Singh Song! Flashcards
What type of love does ‘Singh Song!’ depict?
New love, in which everything about the person you love is new and exciting.
The narrator takes every moment he can to spend time with his wife.
What is ‘Singh Song!’ about?
A young British Indian man recently married, his new bride is also Indian.
It follows the sweet tenderness of a newlywed couple.
Why did Nagra choose to set ‘Singh Song!’ in a corner shop?
His family owned a corner shop.
Nagra’s parents moved from India to the UK in the 1950s.
What dialect is ‘Singh Song!’ written in and why?
Anglo-Indian - language and spelling that reflects the English of people whose first language is Punjabi.
Attempts to represent his community’s experience in England.
How does Nagra create a sense of the speaker’s voice in ‘Singh Song!’?
He uses:
Phonetic representation
Dramatic monologue
Nonstandard punctuation
Nonstandard English
How does ‘Singh Song!’ sound like a song?
It has a chorus: “Hey Singh, ver yoo bin?”
Voice rises and falls in level.
Indicates the narrator’s excitement and joy.
How is ‘Singh Song!’ structured?
Irregular length stanzas - sounds like a conversation.
Doesn’t follow a regular rhyme scheme but uses rhyme and half rhyme to create a lyrical atmosphere.
Why is repetition used in ‘Singh Song!’? Examples?
“my bride” - indicates his pride in having secured her as his wife and his joy in the new relationship.
“from the stool each night” - highlights that it is the daily moments that are the most important.
Adds to the song-like rhythm.
Give an example of clashing cultures in ‘Singh Song!”.
“My bride / she effing at my mum / in all di colours of Punjabi”
“effing” very English
“Punjabi” Indian language
Sense of pride.
How could you compare ‘Singh Song!’ to ‘Sonnet 29’?
Both poems explore prohibited/limited love.
How could you compare ‘Singh Song!’ to ‘Winter Swans’?
Both poems focus on everyday aspects of relationships and portray lovers brought back together after a separation.
