Read the following excerpt from maya angelou’s "i know why the caged bird sings" and answer the question. "in cotton-picking time the late afternoons revealed the harshness of black southern life, which in the early morning had been softened by nature’s blessing of grogginess, forgetfulness and the soft lamplight." in at least 100 words, identify the tone, and discuss angelou’s use of it in the above excerpt, including how it relates to her individual experience and personal perspective.

The tone in this excerpt is solemn, witty, outspoken and persuasive.

Explanation: The tone of a literary work can be understood as the approach or the attitude that the writer conveys towards the subject of his or her work. Even though Angelou is certainly referring to the harhsness that those working in plantations picking up cotton and other products had to endure, particularly in the last hours of the day, when "nature's blessing of grogginess, forgetfulness and the soft lamplight" had faded, hers, I believe, is not a resentful or an outraged tone, at least not in this excerpt. Instead, the tone of the author in this excerpt is solemn, witty, outspoken and persuasive, and it relates to her difficult upbringing and her personal experience as a Civil Rights advocate and activist.    

being surrounded by crimes, poverty, and failing schools as well as his own lack of confidence in his abilities.