Abstract: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiographical novel based on the writer Maya Angelo’s own experience, records Maya’s tough growth experience. This article aims to explore the main protagonist’s growth and survival processes from the perspective of an initiation story, helping people understand the American women’s perplexity and puzzlement on their growth road at that age and trying to show their unyielding spirit to struggle with fate with hard work, family members’ help and other impacts. The article is made up of four parts. The first part introduces the American black men’s literature course, the main content of the novel and the origin of the novel. The second part depicts the main protagonist’s unlucky growth process. The third part is analyzing how Maya realizes herself. The last part is the conclusion.

Key words: autobiographical; growth novel; double oppressions

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Maya’s growth.2

2.1 unfortunate Childhood

2.2 Fighting against the double oppressions

2.3 Awakened with independent consciousness

3. The reasons that attribute to Maya’s growth.4

3.1 Her personality

3.2 The effects of family

3.3 The social impact

4. Conclusion

Bibliography

Acknowledgements