AMANDA by ROBIN McMAUGH KLEIN / POEM /FIRST FLIGHT / C B S E 10

           

    

Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!

Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!

Stop that slouching and sit up straight,

Amanda!

(There is a languid, emerald sea,

where the sole inhabitant is me—

a mermaid, drifting blissfully.)

Did you finish your homework, Amanda?

Did you tidy your room, Amanda?

I thought I told you to clean your shoes,

Amanda!

(I am an orphan, roaming the street.

I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.

The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)

Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!

Remember your acne, Amanda!

Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you,

Amanda!

SUMMARY & ANALYSIS: Amanda is a little girl. She is full of life and laughter. She is as natural as flower. She lives in fantasies and is driven by her child like instinct. Unfortunately, her mother has a faultfinding nature. She argues continuously with her for her habits. Round the clock Amanda is nagged and scolded for biting her nails, for not sitting in right poster, for not cleaning her  room, for  not doing her home works, for eating too much chocolates, for being moody and above all for not paying heed to her mother.

But, Amanda wants to be an orphan. She wants to wander aimlessly in the streets and leave the impression of her bare little feet on the dust. She is very fond of chocolates and doesn’t bother about pimples. Also she has a desire to live a life of Mermaid and live solitary in an island. Besides, she broods on a fairy like character Rapunzel.

Actually, Amanda like all children is crazy for freedom. It may be good or may be harmful but she hates to be restricted all the time. She is a dweller of the world of imagination. Her romantic heart quenches thirst in her world of fantasy. Nagging, scolding, instruction, curtailment and interference are intruder here. Probably she is scared of growing up but remain an infant to enjoy her escaping in the land of Mermaid and Rapunzel. In short, the poetess advocated for freedom. which should not be snatched from the infants for their natural growth.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.      Describe Amanda after reading the poem.

2.      Is Amanda’s own mother talking to her ? Justify.

3.      Amanda loves freedom. Justify.

4.      Amanda wants to be a mermaid. Why?

5.      Amanda wants to be an orphan. Why?

6.      Amanda wants to be  Rapunzel. Why?

7.      Write briefly of things Amanda,s mother doesn’t want her to do?

8.      Amanda was asked not to eat chocolate. Why?

9.       Amanda’s desires to do if she were a mermaid?

10.   Amanda is sulking and moody.Justify.

Long ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.      Give a brief character sketch of Amanda’s mother/parents.

2.      Where did Amanda want to escape and why?

3.      Give the central idea of the poem Armada.

4.      Justify the title of the poem Armada.