maya as just “Marguerite Johnson,” and not as “Annie’s granddaughter” or “Bailey’s sister,” she helps Maya take pride in herself.

Why does Mrs. Cullinan call...