Living Space - Imtiaz Dharker

Question 1

Structure and form

Answer 1

• Irregular form using stanzas and lines of different lengths mirroring the sense of chaos in the building
• Lack of regular rhyme and rhythm and the enjambment across the lines and stanzas emphasise the disorder of the area
• Final two stanzas are one long sentence - growing sense of wonder
• split into two parts: first part describes the unstable building, then the mood shifts, hinting at optimism for the future despite the difficult circumstances

Question 2

Context

Answer 2

• Born in Pakistan and raised in Scotland, Dharker has an interest in representing a different culture
• The poem is about slums in Mumbai where people migrate from all over India in hope for a better life
• In this poem she celebrates existence of this living spaces as a miracle
  – The slums are living spaces created out of all kinds of found material

Question 3

“There are just not enough/ straight lines”

Answer 3

• enjambment emphasises the fact that whilst there is not enough stability in the structure there is not enough of anything for the people who live there.
• Emphasises the lack of basic things needed for life

Question 4

“Thrust off the veticle”

Answer 4

• The verb ‘thrust’ suggests being pushed aside violently due to the fact that they are insignificant
  – perhaps suggests how the people living there are also insignificant and worthless

Question 5

“The whole structure leans dangerously towards the miraculous”

Answer 5

• juxtaposition of the adverb dangerously and miraculous gives a contrasting description of the buildings
• they look like they could easily collapse yet it is a miracle that it hasn’t
• personification used to describe the slaughter of the building perhaps towards God to thank him

Question 6

“The bright thin walls of faith”

Answer 6

• The ‘bright’ ‘walls of faith’ could suggest that they are positive in nature
• however they are ‘thin’ which could imply that like faith, it can easily be broken