Partition Flashcards
Partition Meaning
sheer impact on the people when India was split into India and Pakistan
when she stood in her garden
she could hear the cries of the people
“garden” sanctuary and safety, whereas even here the pain penetrates.
She doesn’t feel safe, even if she is in a seemingly different world to the station. - JUXTAPOSITION serene and suffering
- highlights the extent and proximity of the sadness and suffering that she could hear/feel from her serene garden
“stood” VERB proves that she was inactive during the turmoil, paralysed by her fear
endless-their noise -
a new sound added to the city
COLLECTIVE PRONOUN ‘their’ + “endless” TIME PHRASE
implies the VAST EXTENT of the people being affected.
CAESURA creates disjointed line, representing the chaos caused by Partition. Bitterness and sorrow revealed
Permanent scars emerging “a new sound” - foreign and invasive.
Even the birds sounded different -
Nature affected. India she once knew tainted. Continued appeal to LEXICAL FIELD of SOUND - sense most memorable to her.
PARENTHESIS at end provides pause, showing difficulty emotionally in recounting the story.
and the shadows cast down by the neem trees
brought no consolation
Neem trees have healing connotations/properties
shadows have protecting function from heat highlights to reader the sheer scale of suffering that even these can’t provide pain relief
“But of course,
India is older than that”…
“India was always there”
DIALOGUE furthers personal TONE. It emboldens the sorrow and bitterness of the line.
India is PERSONIFIED, adding emotional weight and readers personal attachment to India’s suffering.
adverb, “always” - eternal, elevating it to a mystical status in order to convey the deep love she has for her country
“But now I wish I had gone with my aunt”
Repeated idea linking back, shows continual and irremovable regret.
Conditional and Past Con “wish” , “had gone” - regret and sadness
“How could they
have let a man
who knew nothing
about geography
divide a country?
QUESTION shows outrage and bitterness. Absolute “nothing”. Anger at Radcliffe line
The Lament for her homeland and separation being at the END of poem suggest to reader that this conflict is BIGGER than PERSONAL FEELINGS.
Structure 1
ERRONEOUS pattern is reflected in the Radcliffe line which was drawn with no knowledge or acknowledgement of locals
Structure 2
FREE VERSE utilized as a post-colonial form of art to reject British influence.
Lack of order reflects partition consequences. + ENJAMBEMENT demonstrates continuity of detrimental effects.
