Tissue Flashcards
“Paper that lets the light / shine through”
Metaphor: The “paper” acts as a metaphor for something more than a mere object. It symbolizes fragility, transparency, or the possibility of vulnerability, letting the light through. The paper could represent human life or memory, something delicate that allows the light (truth, hope, or knowledge) to shine through.
• Imagery: The image of light passing through paper evokes a sense of softness and delicacy, suggesting that the truth or the essence of something is fragile and easily affected by external forces.
• Connotations:
• “Paper” suggests something temporary or ephemeral, and its delicacy may hint at the fragility of life or human existence. The idea that paper can let light shine through implies transparency and openness, but also a vulnerability to the passage of time or external forces.
• “Light” here can symbolize hope, truth, or even memory. The image of light breaking through suggests that, despite the fragility of the paper, something profound can still emerge, and it hints at the idea that even the most delicate things can hold immense significance.
• Alternative interpretations:
• First interpretation: The paper could represent human life itself, suggesting that while life is fragile and easily torn apart (like paper), it still allows for light to shine through—meaning that there is always potential for hope, truth, or meaning to emerge, even from vulnerable circumstances.
• Second interpretation: Alternatively, the light may represent a spiritual truth or divine presence that shines through despite the human condition’s frailty. In this sense, the paper could be seen as a metaphor for human beings who, despite their imperfection, can still be vessels for a greater truth or divine grace.
• Effect on the reader:
• This line creates a sense of hope but also a sense of fragility, making the reader reflect on the impermanence of life and the preciousness of moments or truths that can shine through even the most delicate of things.
• The contrast between the delicate paper and the strength of light draws attention to the balance between vulnerability and resilience, encouraging the reader to consider how even the most fragile things can endure and illuminate deeper meaning.
• Writer’s Intentions:
• The poet may be using the image of paper and light to convey the idea that, even in the face of suffering, memory, or human existence, there is an enduring beauty and truth that shines through. This reflects a romantic view of humanity’s resilience, where even in fragility, there is a potential for something greater to emerge.
• Alternatively, the poet could be commenting on the impermanence of human life and experience, suggesting that while life is fragile, it still has the capacity to hold light, be meaningful, or contain lasting significance despite its transience.
“The back of the Koran”
Metaphor: The phrase “the back of the Koran” likely symbolizes a rejection or misinterpretation of sacred text or faith. In a physical sense, the back of a book often represents an area that is unseen or ignored, implying a separation or distancing from the core message or meaning of the Koran.
• Allusion: The Koran is a deeply symbolic religious text for Muslims, representing guidance, truth, and spiritual wisdom. By referencing “the back of the Koran”, the poet could be suggesting that something profound or significant is being overlooked or ignored—potentially criticizing the way people may misuse or fail to understand the true essence of faith.
• Connotations:
• “Back”: The back of the Koran could suggest that the speaker is looking at something superficially, incompletely, or shallowly—in contrast to looking at the front, where the main content or teachings are located. This could be a metaphor for misguided faith or the rejection of deeper spiritual understanding.
• The Koran, as a sacred text, is typically seen as a source of divine wisdom and moral guidance. The image of the back may convey the sense that the true teachings of the Koran are being ignored or hidden, which could imply a critique of how religious texts are interpreted or misused.
• Alternative interpretations:
• First interpretation: The “back of the Koran” could symbolize a rejection or disillusionment with faith. The speaker might be looking at the Koran from a distance, perhaps in a time of crisis or doubt, where the sacred text no longer serves as a source of comfort or guidance.
• Second interpretation: It could also represent the distortion of religious teachings, suggesting that people may turn away from the true spiritual essence of the Koran in favor of a more superficial, misinterpreted understanding of faith that is only seen in part, like the back of a book.
• Effect on the reader:
• The mention of “the back of the Koran” creates an image of spiritual conflict and loss of direction. It may evoke a sense of alienation or distance from faith, making the reader reflect on how religious texts or teachings can be misused, or how personal struggles can lead to a feeling of separation from the spiritual core of one’s beliefs.
• This phrase might also make the reader think about the fragmentation of religious or cultural identity, encouraging them to question how aspects of their own beliefs or traditions may be distorted or misunderstood.
• Writer’s Intentions:
• The poet likely uses “the back of the Koran” to critique the superficial understanding or misapplication of religious faith. By referencing the back, the poet suggests that people are engaging with the outer, more superficial aspects of faith, rather than the core, meaningful teachings.
• The poet may also be addressing the tension between tradition and modernity, where the sacred and deeply meaningful text of the Koran is reduced to something more external and easily ignored, reflecting a potential loss of spiritual connection or authenticity in the face of contemporary challenges.
“Paper thinned by age or touching”
Imagery: The description of paper as “thinned by age or touching” evokes a sense of fragility and deterioration, symbolizing the passing of time and the wear and tear of human experience. It makes the paper seem vulnerable, as if it could be easily torn or damaged by the slightest touch. This image could represent memory, identity, or the fragility of life itself, suggesting that even the most enduring things can be reduced or altered by time and contact.
• Juxtaposition: The phrase “by age or touching” contrasts two forces: the inevitable, passive effect of age and the active, external impact of touching. This suggests that time’s passage can either gently erode or be accelerated by human interaction, highlighting the ways in which our experiences affect us over time.
• Metaphor: The paper may metaphorically represent human life or personal memories. Just as paper becomes thinner with age or handling, so too can our personal histories or identities become more fragile with the passage of time or external influences.
• Connotations:
• “Paper” connotes something delicate, temporary, and easily marked or altered. It suggests something that can be erased or changed with minimal effort, symbolizing the vulnerability of memory, identity, or personal experience.
• “Thinned” conveys a sense of loss or diminishment, as if the paper is losing its substance or integrity. This can be linked to themes of decay, impermanence, or aging, suggesting that over time, things become less whole or substantial.
• “Age” implies the passage of time, suggesting inevitability and the gradual process of change. It may symbolize how the speaker’s connection to their past or heritage is wearing away, either due to the ravages of time or because of external forces.
• “Touching” introduces the idea of human interaction or external influence. This could represent the way in which our memories or identities are shaped by others’ perceptions or actions.
• Alternative interpretations:
• First interpretation: The “paper” may symbolize a person’s life or memory, with the thinning suggesting the loss of clarity or richness as time passes. The idea that the paper is “thinned by age” could imply that with each passing year, a person’s identity or the details of their life become less distinct or faded.
• Second interpretation: The “touching” could also refer to the external forces—other people, society, or events—that wear away at one’s sense of self or history. This interpretation suggests that personal histories, identities, and memories can be influenced, altered, or distorted by others, making them more fragile and imperfect over time.
• Effect on reader:
• This line generates a sense of nostalgia and loss, evoking a feeling of empathy for the inevitable decline that comes with time. The reader might reflect on their own experiences with fading memories or the fragility of personal identity.
• The reader may also feel the impermanence of human existence, reminding them of the delicate nature of life, memories, and the passage of time. The imagery of paper thinning may prompt them to think about what might be lost or diminished over time, whether in relationships, traditions, or personal histories.
• Writer’s Intentions:
• The poet may use the image of “paper thinned by age or touching” to symbolize how time and human interaction can wear away at something once strong or significant, such as identity, memory, or culture.
• The poet likely intends to communicate the fragility and transience of the human experience, suggesting that even the most durable things can become fragile with time or external forces. By focusing on the physical degradation of the paper, the poet may also be making a broader point about the impact of historical events or personal experiences on individuals and their sense of self.
Message
The message of Tissue by Imtiaz Dharker revolves around the fragility and impermanence of human life, the transitory nature of power, and the role of identity and memory in shaping our understanding of the world. The poem explores how human-made structures, such as paper, buildings, and systems of power, are temporary and vulnerable, much like the paper that can be torn or crumpled. Dharker suggests that the things we value or build in life—such as nationhood, identity, and even religion—are as fragile as tissue paper, susceptible to change, destruction, or erosion over time.
The poem also highlights the connections between the personal and the universal, using the metaphor of paper to represent how memories, stories, and histories are recorded, passed down, and sometimes altered. Ultimately, Tissue invites reflection on the impermanence of human existence and the importance of what endures: memory, love, and the intangible forces that shape our lives. The speaker’s use of light and shadow throughout the poem suggests that, although the material world may be fragile, there are aspects of life that continue to shine through, even when the tangible structures around us crumble.
Context
Imtiaz Dharker’s Tissue explores themes of impermanence and fragility, reflecting on how human-made structures, such as buildings and systems of power, are vulnerable and transient. Dharker, who has both Indian and Pakistani heritage, often examines issues of identity, migration, and cultural memory, which can be seen in how the poem reflects the fluid nature of personal and collective histories. The use of paper as a metaphor highlights the fragility of life, inviting readers to reflect on what truly endures beyond material structures—the intangible forces of memory, love, and connection.
Form and structure
LACK OF RHYME SCHEME
• Dharker uses a clear lack of a rhyme scheme to create a more free flowing text, with fewer steadfast rules. This creates an impression of freedom, perhaps showing how human attempts to exert control are futile and rather there should be freedom for expression and dissent.
The lack of rhyme heightens her message of the importance of freedom. Unlike other poems which often focus on an experience or a character, Tissue instead explores a key idea free from the constraints of a singular experience or a historical event.
• Perhaps Dharker opts for this method once more to show the importance of freedom as well as allowing her to explore her idea more thoroughly by analysing her sentiment on a level above time and humanity.
Lack of rhyme scheme
The whole poem comprises of restrictive quatrains which may be Dharker showing how suffocating and stifling human power can be,
The regularity of the quatrains is contrasted with the final one line stanza which show how imperative it is that people break free from human power in order to live freely and embrace the wonder and magnificence provided by the nature around them.
Structure:
The enjambment used in Tissue allows the poem to flow more freely, creating an impression of a lack of rules and constraints.
The enjambment also contrasts with the regular quatrains to show how freedom can be found in even the most restrictive places.
This also shows how even the strongest and most stifling human institutions are still victims to chaos and freedom, with these effects combining to mock those in power.
Caesura:
Caesura features in every stanza bar the stanza that begins with “fine slips” which speaks about the emphasis humans place on money and finance.
This could be a criticism that humanity allows money and materialism to mindlessly engulf them, the lack of punctuation (therefore a lack of a pause emulating the continuousness of humanities infatuation with money.
