Question

Read paragraph 5 from Chapter 1 of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and answer the question. The town reacted to us [Angelou and her brother Bailey] as its inhabitants had reacted to all things new before our coming. It regarded us a while without curiosity but with caution, and after we were seen to be harmless (and children) it closed in around us, as a real mother embraces a stranger’s child. Warmly, but not too familiarly. What words in the above excerpt demonstrate a humorous or lighthearted tone?

Answer 1

Answer:

The words in the above excerpt demonstrate a humorous or lighthearted tone are "all things new", "curiosity", "caution", "harmless", "a stranger’s child"

Explanation:

The Chapter 1 of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, introduces how the two little siblings started their journey to their new life, and in this specific excerpt, it is shown through the use of the words "all things new", "curiosity", "caution", "harmless", "a stranger’s child" the humorous tone of its lines by presenting them as something more than little kids who the reader might find fun to see how the people in town were afraid of.

Answer 2

This excerpt could be considered humorous because of the way in which the events are retell and because of the choice of words. their arrival is portrayed in such a way that the reader might think, it could have a deeper meaning. For example
"It regarded us a while without curiosity but with caution, and after we were seen to be harmless" This might be understood as a fun way of expressing that people were all over them, to check who they were, they pay close attention to these "new people" until they were convinced they are fine.