Abstract:Maya Angelou is a famous African-American writer and poet. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is her first and most highly acclaimed one among her novels. Since its publication, it has attracted great attention. It is an autobiographical novel based on Maya Angelou’s own experiences. It is obvious to see that I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a typical initiation story describing the growth of a black female. The novel, through the perspective of initiation story, explores the hardship, misery and perplexity of the black female on her way to initiation. The novel manages to use the specific literary genre, initiation story, to show the growth of the heroine. This thesis attempts to explore the initiation theme embodied in the novel according to the common characteristics of initiation story. 

The thesis is divided into four chapters. Chapter One is a brief introduction to Maya Angelou and her masterpiece I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Chapter Two introduces initiation story. Chapter Three is devoted to the analysis of initiation theme embodied in the novel.  Chapter Four serves as a conclusion, presenting the purpose of writing this thesis. 

Keywords:  Maya Angelou  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings  initiation story  initiation theme

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Introduction to Maya Angelou-1

1.2 Introduction to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings-2

Chapter Two Initiation Story-3

2.1 Origin and Development of Bildungsroman-3

2.1.1 Origin of Bildungsroman-3

2.1.2 Initiation Story: Succession of Bildungsroman in America-3

2.2 Definition and General Characteristics of Initiation Story-4

2.2.1 The Definition of Initiation Story-4

2.2.2 General Characteristics of Initiation Story-4

Chapter Three The Theme of Initiation in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings-6

3.1 Alienation from the Surroundings-6

3.2 Initiation Guides-7

3.3 Initiation Turning Point and Epiphany-9

Chapter Four Conclusion-12

References-13