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poetry > living space > Flashcards

living space Flashcards

1
Q

who is this poem written by?

A

Imtiaz Dharker

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2
Q

what location is this poem based on?

A

Dharavi Slums (Mumbai)

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3
Q

what are the main themes of Dharkers’ poems?

A

geographical and cultural displacement

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4
Q

what themes are explored in the poem?

A

fragility
boldness
faith

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5
Q

what is the structure of the poem like?

A

uneven structure

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6
Q

is there enjambment in the poem?

A

yes- throughout the whole poem- the slum structures lean over and on top of eachother- spilling into eachother

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7
Q

whose perspective is the poem from in the first stanza?

A

people from the West viewing it- pessimistic and outsiders view

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8
Q

whose perspective is the 2nd and 3rd stanza from?

A

people who live in the slums view- optimistic and insiders view

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9
Q

what is the significance of having different views?

A

the different views symbolise the different people living in the slums- not just one speaker of Dharker

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10
Q

what is the semantic field of?

A

chaos

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11
Q

what is the significance of the 2nd stanza being the shortest?

A

highlights how little living space there is

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12
Q

what is the poem about?

A

expresses the idea of physical poverty in the form of a poorly constructed home

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13
Q

what does the poem celebrate?

A

the existence of their living space as a miracle

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14
Q

what is the idea of Dharker using simple words?

A

she uses simple words and offers commentary on something much larger than one broken down home- much larger ideas e.g. light and hope

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15
Q

how does the poem begin?

A

“there are just not enough straight lines. That is the problem.”

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16
Q

what does the line “there are not enough straight lines. That is the problem” mean?

A

the structure is the problem- not the people- a larger scale renovation or a rebuild would be necessary- these things are out of reach for people living in poverty

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17
Q

what does the line “there are not enough straight lines. That is the problem” link to as a wider idea?

A

could be taken as an indication that the problem of poverty is bigger than those who are impoverished- things that they can’t fix themselves

18
Q

“nothing is flat or parallel…

A

Beams balance crookedly on supports thrust off the vertical.”

19
Q

what does the line “nothing is flat or parallel..” mean?

A

the structure is still the problem- not the residents- these people have limited resources so they cannot make their home “steady” and “strong”- the issue of the structure is beyond the family’s reach

20
Q

“nails clutch…

A

at open seams”

21
Q

what does the line “nails clutch at open seams” mean?

A

the people are desperately holding onto the idea that things will improve- there is hope

22
Q

what does the verb “clutch” show?

A

the nails are holding on tightly- desperation
the home is falling to pieces- the residents have a sense of desperation as much of their lives are fragile from their financial capabilities

23
Q

what is the wider idea of the nails not falling downwards, yet towards “open seams”?

A

the nails are not falling downwards- into a pit of despair- they are going towards the openness- feelings of possibilities- open world- more can be accomplished- sense of amazement with how these people are living in such poor conditions

24
Q

what is the longest line in the poem?

A

“the whole structure leans dangerously”

25
Q

what is the wider idea of “the whole structure leans dangerously” being the longest line?

A

echoes the idea that the whole structure is leaning over- gives an idea of the unevenness of the slums

26
Q

“towards…

A

the miraculous”

27
Q

what does “towards the miraculous” mean?

A

the people’s lives are so close to the “miraculous”- the better lives
something brighter can happen in the days to come

28
Q

what is the format of the third stanza like?

A

rushed format- Dharker is excited- the idea of hope

29
Q

“into this rough frame…

A

someone has squeezed a living space”

30
Q

what does the line “into this rough frame, someone has squeezed a living space” mean?

A

the slum areas are living spaces created out of all kinds of material

31
Q

“and even dared…

A

to place these eggs in a wire basket”

32
Q

what do the “eggs in a wire basket” symbolise?

A

the eggs need to be treated kindly and delicately- children need to be taken care of

33
Q

what does the “eggs in a wire basket” also mean?

A

the children huddle together like “eggs in a wire basket”- one wrong move and they could die

34
Q

“fragile curves of white…

A

hung out over the dark edge of a slanted universe”

35
Q

“gathering the light into themselves…

A

as if they were the bright, thin walls of faith”

36
Q

what is significant about the words “dark” and “slanted”?

A

the children desperately try to find the light and hope in the darkness of the world

37
Q

what is important about the light and the eggs?

A

light helps eggs to hatch- the light helps the children to remain hopeful and happy

38
Q

what is important about the eggs in the final stanza?

A

the eggs are full of yolk (life)- full of substance

39
Q

who are the “bright, thin walls of faith”?

A

the children are the ones who hold onto the faith and carry it

40
Q

what is significant about the words “bright” and “thin”>

A

they juxtapose eachother- children are bright “positive” yet they are also “thin”- fragile and also a sign of their poverty

41
Q

what do the “bright, thin walls” also represent?

A

the living conditions- they are very cheap, thin walls yet they are bright with the positivity of the residents

42
Q

what is significant about the residents hope?

A

their entire lives are unstable, like their houses, yet the possibilities for a better future always exist so long as the “bright” and “thin” walls exist- it is a statement towards poverty as a whole

poetry (16 decks)

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