Inhabiting and Transforming a Poem
1)
Character
by Taslima Nasrim
You're a girl
and you'd better not forget
that when you step over the threshold of your house
men will look askance at you.
When you keep on walking down the lane
men will follow you and whistle.
When you cross the lane and step onto the main road
men will revile you and call you a loose woman.
If you've got no character
you'll turn back,
and if not
you'll keep going
as you're going now.
2) Taslima Nasrim's poem seems to be more of a message directed toward women. I think that the author is trying to explain, through examples, to women that men do not hold very much respect for them, and it takes character to get through that lack of respect. I also think, in one sense, the author is attempting to make the point that in life it is not important what other people think or say about you, as long as your life is how you want it to be. The judgements passed by other people should not conflict with your own beliefs. The speaker is saying it takes character to rise above, and not care or worry about what is said, but rather continue living your own life your own way.
3) A woman can face problems in this world, such as disrespect and insults because of what type of woman she is, but it is how she deals with the issue that trule defines what kind of person she is. If she "turns around" to defend herself by confronting the speaker, she is just giving the speaker attention, which is what he wants, so now he thinks he has won. However, if she just keeps walking and ignores the comment, she is the bigger person.
4) I think the narrator is an older, wiser woman who has more than likely been in the situation of which she is speaking. I believe she is giving this advice to a younger woman or girl, probably her own daughter.
5) I think the theme is living your own life, your own way. Negativity is going to come in many forms, from many people in your life but it is your own decision how to deal with it. Learning to realize some of the negativity isn't even worth your time, and prevail, makes you stronger. I can see the narrator hopes to instill this useful information in her daughter for when she encounters it.
Character
by Taslima Nasrim
You're a girl
and you'd better not forget
that when you step over the threshold of your house
men will look askance at you.
When you keep on walking down the lane
men will follow you and whistle.
When you cross the lane and step onto the main road
men will revile you and call you a loose woman.
If you've got no character
you'll turn back,
and if not
you'll keep going
as you're going now.
2) Taslima Nasrim's poem seems to be more of a message directed toward women. I think that the author is trying to explain, through examples, to women that men do not hold very much respect for them, and it takes character to get through that lack of respect. I also think, in one sense, the author is attempting to make the point that in life it is not important what other people think or say about you, as long as your life is how you want it to be. The judgements passed by other people should not conflict with your own beliefs. The speaker is saying it takes character to rise above, and not care or worry about what is said, but rather continue living your own life your own way.
3) A woman can face problems in this world, such as disrespect and insults because of what type of woman she is, but it is how she deals with the issue that trule defines what kind of person she is. If she "turns around" to defend herself by confronting the speaker, she is just giving the speaker attention, which is what he wants, so now he thinks he has won. However, if she just keeps walking and ignores the comment, she is the bigger person.
4) I think the narrator is an older, wiser woman who has more than likely been in the situation of which she is speaking. I believe she is giving this advice to a younger woman or girl, probably her own daughter.
5) I think the theme is living your own life, your own way. Negativity is going to come in many forms, from many people in your life but it is your own decision how to deal with it. Learning to realize some of the negativity isn't even worth your time, and prevail, makes you stronger. I can see the narrator hopes to instill this useful information in her daughter for when she encounters it.
posted by Brittney Queen at
9:38 PM
2 Comments:
I think the way you interpreted this poem was pretty cool. I like the part when you said that it is not important what other people might think of you. I think that is shows confidence.
By
Monica, At
February 11, 2008 at 6:01 PM
The part about your blog that I liked most was the part about having to face negativity in many ways but having to deal with it in your own way. My interpretation of the poem was that the author was trying to get across that in order to keep your character you have to ignore the negativity that comes your way.
By
Brad Dimock, At
February 11, 2008 at 8:16 PM
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