Living Space Flashcards
introduction
- Imitiaz has suggested that the poem describes the slums of Mumbai in India, though this is not directly stated in the poem.
- as the title suggests, the poem describes someone’s living space, or home.
- the poem conveys the fragility of these homes but more importantly, it celebrates them as a testament to human resilience.
form
- free verse
- irregular rhymes (3 pairs)
structure
- three stanzas
- caesurae
- enjambment
rhythm and rhyme
- there is no regular rhyme scheme but there are rhymes in (“Beams”, “seems”, “space”, ”place”, “white” light”.
- in this way, the rhymes reflect the irregularity of the space, providing just enough to hold the poem together phonologically, in the same way that the nails only just hold the structure together
‘beams
balance’
- alliteration
- ties the phrase tog
- enjambment tears it apart
- tension in the connectedness of the phrase - much like the slums generally
‘the whole structure….
…leans dangerously to the miraculous’
‘the whole structure leans dangerously
towards the miraculous’
- the line ‘leans’ over the rest of the stanza
- like the irregularity of the slums
‘white’
‘light’
- last stanza
- one of the few end-rhymes in the poem
- both have connotations of hope
structure of the 2nd stanza
- tiny
- has been squeezed between the two larger stanzas, similar to the living space in the slums
‘There are just not enough
straight lines. That’
- enjambment
- lines 1 and 2
- reflects lack of ‘straight lines’ in the slums
‘nails clutch…
…at open seams’
‘nails clutch at open seams’
- personification of the structure trying to keep itself intact
- inhabitants desperately trying to repair the structure
‘rough frame’
- 2nd stanza
- could suggest lack of finesse or resources
- or that it’s not supposed to be a frame at all
‘of a slanted…
…universe’
‘of a slanted universe’
- could evoke the slums
- criticise inequality
‘these eggs in a…
…wire basket’
‘these eggs in a wire basket’
- egg imagery
- eggs symbolic of fragility and new life
‘the bright…
…thin walls of faith’
‘the bright, thin walls of faith’
- metaphor
- reinforces the fragility of the slum inhabitants’ existence
‘That is…
…the problem’
‘That is the problem.’
- declarative sentence
- makes an observation
- suggesting inability to do anything about it
‘Living Space’
- title
- suggests a lack of emotional connection or fondness
- explicitly not a home
‘not enough straight lines’
‘nothing is….parallel’
‘crookedly’
‘supports….vertical’
‘clutch’
‘dangerously’
- emphasises fragility of slum existence
‘miraculous’
- could be saying that the structure still standing there is a miracle
- could suggest that its inhabitants are desperate for a better future
‘squeezed’
- the living space barely fits inside of the ‘rough frame’
- implying that it does not, or should not belong there
‘dared…
…to place’
‘dared to place’
- the slum inhabitants ‘rebel’ against the poor conditions they live in
- suggesting a hope and aspiration for something better
‘someone’
- vague language
- could relate to the anonymous millions of the Mumbai slums
‘faith’
- brings an almost religious tone to the poem
- it is the people’s belief that keeps them going
mood and tone
- begins in a slightly critical tone - points out how dangerously constructed the slums are - ‘there are just not enough straight lines’
- as the poem progresses, the mood becomes more hopeful as shown by ‘the bright, thin walls of faith’
key quotations for inequality
“Nothing is flat
or parallel”
“hung out over the dark edge
of a slanted universe”
ANALYSIS FOR KEY QUOTES FOR INEQUALITY
“Nothing is flat
or parallel”
“hung out over the dark edge
of a slanted universe”
The juxtaposition of “flat” and “parallel” highlights the absence of order or symmetry. The subtext of “or parallel” suggests that while some live in safety and spaciousness, others exist in a parallel universe
“hung out” conveys a vulnerability as if on the brink of something ominous, further highlighted by the phrase “dark edge”. The word “universe”, typically associated with vastness, is juxtaposed with the cramped living conditions of the inhabitants. “slanted universe” may reflect inequality
key quotations for resilience
“Beams
balance crookedly on supports
thrust off the vertical.
Nails clutch at open seams”
“Into this rough frame,
someone has squeezed
a living space”
“and even dared to place
these eggs in a wire basket”
ANALYSIS FOR KEY QUOTES FOR RESILIENCE
“Beams
balance crookedly on supports
thrust off the vertical.
Nails clutch at open seams”
“Into this rough frame,
someone has squeezed
a living space”
“and even dared to place
these eggs in a wire basket”
The verbs “thrust” and “clutch” are linked to animate subjects, suggesting human effort and tenacity in creating a living space in a hostile environment.
“Nails clutch at open seams” is a mixed metaphor indicating both the inhabitants’ vulnerability and how they grasp for opportunities to elevate their social status
Overcrowding is suggested through the “rough frame”, yet the speaker shows their admiration. By isolating the three short lines as a separate stanza, in contrast to the other two, the speaker emphasises the cramped conditions
The use of the word “dared” implies the inhabitants refuse to be limited by their current conditions
key quotations for faith
“The whole structure leans dangerously
towards the miraculous”
“these eggs in a wire basket,
fragile curves of white”
“gathering the light
into themselves”
“as if they were
the bright, thin walls of faith”
ANALYSIS FOR KEY QUOTES FOR FAITH
“The whole structure leans dangerously
towards the miraculous”
“these eggs in a wire basket,
fragile curves of white”
“gathering the light
into themselves”
“as if they were
the bright, thin walls of faith”
The persistence of the structure appears miraculous; however, the word “miraculous” also alludes to religion and faith. Despite the harsh reality of life for some, humans manage to endure
The eggs may symbolise life and its fragility; they are hanging precariously in their own structure, just as the inhabitant’s life hangs precariously in their cramped living space. Eggs also symbolise new life, which could be linked to optimism
Through personification, the eggs are presented as actively “gathering” light unto “themselves”. The rhyming words “white” and “light” connote to religion, suggesting that the people’s faith serves as a source of resilience
The speaker uses a simile between the eggs and the walls of faith. Just as delicate eggs symbolise the potential for life, faith, despite being fragile, also offers strength and hope
