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The poem describes the poet's visit to India and the time she had her hand hennaed which is temporary colouring of the skin, by a girl in the market place. In An Unknown Girl, there are obvious associations between Western and Eastern culture. There is a sense of the purity of the 'unknown girl', perhaps representing the innocence of India, being invaded by the Western culture. It has proved to be an experience she has never forgotten. The title of the poem is "The Unknown Girl", though it may refer to the girl in the poem, it may be a pointer to the poetess herself as she is unknown to the roots, the unconscious culture and heritage ingrained in her.Alvi's theme in this poem is the cultural contrast and imagination.
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Critical analysis of Moniza Alvi poetry?
In An Unknown Girl, there are obvious associations between Western and Eastern culture. There is a sense of the purity of the 'unknown girl', perhaps representing the innocence of Pakistan, being invaded by the Western culture. There are constant reminders of the beauty of Pakistan e.g. the peacock in line 16. Peacocks are exotic, and there is something unnatural and extraordinary about them. This overwhelmingly beautiful quality, representing the vibrancy and colour of Pakistan, is replicated in the dazzlingly ornate hennah. The unknown girl is an emblem of Pakistan in its unsullied nature. By having that refrain, we see the degree of her longing for and innocent Pakistan, unruined by Westernisation, and the artificial, syntheitc, contrived appearance that Western culture had given India. Not only is she 'clinging to these firm peacock lines', but she is clinging on for that aspect of her nature, her culture. The comparison between her clinging on to the hennah and 'people who cling to the sides of a train' is culturally suitable, and draws comparisons between the cultures, emphasising their difference. There are constant associations between a harsher, colder Western culture, for example: 'she is icing my hand' - icing is purely decorative, there is nothing cultural about it. When the poet attempts to make an analogy with the Western world, she makes it significanty colder, compared with the colourful and vibrant nature of the more Eastern references, such as the kameez. When she says 'I'll scrape off the dry brown lines before i sleep, reveal soft as a snail trail the amber bird beneath', not only is she talking literally in terms of the hennah, but she is saying that the real beauty of Pakistan lies beneath the surface. Once you get rid of the syntheitics, the signs of Western culture, the beauty can truly be discovered.
What is a unknown author called?
anonymousAnon.Anonymous.
Is Joseph Galli Jr. married?
married (wife's name unknown; divorced); married (wife's name unknown)
Is Justin Fletcher gay?
the awnser is unknown
Who invented drama?
the answer you desire is unknown sorry
When was Moniza Alvi born?
mozia alvi was born on the 2nd of February 1954 in Lahore actually
How does the poem an unknown girl bring out the thoughts and feelings of an expatriete?
The poem "An Unknown Girl" by Moniza Alvi portrays the sense of longing, nostalgia, and displacement experienced by an expatriate. The speaker's encounter with a henna girl in India triggers memories of cultural heritage and a sense of connection to the homeland. Through vivid imagery and sensory details, the poem captures the complex emotions of being torn between two worlds and the search for identity in a foreign land.
What is Moniza Alvi's poem 'An Unknown Girl' about?
Moniza Alvi's poem 'An Unknown Girl' is about a young girl's visit to a bazaar where she has her hands decorated with henna.An Unknown GirlIn the evening bazaar studded with neonan unknown girlis hennaing my hand.She squeezes a wet brown linefrom a nozzle.She is icing my handwhich she steadies with herson her satin-peach knee.In the evening bazaarstudded with neonan unknown girlis hennaing my handAs a little air catchesmy shadow-stitched kameeza peacock spreads its linesacross my palm.Colours leave the streetfloat up in balloons.Dummies in shop-frontstilt and starewith their Western perms.Banners for Miss India 1993.for curtain clothand sofa clothcanopy me.I have new brown veins.In the evening bazaarvery deftlyan unknown girlis hennaing my hand.I am clingingto these firm peacock lineslike people who clingto the sides of a train.Now the furious streetsare hushed.I'll scrape offthe dry brown linesbefore I sleep.reveal soft as a snail trailthe amber bird beneath.It will fade in a week.When India appears and reappearsI'll lean across a countrywith my hands outstretchedlonging for the unknown girlin the neon bazaar.NOTESIn addition to the images, thoughts and feelings this poem invokes, it is full of symbolism.If you put yourself in the girl's place, you may be able to unveil the underling thoughts, sentiments and hopes that the girl (the writer?) is expressing through her poem.If you find this difficult to do, there are a number of on-line resources that provide analyses of this fascinating poem.See 'Related links' below for more information.
Where does Moniza Aliv live now?
As of my last update, Moniza Alvi, the British-Pakistani poet, resides in the United Kingdom. However, specific details about her current location may not be publicly available. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it is best to refer to her official website or recent interviews.
When was Abrar Alvi born?
Abrar Alvi was born in 1927.
How tall is Naeem Alvi?
Naeem Alvi is 5' 10".
When was Sajida Alvi born?
Sajida Alvi was born in 1941.
When was Sattar Alvi born?
Sattar Alvi was born in 1949.
What has the author Mazarool Alvi written?
Mazarool Alvi has written: 'Adhoora Orata'
When was Arif Alvi born?
Arif Alvi was born on 1949-08-29.
When was Naeem Alvi born?
Naeem Alvi was born on November 1, 1984, in Ahmedabad, India.
When did Abrar Alvi die?
Abrar Alvi died on November 18, 2009, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
