Class 10 Eng. First Flight P-6 Amanda! Summary/Theme/Central Idea/Question/Answer

Poem-6 

     Amanda !  by Robin Klein

INTRODUCTION

The poem is about an adolescent giri Amanda, who like every child feels that her freedom is curtailed. She feels her life is controlled with lots of dos and don'ts. She wants freedom from all restrictions. She dreams to lead a life of a mermaid in a languid, emerald sea with her being the only inhabitant there. 

SUMMARY

Amanda's mother tells Amanda in a very strict manner not to bite her nails. Then she instructs her not to slouch her shoulders. Instead, she wants Amanda to sit up with her back straightened. Amanda does not care much about her mother's instructions. She loves to live in an imaginary world. She imagines that she is not a human but a mermaid and she is alone in a beautiful green sea. There is nobody to disturb her and she is drifting along in a relaxed manner In the sea. Amanda's mother is both irritated, and angry at Amanda. She once again speaks to her in a motivative tone and asks her if she has completed the homework assigned by the school teacher. Further, she asks her whether or not she has cleaned up her own room. She also reminds Amanda of her earlier instruction to clean her shoes, but it is still undone.

Once again little Amanda withdraws into her world of imagination. She imagines herself to be an orphan girl roaming about the street, Bare feet, she walks on a dirty street, silently making patterns in the dirt while walking. She cherishes the silence as well as the freedom to do whatever she likes in that world of her imagination. Ironically, there is no silence or freedom in her present life.

Amanda's mother tells Amanda not to eat  any chocolate for it might cause acne on her face. It seems that acne is a recurring problem for Amanda because her mother warns her to remember how they had looked on her earlier too and that she might not have forgotten the experience so easily. Perhaps this unpleasant memory has made Amanda turn her face away, for her mother then tells Amanda to look at her while she is speaking as a sign of respect towards her.

In order to take a break from her mother's irritating remarks, Amanda once again withdraws into her fantasy world. She imagines herself to be Rapunzel, perfectly happy to live alone in the tower, for she has nothing to worry about. However, unlike Rapunzel, Amanda is happy being alone in the tower and decides never to lower her hair in an attempt to escape from the tower.

Amanda's mother thinks that Amanda is getting bad tempered. She tells her to stop sulking and accuses her of being too moody. She fears that people would blame the mother and call her 'nagging' for all her attitude and behaviour.

THEME

The central theme of the poem is the upbringing of a child. While it is important for parents to teach their children what is right and wrong and instil good manners in them, they also need to be sensitive towards the wishes of the child

Central Idea 

The poem conveys an important message that children should never be restricted from their free thoughts and wishes. It becomes the responsibility of the parents to bring up their children in that their decisions are respected and must not hold their grudge from childhood

Message 

Amanda deals with this unpleasant situation by escaping into an imaginary world where she is alone and free. The poem gives the message that parents should not restrict their children's freedom to such an extent that they feel suffocated.

Annotations

1-Hunch- bend top part of your body

2-Slouching -to sit in a lazy position

3-Languid-relaxed

4-Drifting- moving slowly

5- Hushed - very quiet

6-Tranquil- calm

Question/Answer

Question 1.

How old do you think Amanda is? How do you know this?

Answer:

Amanda is about a 9-10 year old school going girl. She is being scolded for things typical for that particular age. Her parents are trying to inculcate in her good manners and etiquettes. Amanda is very innocent and immature.

Question 2.

Who do you think Amanda is speaking to her?

Answer:

One of her parents is speaking to her. Most probably it is her mother. In a traditional household mother is held responsible for the conduct of child. In this case also, the range of instructions suggests that the speaker is Amanda’s mother.

Question 3.
Why are stanzas 2, 4 and 6 given in parenthesis?
Answer:
Stanzas 2, 4 and 6 are given in parenthesis because they reflect the inner thoughts of Amanda. They can be taken as the reaction of the child for the instructions given in stanzas 1, 3 and 5. Here, there is an alternate sequence of scolding of the mother, and corresponding reaction to it given by the child. Also, parenthesis is used here to make the reading of ‘ the poem friendly

Question 4.
Who is the speaker in stanzas 2, 4 and 6? Do you think this speaker is listening to the speaker in stanzas 1, 3, 5 and 7?
Answer:
Speaker of the stanzas 2, 4 and 6 is the child, Amanda. No, she is not paying any attention to the speaker of stanzas 1, 3 and 5 as she is lost in a world of her own. Her imagination provides her an escape from her sorry reality.

Question 5.
What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?
Answer:
Amanda wishes to be a mermaid so she could carelessly move along on a languid emerald sea. She just wishes to be carried away by the green sea waves slowly and gradually. Amanda longs for a place where she is all by herself as her happiness is not dependant on any other human being. Hence, she desires to be a mermaid because for a child, mermaid is a symbol of freedom and wonder.

Question 6.
Is Amanda an orphan? Why does she say so?
Answer:
No, Amanda is not an orphan, though she wishes to be one. She is so much stressed with the continuous nagging of her parents that she imagines herself to be better without them. The mere presence of her parents around her depresses her. Amanda is a little girl who seeks ‘golden’ silence and ‘sweet’ freedom. She wishes to roam around streets and draw patterns with her bare feet. Indeed it is horribly depressing that Amanda expects being an orphan.

Question 7.

Do you know the story of Rapunzel? Why does she want to be Rapunzel?

Answer:

Story of Rapunzel – Rapunzel’s story revolves around her life on a tower Rapunzel was made to live on a high tower by a witch. She eventually got used to living there. She was happy and satisfied with her life. Rapunzel had very long golden hair, using which the witch used to pay her a visit. The fate of Rapunzel took a turn when one day a prince came to meet her using her hair. The witch had punished both of them by separating them. Finally they met after a couple of years only to be united forever this time. Amanda Wishes to live like Rapunzel on a high tower away from everyone. She seeks peace and harmony. That is the reason Amanda wishes to be like Rapunzel. However, she also makes a point that in order to avoid being disturbed she would never let her hair down for anyone to climb to her. She needs no one to make her life happy.

Question 8.
What does the girl yearn for? What does this poem tell you about Amanda?
Answer:
A girl like Amanda yearns for freedom and space for herself. She is incapable to fulfil the expectations of her parents. Amanda is no less than a symbol for all the children who face similar fate irrespective of class, colour or nationality. Traditional societies demand a certain type of behaviour from the individuals and the training to produce such begins at a very young age. Parents ignore the innocence and understanding level of their children and thereby the young ends up killing their imagination and thoughts.

Question 9.
Read the last stanza. Do you think Amanda is sulking and is moody?
Answer:
No, Amanda is neither sulking nor moody. She is simply not interested enough in the nagging business of her parents. Amanda cares more about her imagination and thought process over the manners her parents are trying to inculcate into her.

Q10.What is the message of Chapter Amanda Class?

This poem conveys the moral that children need to be allowed more freedom. It is true that children need to be taught good manners and etiquette but parents must also remember to give their infants their personal space, ample time to learn and enjoy their youth life.

Q11What is the short note on the title of the poem Amanda?

The title of the poem is Amanda as it revolves around the upbringing of little girl named Amanda. Her life is full of struggles where she is denied freedom and expression. Amanda is so much irate that she escapes reality by living in her imaginative world.

      CL Gautam

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