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The poem has very minimal punctuation thus creating the effect of a stream…
The poem has very minimal punctuation thus creating the effect of a stream of consciousness narrative. Explore the effect of this.
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The use of enjambment throughout the poem conveys a chain of thoughts that the writer has while a girl is hennaing her hand.
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The effect of stream of consciousness in the poem shows the reader how the narrator feels and emphasises her inner battle.
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Alvi shows the reader the thoughts concurring her mind and takes us through the ongoing battle towards finally finding herself through her culture.
This is illustrated through the line " Banners for miss India 1993 for curtain cloth and sofa cloth canopy me."
Alvi is trying to see both the cultures she has inhabited through "Miss India" contest which blends both the western and the eastern cultures together showing how she could be part of both. The "curtain cloth" and "sofa cloth" are re-used fabric, showing her Indian side through things that she sees at the Indian "bazaar". the use of "canopy me" could show how both those cultures she was brought into are now shielding and protecting her .
An alternative interpretation could be her actually looking for her eastern part because the western feels so different . She could be trying to feel more at home and like she belongs somewhere .By looking at these places she isn't able to find herself in neither .
Nourhan, Diana, Tala, Juliana
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Alvi creates flow and sets a chain of events through her minimal use of punctuation. This creates the effect of a stream of conscious narrative. This is apparent in the line " an unknown girl hennaing my hand". The refrain repeated throughout the poem acts as a continuous reminder of her ongoing interaction with her culture and roots. The repetition of the phrase also creates a flow and continuity within the poem as the constant reference to the 'unknown girl' builds a chain of events. This also portrays the 'unknown girl' as the central object of focus within the poem as she continuous to derive her emotions from the acts of the girl. The use of the indefinite article 'an' generalizes the poem and creates a sense of insignificance. The reader sympathizes with the poet as she creates a sense of familiarity and relation through her reference to common events and occurrences. The simplicity of the poem is created through her minimal use of punctuation as shown in the line 'i'll scrape off the dry brown lines before i sleep". The use of the verb 'scrape' creates a sense of temporary connection. The use of the adjective 'dry' implies age and heritage. The poet attempts to blur lines between her heritage and modern culture through this and depicts the idea of belonging in society as an individual.