Living space - Imtiaz Dharker Flashcards
what did dharker spend her life?
Born in Pakistan, raised in Scotland and she lives in the uk and Mumbai, India
what type of poet is she, and what does she mostly write about
a contemporary poet
what does dharker want to spread awareness about
how people live in other cultures
what is living space about
the Mumbai slums and how the millions of people living here are hoping for a better life
what is the population of the Mumbai slums
its unknown, showing just how many people live there
is life in the slums hard
yes, there is limited access to electricity, clean water, food and education
why is the title “living space” important
- living space suggests a lack of emotional connection or fondness
- it’s not got the comfort of a home
in the first stanza how has structure been used to reinforce the content in these lines
enjambment reflects the lack of straight lines in the slums and gives a feeling out lack of control
“that is the problem”
declarative sentence makes this an observation, suggesting inability to do anything about it
“beams balance”
alliteration ties phrases together; enjambement tears it apart. There is tension in the ‘connectedness’ of the phrase, much like the slums generally
“nails clutch at open seams”
- personification of the structure trying to keep itself intact
- inhabitants trying desperately to repair their structure
“the whole structure leans dangerously”
how has structure been reinforce the content of this line
the line ‘leans’ over the rest of the stanza, much like the irregularity or unstableness of the slums
“miraculous”
they could be saying that the structure still standing there is a miracle
inhabitants are desperate for a better future
in the first stanza, where has dharker used a semantic field of precarity?
the fragility of the slums existence
- not enough flat lines
- nothing is … parallel
- crookedly
- supports.. vertical
- clutch
- dangerously
“rough frame”
could suggest a lack of finesse or resources, or that its not supposed to be a frame at all
“someone”
vague language could relate to the anonymous millions of the slums
“squeezed”
squeezed suggests that the living space barely fits inside of the rough frame implying that it does not, or should not belong there
how does the second stanza reflect its content
tiny stanza has been squeezed between two larger stanzas, similar to the living space in the slums
“dared to place”
the slum inhabitants ‘rebel’ against the poor conditions they live in, suggesting a hope and aspiration for something better
“eggs” what is the importance of this symbol
eggs could symbolize fragility and new life
“white”….”light”
why rhyme these words
one of the few end rhymes in the poem
both words have connotations of hope
“of a slanted universe”
could evoke the slums or criticize inequality
“the bright, thin walls of faith”
reinforces the fragility of the slum inhibitants existence
“faith”
brings an almost religious tone to the poem; it is the peoples belief that keeps them going
