"I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read" SOAPST

            When reading a piece of literature, it is important to thoroughly read and analyze the text, in order to fully emphasize and comprehend the author’s initial mindset. The use of a SOAPST analysis for “I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read” effectively puts all necessary information into place for greater conception. Francine Prose, the speaker of the text, is a mother, essayist, and critic. The occasion is September of 1999, when it was first published in Harper’s. Prose had no specific audience, it was pointed to a wider multiplicity of people; it was specified for everyone and anyone willing to read her opinion. Prose originally wanted to persuade and inform (purpose) the audience of the level of reading required for high school students (subject). Her sassy and persuasive tone justified the essay’s overall meaning. Without all aspects of the SOAPST coinciding, the piece of literature would not feel complete. All factors rely on each other. For example, the speaker must identify his/her purpose for writing the text in an efficient way for the readers to correctly interpret the overall idea. Another example would be Francine Prose, the speaker; without her credibility and ethos, the text would be viewed irrational and incorrect. This is proven by Prose’s building and automatic ethos as a moth and essayist described in the insert before the actual essay. Therefore, without SOAPST, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read” and all other pieces of literature would be problematical in the eyes of all readers.