An unknown Girl (paper 2)

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

The poet discusses a memory from when she was in India. One one occasion, she chose to have henna placed onto her hand and her arm by an ‘unknown girl’. She experiences many emotions in that moment and she discusses them in the poem.

Question 2

Key quotations

Answer 2

• “An Unknow girl”
• “Bazaar”, “neon”
• “She is icing my hand”
• “For a few rupees”
• “As a little air catches”
• “Dummies in shop-fronts tilt and stare”
• “I have new brown veins”
• “Now the furious streets are hushed”
• “It will fade in a week”
• “I’ll lean across a country with my hands outstretched longing for the unknown girl in the neon bazaar”

Question 3

“An Unknow girl” (Analysis)

Answer 3

Reinforces idea of lacking identity

Question 4

“Bazaar”, “neon” (Analysis)

Answer 4

Contrast to setting - Westernisation of India. That contrast might reflect how the girl feels, she stands out in this environment, she doesn’t quite belong. Neon lights being quite harsh and superficial, reveals how she feels, her identity might be superficial.

Question 5

“She is icing my hand” (Analysis)

Answer 5

‘Icing’ emphasises intricacy & skill Decorating - making it better. Is she thinking the henna improves her in some way and not only physically?Internally?

Question 6

“For a few rupees” (Analysis)

Answer 6

Reflects poverty of India. Ironic considering the value of this experience.

Question 7

“As a little air catches” (Analysis)

Answer 7

Pathetic fallacy to highlight she is starting to feel different / unease

Question 8

“Dummies in shop-fronts tilt and stare”(Analysis)

Answer 8

‘Dummies’ Artificial / fake Western influence contrasts to traditional henna. They clash as she does in this culture. ‘Tilt and stare’ personification - sense of unease, sensation that she doesn’t belong and everyone is aware of it.

Question 9

“I have new brown veins” (Analysis)

Answer 9

Metaphor - feels she is becoming more Indian. Short sentence to highlight a change.

Question 10

“Now the furious streets are hushed” (Analysis)

Answer 10

Mirrors her experience - her connection to India is temporarily strong

Question 11

“It will fade in a week” (Analysis)

Answer 11

Short sentence, temporary feeling

Question 12

“I’ll lean across a country with my hands outstretched longing for the unknown girl in the neon bazaar. (Analysis)

Answer 12

Desperation to hold onto memory, experience, feeling

Question 13

Poem features:

Answer 13

Free verse → uncertainty
Centred lines → Weak allegiance to either culture (Stuck in the middle of two cultures)
Short lines → shortness of feeling she belongs
Little punctuation (enjambement) → Stream of consciousness

Question 14

Tone

Answer 14

At the end of the poem tone changes and she ends the poem in an anxious way because she known she is not always going to be part of this culture.