Living Space - Imtiaz Dharker Flashcards
when was this poem published?
1997
themes?
- power - the powerlessness of the people living in the slums
- place - how people live because of, or in spite of the conditions they live in
- man
what is the meaning of this poem?
- an observer describes the Mumbai slums, pointing out the precariousness of their construction
- they then focus on a single dwelling place, in which a basket of eggs - a symbol of hope, hangs
- they seem to suggest that, in spite of the conditions they live in, the inhabitants of the slums continue to strive towards a better future
what is the mood of this poem?
- the poem begins with a slightly critical tone, as it points out how dangerously constructed the slums are, with lines such as ‘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’
what is the motivation for the poet to write this poem?
- a poet interested in different cultures, Dharker highlights the poor living conditions experienced by the anonymous millions living in Mumbai’s slums
- as somebody who sometimes lives in Mumbai, Dharker will know the slums, and may have written this poem to acknowledge those living in the slums and raise awareness of their plights
title: ‘Living Space’
LANGUAGE:
- ironic as the inhabitants do not have much space; it is not a home
- suggests a lack of emotional connection or fondness, as the slums are not safe or secure
- could be interpreted that it is a space that is ‘alive’ due to the large population
‘There are just not enough straight lines.’
STRUCTURE:
- the enjambment reflects the lack of ‘straight lines’ in the slums, as they are poorly constructed
‘That is the problem.’
LANGUAGE:
- declarative sentence makes this an observation, suggesting an inability to do anything about it
- lack of emotion in this sentence
- Western perspective of the slums
- semantic field of negativity
‘Beans balance’
STRUCTURE:
- the alliteration ties the phrase together; whilst enjambment tears it apart
- there is tension in the ‘connectedness’ of the phrase, much like the slums generally
- the phrase is metaphorically being ‘held together by a thread’ instead of being securely together
‘Nails clutch at open seams’
IMAGERY:
- personification of the structure trying to keep itself intact
- could suggest that the inhabitants are trying desperately to repair the structure
- could suggest that any material is used as the slums are too overpopulated
- metaphorically conveys how the fabric of the structure is going to burst open
‘The whole structure leans dangerously’
STRUCTURE:
- this line ‘leans’ over the rest of the stanza, much like the irregularity of the slums
- purposefully mimetic of the structure of the slums
‘miraculous’
LANGUAGE:
- could suggest that the structure still standing there is a miracle
- alternatively, it could suggest that its inhabitants are desperate for a better future
- many people move into the slums in Mumbai for more oppurtunities
- the slums support and sustain life
‘rough frame’
IMAGERY:
- it could suggest a lack of finesse or resources, or that it’s not supposed to be a frame at all
‘someone’
LANGUAGE:
- vague language could relate to the anonymous millions of people who live in the Mumbai slums
‘squeezed’
LANGUAGE:
- suggests that the living space barely fits inside of the ‘rough frame’, implying that it does not, or should not, belong there
- highlights the resourcefulness of the people living in those slums as they find space wherever they can and use it to their advantage
‘dared to place’
LANGUAGE:
- the slum inhabitants ‘rebel’ against the poor conditions they live in, suggesting a hope and aspiration for something better
- could suggest that they won’t let their living conditions control or crush them
- viewpoint of someone who lives there
‘these eggs in a wire basket’
IMAGERY:
- eggs symbolise fragility and a new life
- an egg is irreparable once broken and yet, lives a precarious existence and survives
- symbolises the delicate nature of the Mumbai slums
- the eggs could symbolise the lives of the people who live in the slums who are looking for a possibility of a better life
‘a slanted universe’
IMAGERY:
- could evoke the slums as they are massive, and are slanted due to their hazardous construction
- this image could be seen as an attack on the contemporary world and criticise equality - Dharker may be asserting how the universe is morally wrong as it is filled with poverty
‘white’
‘light’
STRUCTURE:
- one of the few end-rhymes in this poem
- both words have connotations of hope
- this stanza has a slightly positive tone
‘the bright, thin walls of faith’
IMAGERY:
- reinforces the fragility of the slum inhabitants existence
- the slums are not structurally sound and could collapse any moment
- the people live a fragile existence due to the immense amount of poverty they live in
- their faith and hope may be fragile
- despite their obstacles, they still have faith in a community of people
‘faith’
LANGUAGE:
- brings an almost religious tone to the poem; it is the people’s belief that keeps them going and allows them to continue to survive in poor conditions
structure
- the tiny middle stanza has been squeezed between two larger stanzas, replicating the living space in the slums
- this stanza acts as a volta as the topic of the poem has altered slightly
- has shifted from an overview of the slums to a focus of an individual space
- the overall structure of the poem is narrow and unbalanced, which symbolises the limited space and is mimetic of the chaotic slums
- structurally, the positive tone of the end contrasts with the negative, critical tone in the beginning
- the poem is fractured which could reflect her broken worldviews
poet context
- Imtiaz Dharker is a multi-cultural poet
- she was born in Pakistan, raised in Scotland, and she lives in the UK and Mumbai, India
- she is a contemporary poet
- Dharker uses her multicultural perspective throughout her writing
- as a poet, artist and filmmaker, Dharker tries to raise awareness of how people in other cultures live
- won Queen’s gold medal
- ‘Postcards from Odd’ is the collection in which this poem was written
- home, journeys and identities are her main themes in writing
- she has both a Westernised and cultural viewpoint
Mumbai slums context
- constructed illegally and made out of corrugated iron, fabric and metal
- 2.39 square km - Dharavi is one of the largest slums
- 1 million people live there and cholera is common
- 9% of the total population of India live in slums
- there is limited access to electricity, clean water, food and education
- there is tremendous poverty in these areas
- 52% of the population of Mumbai lives in slums
- there are lots of mosquitos and dangerous jobs
- the life expectancy is less than 60
- in 2005, floods killed 500 people living in slums
- 2 million slum children die every year in India
