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Essay / Comparison of two poems: an unknown girl and gifts from my aunts in Pakistan
Both poems focus on the idea of identity - yet the meaning and structure of the poems are very different; PFMAIP (“Gifts from my aunts in Pakistan”) is very explicit about the author’s feelings whereas in AUG (“An Unknown Girl”) the reader has to infer more to know more about her feelings. I think this represents the fact that in the first poem (PFMAIP) she is younger – more open, whereas in AUG she is a young adult and therefore is less clear in her feelings. There are some similarities in the way the poet presents identity in the poems, for example at the end of both the writer is still unresolved on his identity, also in both the poet is presented as an outsider or an outcast: never really sure from what angle he tells his poem/story of.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay In “An Unknown Girl,” Alvi uses repetition frequently. This emphasizes the title and the phrase “An Unknown Girl.” The sentence mentioned above is related to Alvi being unsure of her identity. I also think this sentence shows how intimate henna is - although this girl is "a stranger" to him, she is sitting incredibly close, effectively tattooing her semi-permanently or "frosting her hand". This is in contrast to the people mentioned in “Gifts from my aunts in Pakistan” where the people mentioned are familiar, such as her “aunt Jamila” and “school friend”. This can also show the change of company because it is older in AUG than in PFMAIP. I think what this particular contrast reveals about his view on identity is that when you're younger, identity is more of a physical thing - like clothes or "striped bracelets". candy shape,” whereas when you’re older, that’s something you can’t do. touch - it's an idea and it's harder to explain or show, I think that's why the continued use of henna is actually a metaphor in AUG for its connection to India - henna is described as "brown veins", meaning that's a part of her like her blood. However, in both poems there is a theme of not belonging; whether it's expressed as an "alien" in a "living room" or whether it's expressed as models "leaning over and looking at her". This is constantly confirmed by the fact that she feels "fired" or "in costume" when trying on Pakistani clothes. The poet attempts to show how identity is a question of belonging or not belonging. The emphasis is on the contrast between Pakistan (which would become part of India) and England, such as "cardigans from Marks & Spencers", which are very different from a "peacock blue salwar kameez". Using the word “foreigner” is a smart choice, because if you are a foreigner in some countries, you are called a foreigner; both poems are based on the idea of being foreign or having parents from different ethnic backgrounds. Drawing on dual nationality, which is one of the main themes of the poems, she presents being an outcast from both of her cultures. In both poems, it seems like she has different views on which one she would like to immerse herself in but, whether she likes it or not, both cultures will always be a part of her. In AUG she talks about "scratching away" the "dry brown lines", but then she continues with "will reveal a soft trace like a snail's trail the amber bird beneath". I think this is all a’…