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Questions On Blessing

This document provides context and analysis of the poem "Blessing" by Imtiaz Dharker. It summarizes the poet's background and upbringing between cultures. It then analyzes the central metaphor of water as a gift from God and describes the scenario of a community's joy when their water pipe bursts. Finally, it discusses the poem's imagery and language techniques, including short and long sentences and lists that depict the excitement of the event.

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Anushia Caines
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606 views

Questions On Blessing

This document provides context and analysis of the poem "Blessing" by Imtiaz Dharker. It summarizes the poet's background and upbringing between cultures. It then analyzes the central metaphor of water as a gift from God and describes the scenario of a community's joy when their water pipe bursts. Finally, it discusses the poem's imagery and language techniques, including short and long sentences and lists that depict the excitement of the event.

Uploaded by

Anushia Caines
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Blessing

Imtiaz Dharker

Learning Intentions
Key Teaching Points: Key Terms: To read the poem Metaphor To consider how the Image poem presents people and their way of life

The Poet
Imtiaz Dharker was born in Lahore in 1954, grew up in Britain and now lives in India. She grew up in a Muslim family in Glasgow. She moved to Bombay where she married a Hindu, Anil Dharker, former editor of Debonair and well-known columnist. She says that she enjoys the transition from one culture and country to another. She described Bombay as a city held up with string and sellotape. She published a book of poems called Postcards from God. She describes this as being about a very confused, human, god.

Blessing
What can the word Blessing mean? A gift from God AND a prayer for a special occasion. Now read the poem. What blessing is being referred to? The central metaphor of the poem is the idea of water as a gift from God. Look at stanzas 1 & 2 what situation is described? Look at stanzas 3 & 4 what events are being described?

There are a number of different possible reactions to the scenario presented in this poem. The poet does not express any opinion directly but presents us with a series of images. Think about the possible reactions. The reader could: Be angry about the water shortage Pity the people who have to live without a constant water supply Blame these people for their own poverty Share their excitement when the pipe bursts See their excitement as pathetic See life as fragile and easily damaged

See life as beautiful


Think their suffering is intense.

Images

Blessing: the images Effect

The skin cracks like a pod The voice of a kindly god The sudden rush/ of fortune Silver crashes to the ground A roar of tongues Frantic hands The liquid sun Their highlights polished to perfection

What impact might each image have on the reader?


A few hints: Pod a disturbing image Drip/ kindly god a contradiction? (if the god is kindly why only a drip? Highlights polished seems inanimate small bones weak? Is beauty fragile?

Language and Structure


Note: The use of short and long sentences. Where do they occur and why? The list of objects what sort are they? The unequal stanza lengths why might this be? The way the poem addresses the reader directly with the word Imagine . . ... What is the effect of these features?

Comparing Poems for the Exam


For Homework: Make comparisons with Island Man and Two Scavengers in terms of:
How people are presented The writers attitude to the people they are writing about The most significant features of the ways the poems are written.

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