Living space

Question 1

How is the title ironic

Answer 1

There actually isn’t much ‘living space’ in Mumbai’s slums at all

Question 2

How is the poems structure a reflection of the slums itself

Answer 2

The Enjambment of the poem reflects how the structures lean over and are on top of each other.
The central stanza is “squeezed” in to reflect how living spaces are “squeezed” into small gaps

Question 3

‘Thin walls of faith’

Answer 3

suggests the existence of these living spaces is a miracle and implies they still have “faith” even in difficult conditions.

Question 4

How does the author feel about the people

Answer 4

The poem ends with Dharker’s admiration of the people who live in the slums and their positive attitudes towards their negative circumstances.

Question 5

‘Not enough’

Answer 5

She is possibly critiquing the west, and showing how they do not do enough to help and aid slums and poorer areas

Question 6

‘Crookedly’

Answer 6

could symbolise that the class system is corrupt. It could also highlight the dangerous living conditions that the people have to endure.

Question 7

‘Wire basket’

Answer 7

Could symbolise the metal cage those people in the slums are placed in, highlighting their lack f freedom and their entrapment