Partition

Question 1

Garden vs Cries

Answer 1

“when she stood in her garden/she could hear the cries of the people…she felt it was endless”

noun “garden” implies lovely flowers and scents and tranquility of nature which contrats with the verb “cries” showing the panic and distress the people were feeling and this panic is emphasised by the adjective “endless” portraying their pain as infinite showing the extent to which Britain has not only detroyed india but its people too. An alternative interpretation could be that juxtaposition is a representation for the dissent that took place

Question 2

sound

Answer 2

“a new sound added to city”

the use of the adjective “new” implies that previous turmoil existed and the current distress was new and elevated this turmoil

“sound” - quite euphemistic language to descibe the “cries of the people” as a “sound”

Question 3

ahmedabad station

Answer 3

“stranded in the ahmedabad railway station”

• ‘stranded’ has connotations of loneliness and unfamilairness showing the confusion the british have inflicted upon the people of india

“stranded” in your own country showing how maybe indian people have lost a sense of nationalistic pride

Question 4

foodxwater

Answer 4

‘her aunt …. would go to the station every day with food and water’
- they lack the basic survival items, showing the devastating effects of the conflict - almost compares the partition to a war - victims need aid showing the extent of the partitions effects

Modal verb “would” shows the certainty of the Aunts action which highlights her courage as even in war /partition she is helping everyone

Contrasts with little girl - both want to help but only aunt can help - War did not corrupt everyone

Question 5

afraid

Answer 5

“But she felt afraid. felt she could not go with her aunt”

the repetition the word “felt” emphasises her fear as she needed to reinforce her feelings with the second “felt”

As well as this the modal verb “could not” shows she wanted to go however was was unable to possibly due to her fear which presents her not as inhumane but simply coward-like - lack of bravery

LNK her aunt.. would go to the station every day

Question 6

structure at the end

Answer 6

How could they /have let a man
/who knew nothing/ about geography/
divide a country?’
- badly done division of line shows the badly done and blunt partition of the country
- juxtaposition of man and country shows folly of size
- “geography” - trivial detail being used to label man as unqualified compared to other faults