What is an analysis of the poem The Attic by Vijay Nambisan?

Answer 1

I think the theme of this poem is perspective. Grandmother asks Unni to go find out what in the attic is worth keeping. At first Unni goes up and finds the doves, and how soft their down is, and how he likes the sounds that they make. Grandmother tells Unni basically that isn't what she is looking for. She says the doves have been there for centuries. So Unni goes back to look, and this time he sees the bats and one flies past his head, swerving away. He comes back to Grandmother and describes the scene and asks why they fly like that. She tells him that she is looking for valuables, and that the bats have been there since she was a child. So, Unni tries one last time, and he goes up looking, and spends a long time looking at a piece of carved wood. He asks about it, and wants to know if he can have it. The grandmother stops and contemplates the wood, feeling it and remembering. Then she tells Unni that he can go play, while she goes up to the attic herself.

A cursory reading might only see an impatient kid finally escaping, and the lesson "If you want it done right, do it yourself." ... And maybe that is there, but I think that what the grandmother actually learns/remembers here is that she and Unni have different perspectives, and that he can't do what she asks because he doesn't know what is valuable to HER. She says "I see there is much that is valuable in the attic." This illustrates that Unni has found value there, and she finally realizes that she has to go herself because she is looking for her own judgement. She recognizes the value that Unni sees, and although it makes her feel old, there is obvious value in her experience as well. She can discern between the newness of the things that Unni is encountering for the first time and the things that are valued because they are attached to memories or will be of value to the outside world.

(As of 2/2015, the text of the poem is available at this web address: http://www.museindia.com/viewarticle.asp?myr=2013&issid=49&id=4165)

Answer 2

"The Attic" by Vijay Nambisan explores the theme of nostalgia and memory through the metaphor of an attic as a repository of forgotten treasures and hidden emotions. The poem reflects on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life, emphasizing the importance of cherishing memories and experiences. Nambisan's use of imagery and symbolism creates a sense of wistfulness and reflection, inviting readers to contemplate the significance of their own personal history.