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Readings from the Fringes

6
Poem

The Fish
Elizabeth Bishop

INTRO
Elizabeth Bishop (1911 – 1979) was an award-winning American poet and short story-writer.
“The Fish” is a widely read narrative poem. It is full of vivid imagery and figurative language.
The poem first appeared in the 1946 collection of poetry North & South.

SUMMARY
The poet says that she caught a "tremendous fish." She was pulling in the fish, but it
did not fight at all. The poet says that the fish is "battered," "venerable," and "homely." The
poet also gives a detailed picture of the condition of the skin. She compares it to old wallpaper
that is peeling off the walls of an ancient house. The sight of the blood in its gills inspires the
speaker to consider the fish's insides. From past experience catching, killing, and eating these
animals, she knows that the "white flesh" is "packed in like feathers."
The poet notes that there are "five old pieces of fishing line" in the mouth of the fish.
They are all "still attached" to their "five big hooks." She stares at the fish, and begins to feel a
sense of victory. The speaker realises that five people had undergone the same experience
before her. They were all influenced to release the fish back into the water. She also notices
the oil in the boat and the way it is spread into a rainbow. In that moment of realization, she let
the fish go.

ESSAY 1
1. Discuss the theme of the poem “The Fish”

“The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop is a poem that looks simple outwardly but, in fact, contains
different levels of meaning. The main themes are the interaction between humans and animals,
age and wisdom, and appearance versus reality.
The interaction between humans and animals is one of the themes. The poem talks about
the way we humans impose ourselves upon nature. The fishhooks that are stuck in the mouth

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of the fish are evidence. They have "grown firmly in his mouth" and are part of him. The poet
also compares the fish to manmade things such as "wallpaper" and "tinfoil." The manmade has
become so much a part of us that we don’t bother making it a part of the animal kingdom, too.
Age and wisdom is another theme. The fish is extremely old, "battered," "brown," and
"speckled". However, it is clear that it is far from weak. It has successfully resisted five earlier
attempts on its life. The old fishhooks are like "medals" in his mouth, creating a "five-haired
beard of wisdom." Age has taught him everything he knows.
Appearance versus reality is yet another theme. Although the fish at first appears very
old, "infested," and "ancient," and although it does not fight the speaker, a closer reading
reveals that this "tremendous" fish has been a warrior in his lifetime. At the end of the poem,
the speaker takes the fish and lets it go out into the open water.
These various levels of meaning make it a favourite poem of the readers as well as
critics.

SHORT ANSWER
1. How does the speaker hold the fish at the beginning of the poem?
The poet holds the fish beside the boat, halfway out of water. Her hook is caught in a
corner of its mouth.

2. Explain, “He didn’t fight. He hadn’t fought at all”.

The speaker says that as she was pulling in the fish, it did not fight at all. If it had fought,
then it could've broken the line and escaped. Although the fish did not fight, it had a deadweight
which was a different kind of resistance.

3. What is surprising about the fish?

Though the fish is battered, it is venerable and homely. The fish reacts as if it were
something he had already experienced before.

4. How are the eyes of the fish different from the eyes of the speaker?
The speaker notices that his eyes are much larger than hers, but they are also
"shallower" and yellower.

5. Identify the figure of speech used in the phrase “tarnished tinfoil”.

Alliteration’ (use of the same consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent words) is
the figure of speech that is used in "tarnished tinfoil."

6. What does “rainbow” symbolise in the poem?

It represents victory for both the fish and its capturer, but a different kind of victory.
Five people before her had a similar moment. So “rainbow, rainbow, rainbow.”

7. What does the expression “sun-cracked thwarts” refer to?

The “sun-cracked thwarts” are the seats for the rowers of the boats. They are cracked
by the intense heat of sun.

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8. Why did the speaker let the fish go at the end of the poem?
The speaker realises that five people before her had undergone the same experience.
They were all influenced to release the fish back into the water. The fish did not fight either.
In that moment of realization, she let the fish go.

PARAGRAPH
1. What are the poetic devices used in the poem?

In Elizabeth Bishop’s poem “The Fish”, there is no rhyme scheme. However, there are
moments of rhyme as in the words "caught" and "fought." The poet personifies the fish by
addressing it as “he”. ‘Repetition’ appears in words such as "rusted" and "stared."
‘Alliteration’ (use of the same consonant letter at the beginning of adjacent words) is used in
"tarnished tinfoil." The poet also uses simile, as in “like ancient wallpaper”. In the first four
lines, Bishop uses the device of ‘enjambment’. ‘Anaphora’, (repetition of a word at the
beginning of phrases for effect) is used with “He’ in lines 5-7.

2. Comment on the use of domestic images in the poem.

In the poem 'The Fish," Elizabeth Bishop’s use of domestic imagery allows the reader to
visualize the fish and create a bond with him. The mental pictures created are so brilliant that
the reader believes the incident actually happened to him. The fish is said to be "battered,"
"venerable," and "homely." Then pour in household images: "here and there / his brown skin
hung in strips / like ancient wallpaper, / and its pattern of darker brown / was like wallpaper."
The eyes of the fish are larger than the poet’s eyes. The flesh, bones and entrails of the fish
give us a domestic atmosphere.

3. What is the message of the poem?

In the poem “The Fish,” Elizabeth Bishop demonstrates her ecological sensibility and
acceptance of a coexisting relationship between humans and other species. She lets the fish go,
which reflects the poem's ecological understanding. The poem illustrates how that empathy can
be humbling. It reminds people that even though they appear to be distinct from animals, they're
really in the same boat. Animals and humans alike take part in all the mess, struggle, and beauty
of life. Humans and animals struggle alike to survive. The poem calls upon people to love
nature and all its creatures.

4. How is the fish described in the poem?

Elizabeth Bishop describes the fish as tremendous, battered, venerable and homely. Its
body is infested with small sea creatures. It has five fishing hooks with the lines still partially
attached to its lower jaw. It doesn’t try to escape. His broken skin hangs in strips like dark
brown ancient wallpaper. It has shapes like full blown roses stained and lost through age. The

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gills are fresh and crisp with blood. The white flesh of the fish is packed in like feathers. He
has big bones and little bones. His entrails are red and black and shiny. Its eyes are larger than
the speaker’s.

5. Comment on the setting of the poem.

"The Fish" takes place in an old boat on an unidentified body of water. This beautiful
setting of nature is an ideal place for a poem like this. The speaker doesn't make any direct
references to the environment. She focuses very closely on the fish she has just pulled out of
the water. Towards the end of the poem, the speaker's attention shifts from the fish to the
interior of the boat. A sheen of oil on the water's surface reflects light in a vibrant rainbow
pattern. The speaker's close focus on the fish and the boat creates a sense of immediacy and
intimacy.

6. Discuss the change in attitude of the speaker towards the fish.

The speaker caught a tremendous fish, and she was very proud of it. She held it beside
the boat, half out of water. The fish didn’t fight. It was battered, venerable, and homely. The
speaker observes the fish very closely, its outer skin, gills, everything. She noticed five hooks
sticking to its lower jaw. Suddenly she felt a sort of kinship with the fish. She realised that five
people before her had undergone the same experience. They were all influenced to release the
fish back into the water. In that moment of realization, she let the fish go.

ESSAY 2

2. Discuss how “The Fish” illustrates the oppression and cruelty imposed upon the animal
world by human beings.

“The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop is a poem that illustrates how oppression and cruelty are
imposed upon the animal world by human beings.
The poet says she went fishing and caught a "tremendous fish." She was pulling in the
fish, but it did not fight at all. The poet says that the fish is "battered," "venerable," and
"homely." The poet also gives a detailed picture of the condition of the skin. She compares it
to old wallpaper that is peeling off the walls of an ancient house. The sight of the blood in its
gills inspires the speaker to consider the fish's insides. From past experience catching, killing,
and eating these animals, she knows that the "white flesh" is "packed in like feathers."
The poet notes that there are "five old pieces of fishing line" in the mouth of the fish.
They are all "still attached" to their "five big hooks." Five other oppressors have already
completed their part earlier. In this case, it is the sixth attempt in a line. She stares at the fish,
and begins to feel a sense of victory. She also notices the oil in the boat and the way it is spread

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into a rainbow. The speaker is awed by these sights, and suddenly everything appeared to be a
rainbow. This new transcendental knowledge encourages her to let the fish go into the water
again.
People catch fish for various purposes. Apart from using fish as food, people also keep
them as decorations in their homes. Whether it is for food or decorations, it inevitably involves
oppression and cruelty. This is what is highlighted by Bishop in the poem.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu
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Readings from the Fringes

13
Prose

Love-lines in the Times of Chaturvarna

Chandra Bhan Prasad

INTRO

Chandra Bhan Prasad is an Indian journalist, writer and political commentator.

In the article, "Love-lines in the Times of Chaturvarna", he discusses the issue of
caste discrimination and inequality against the backdrop of the “honour killings” in India.
Even in this 21st century, when people can make love in cyberspace, the caste-motivated
violence demonstrates the gruesome reality about our society.

SHORT ANSWER
1. Who is Meera Bai?
Meera Bai is a 16th century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna. She was born
in a Rajput Royal family in Rajasthan.

2. What happened to the dalit boy and rajput girl in Hardoi?

The dalit boy and the rajput girl in Hardoi fell in love and they decided to live as
husband and wife. But since they belonged to different varnas, the powerful rajput
community killed the boy and three of his family members, making the girl a widow.

3. What happened in 1992 in Mathura district?

In 1992 in Mathura district, a dalit boy and a Jat girl entered into a marital
relationship. The Jat panchayat issued a verdict against them and they were hanged.

4. According to Chandra Bhan Prasad, what would unfold the secrets of Chaturvarna
order?
A cursory reading of the Manu Smriti would unfold the secrets of the Chaturvarna
order. It says that occupation and marriage are the two foundations on which the social order
stands.

5. What does the district administration describe about the Hardoi murders?

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The district administration said that the Hardoi murder was the result of a dispute
between two families.

6. What is the love-line Chandra Bhan Prasad discusses in his article?

Lovers can neither love nor marry outside their varna (caste), as per Manu Smriti.
This is the love line that is being discussed here.

PARAGRAPH

1. Why was Meera Bai poisoned twice?

Meera Bai was a 16th century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna. She was
born in a Rajput Royal family in Rajasthan. She was poisoned twice. First, she was poisoned
by her in-laws who were angry that a rajput woman had the courage to join lower class
people and sing bhajans in public. In Chaturvarna times, this was something her in-laws
could not tolerate. The second poisoning was for getting inspired by the genius of the great
dalit saint, Ravidas, and declaring him as her guru. Her affection was purely intellectual and
spiritual but the rajputs could not digest it.

2. Narrate the tragic incident of Hardoi.

A dalit boy from Hardoi, in UP, and a rajput girl fell in love, thinking “love is blind”.
Their dreams touched newer heights. They did not know that the civil society was watching
their flight. In that society, no one is allowed to marry outside his or her varna or caste. The
powerful rajput community did not tolerate a dalit boy marrying a rajput girl. The angry
rajputs killed the boy and three members of his family, making the girl a widow. The district
administration of Hardoi described the murders as a result of a dispute between the two
families.

3. Explain Chathurvarna order in terms of Manu-dharma sastra.

Manu-dharma sastra divides the people into various varnas. Varna refers to a social
class within a hierarchical caste system. Manu Smriti describes four varnas, and prescribes
their Dharma. Brahmins are the highest group. They are Vedic scholars, priests or teachers.
Next, there are Kshatriyas. They are rulers, administrators or warriors. The third group is
Vaishyas, who are agriculturalists, farmers or merchants. The last group is Shudras. They are
artisans, labourers or servants. The varna laws state that occupation and marriage are the two
foundations on which the social order stands. One cannot change one’s occupation. People
are not supposed to marry outside their varna.

4. What is the theme of the article "Love-lines in the Times of Chaturvarna"?

"Love-lines in the Times of Chaturvarna", discusses the issue of caste discrimination
and inequality in terms of the “honour killings” in India. Even though Manu Smriti was
written sometime between the 3rd and 2nd century BC, it still has a big influence on many
Indians. A dalit boy from Hardoi and a rajput girl fell in love. The angry rajputs killed the
boy and three of his family members, making the girl a widow. In Mathura district, a dalit

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boy and Jat girl entered into a marital relationship. The Jat panchayat issued a verdict against
them and they were hanged.

5. That means lovers have "a love line below which neither love nor marriage can take
place." Explain.
Manu Dharma Sastra divides the people into various varnas. The varna laws state that
occupation and marriage are the two foundations on which the social order stands. One
cannot change one’s occupation, nor can one marry outside one’s varna. Violation of this
law attracts penalties. It is said that it is a countryside phenomenon, not urban. The writer, in
a study, has found that most of his brahmin friends fell in love with only brahmin girls, and
kayastha friends fell in love with kayasthas. It means that lovers have a love-line, below
which neither love nor marriage can take place.

ESSAY
1. Critically analyse the article "Love-lines in the Times of Chaturvarna" in terms of
the caste discriminations and inequality that persist in India.

Chandra Bhan Prasad is an Indian journalist, writer and political commentator. In the
article, "Love-lines in the Times of Chaturvarna", he discusses the issue of caste
discrimination and inequality against the backdrop of the “honour killings” in India.
Even though Manu Smriti was written sometime between the 3rd and 2nd century BC,
it still has a big influence on many Indians. A dalit boy from Hardoi and a rajput girl fell in
love. The angry rajputs killed the boy and three of his family members, making the girl a
widow. In Mathura district, a dalit boy and Jat girl entered into a marital relationship. The Jat
panchayat issued a verdict against them and they were hanged.
The varna laws state that occupation and marriage are the two foundations on which
the social order stands. One cannot change one’s occupation, nor can one marry outside one’s
varna. It is said that it is a countryside phenomenon, not urban. The writer, in a study, has
found that most of his brahmin friends fell in love with only brahmin girls, and kayastha
friends fell in love with kayasthas.
Meera Bai, the 16th century Hindu mystic poet, was poisoned twice. First, she was
poisoned by her in-laws who were angry that a rajput woman had the courage to join lower
class people and sing bhajans in public. The second poisoning was for getting inspired by the
genius of the great dalit saint, Ravidas, and declaring him as her guru.
It is a pity that even now, in the days of cyber love, one can see honour killings
happening around us.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu
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Readings from the FRINGES

9
TG Autobiography

Accept Me!
Living Smile Vidya

INTRO
Living Smile Vidya, also known as Smiley, is an Indian transwoman writer, activist, theatre
artist and film director.
“Accept Me” is a chapter from her autobiography, I am Vidya, the first transgender
autobiography in India. It discusses the troublesome experiences and journey of Vidya in
search of her identity.
Transgenders are marginalised, discriminated against and humiliated by society. Her
old name was “Saravana” before she became a “tirunangai” named “Vidya.” Her dilemma in
facing her family and father after becoming a “tirunangai” is emotionally portrayed.

ESSAY
1. Discuss the agonies and anxieties felt by Vidya on her journey to be a tirunangai.

Living Smile Vidya is an Indian transwoman writer. “Accept Me” which is a chapter
from her autobiography, I am Vidya, discusses the agonies and anxieties felt by Vidya on her
journey to become a “tirunangai.”
Vidya faced a lot of problems before her transformation from a boy named Saravana.
From childhood, she liked girlish things such as dress, and dance. She liked to wear her
sister’s dresses, and dance to the tune of Chitra’s songs. Her mother didn’t like this.
Vidya wanted to remove all traces of manliness in her. To become a transgender,
Vidya was taken by train from Chennai to Pune by Kalaichelvi Ayah and Shanti. The older
tirunangais would boss over her which she didn’t mind. They gave her many things to do.
Then she was taken to Nani. Nani told her that she could sing and dance but respect the
elders, and get on well with younger people. She asked Vidya to go out with Satya and
“shop” i.e., collect at least Rs. 300 each day. Then in six months' time Vidya's nirvana would
be performed.
Meeting the family members after the transformation was an agonizing experience.
Her sister, Radha was shocked to see her in a sari. Her father refused to see her in a sari; she
had to change into a shirt. When he met her, he was crying; Radha was also in tears. They
explained Vidya's position to Appa.

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Vidya very calmly spoke to Appa. That even science accepts tirunangais was
explained to him. Vidya told him she would become an actress. It made them angry all the
more. In this way, Vidya’s journey to be a tirunangai was filled with agonies and anxieties.

SHORT ANSWER
1. Who is Kalaichelvi Ayah?
It was Kalaichelvi Ayah who took Vidya to Pune by train. According to the tradition
of the tirunangais, she was Vidya’s nani or maternal grandmother.

2. What are the etiquettes expected by the older tirunangais from the younger ones?
The older tirunangais expect a great deal of respect from the younger ones. They don't
tolerate the young ones sitting with them on an equal level. Touching their feet, cleaning the
spittoons, and massaging their legs are also expected.

3. Who is Arunamma?
Arunamma is Vidya's amma in the world of tirunangai. She ran an NGO and was in
contact with the external world.

4. How is the harassment of tirunangais different from the ragging of college students?
Once you settle down in a group of tirunangais, the harassment stops. When a
newcomer comes, attention goes to her.

5. What was the advice given by Kalaichelvi Ayah to Vidya on their way to the City Post
in an auto-rickshaw?
Kalaichelvi Ayah advised Vidya to follow her closely and not to go wandering
around. As soon as she enters the City Post, she should fall at Nani's feet and receive her
blessings.

6. Why did Ayah ask Vidya to change her name?

Vidya wanted her name to be Preeti. Nani suggested to change her name from Preeti
because there was someone named Preeti who died young. So that name was considered a
bad omen at her new home. So, she accepted the name Vidya.

7. Why did Satya propose the name Vidya?

Satya proposed the name Vidya because it rhymes with her name Satya. Now, they
are sisters.

8. What is a reet?
A reet is a ritual of formally enrolling a person in the community of tirunangais. A
small sum is paid as enrolment fee in the Parivar.

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9. Why did Vidya get disturbed when Radha called her Saravana?
Vidya got disturbed when Radha called her Saravana because nobody had called her
by that name for a long time. Now she was wearing a sari and she did not expect to be called
by her old name.

10. Why was Vidya anxious to meet her father?

Vidya was anxious to meet her father because she was worried about how her father
would react to see her in a sari with her new name Vidya, a tirunangai.

11. What was the only consolation felt by Vidya at the end?
The only consolation felt by Vidya at the end was that her family now knew the truth
about her - that she was a tirunangai named Vidya and not the old Saravana.

12. How does Arunamma help in consoling Vidya's Appa?

Arunamma helped in consoling Vidya's Appa by telling him that times have changed
and even science accepts the tirunangais as they are. The tirunangais can do what normal men
and women can. So, he should change his attitude.

PARAGRAPH
1. What advice does Nani give to Vidya?
Nani told Vidya that she could sing and dance, but she should respect elders, and get
on well with young people. Nani also asked Vidya to go out with Satya and “shop” (collect)
at least Rs. 300 each day. Then in six months' time Vidya's nirvana would be performed. She
warned Vidya not to be proud because of her college education. Any mischief on her part
would make Nani angry. Nani also suggested to change her name from Preeti because there
was someone named Preeti who died young. So that name was considered a bad omen at her
new home.

2. Comment on the "parivar" or family system of tirunangais.

The parivar is a family of tirunangais. By doing a “reet”, a person is enrolled as a new
tirunangai. There are seven parivars in Chennai. Each parivar has a name. All the tirunangais
in Mumbai come under one of these seven groups. Vidya was registered with the Bhendi
Bazaar Parivar. Change of group is done with a payment of fine. There is a hierarchy of
amma, nani and dadi, i.e., mother, grandmother and great grandmother. A young tirunangai
chooses her amma and becomes her “chela” or disciple. After registration, a veteran
tirunangai gifted her a customary sari. There are thousands of unwritten rules and regulations.

3. What are the customs followed by tirunangais?

Tirunangais follow several customs. A new person is supposed to fall at the feet of
Nani to get her blessings. A tirunangai has to “shop” at least Rs. 300 each day. The younger
tirunangais should respect elders. They should clean the elders’ spittoons and massage their

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legs. The younger tirunangais are not supposed to sit with the older ones. A new tirunangai is
enrolled by performing a “reet” and payment of a fee. There is a whole hierarchy of amma,
nani and dadi - mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Usually, a new person chooses
her amma and becomes her chela or disciple.

4. What was the reaction of Saravana's family when they learned that he was a
tirunangai?
When the family learned that Saravana became a tirunangai, they were shocked.
Meeting the family members after the transformation was an agonizing experience for Vidya.
Her sister was shocked to see her in a sari. Her father refused to see her in a sari; she had to
change into a shirt. When they met, there were in tears. The family explained Vidya's
position to Appa. Vidya very calmly spoke to Appa. That even science accepts tirunangais
was explained to him. Vidya told him she would become an actress. It made them angry. The
journey to be a tirunangai was filled with agonies and anxieties. (Para 4 & 5 of essay)

5. Comment on the first meeting of Vidya with her parents?

The first meeting of Vidya with her parents was very agonising. Vidya wore a
beautiful black sari with a broad silver border. When she saw her sister Radha at the entrance
to the railway station, tears filled her eyes. Radha called her by the name “Saravana”. Vidya
corrected her. Mama and Sekhar Chitappa also joined them. Her sister was shocked to see her
in a sari. Her father refused to see her in a sari; she had to change into a shirt. When they met,
there were in tears. The family explained Vidya's position to Appa. Vidya very calmly spoke
to Appa. That even science accepts tirunangais was explained to him. Vidya told him she
would become an actress. It made them angry.

6. How did Appa react when he first met Vidya?

When Appa met Vidya, he didn’t talk to her because she was wearing a black sari. For
him she was his son Saravana, not Vidya, a tirunangai. She changed into a shirt and met him.
When they met, there were in tears. The family explained Vidya's position to Appa. He was
totally unwilling to listen and he was weeping throughout. He then folded his arms and
pleaded with Arunamma to release his son. Vidya very calmly spoke to Appa. That even
science accepts tirunangais was explained to him. Vidya told him she would become an
actress. It made them angry.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu
 Page |1

Readings from the FRINGES

8
Poem

Fire
Nikita Gill

INTRO
Nikita Gill is a British-Indian poet. Her poems are noted for the reflections on love,
and feminist retelling of fairy tales and Greek myths.
"Fire" is a powerful feminist poem. Written in 15 run-on lines, this short poem
challenges the norms of patriarchy. It is in the form of advice to women. Nikita Gill urges
women to react when the patriarchy takes advantage of women’s softness and kindness. The
poem inspires every woman vulnerable to injustice, humiliation and exploitation in a
patriarchal society.

ESSAY

1. Analyse "Fire" by Nikita Gill as a poem of protest and rebellion.

Nikita Gill is a British-Indian poet. Her poem "Fire" is a feminist poem of protest and
rebellion. Written in the form of advice to women, the poem urges women to strongly react
when the patriarchy takes advantage of their softness and kindness.

The first stanza serves as a background situation to the revolutionary second stanza. It
advises women to remember what they must do when patriarchy underestimates them. It
clearly tells them how to respond when their softness is taken for their weakness. The poem
instructs women how to react when their kindness is taken unfair advantage of.
The poet uses a series of images to recreate the fire that sleeps inside every woman.
She urges women to awaken every dragon, every wolf, every monster that sleeps inside them.
This is how they should react when their softness and kindness are taken for their weakness.
This is how women should teach their oppressors a lesson.
Women are treated as “the fair sex” and “the weaker sex” in a patriarchal society.
They are vulnerable to all sorts of injustice, humiliation and exploitation in such a system.
Gill tells them that it is true that women generally wear the skin of a gentle human being. But
the patriarchs should be taught how hell looks like even when it appears gentle and soft
outwardly.

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In this way, Nikita Gill’s "Fire" becomes a poem of protest and rebellion; a poem on
power and empowerment. It challenges the norms of patriarchy, the prejudices of gender
roles and expectations.

PARAGRAPH
1. What advice does the poet give to the readers in the poem "Fire" by Nikita Gill?

In the poem ‘Fire’, Nikita Gill advises the readers to remember what they must do
when men underestimate them. Women should wake up when men consider the softness of
women to be their weakness, when they treat their kindness to take unfair advantage of.
Inside every woman sleeps a dragon, a wolf, a monster. Women must remind the patriarchs
what hell looks like when it wears the skin of a gentle human being. The poem is an
inspiration to every woman vulnerable to injustice, humiliation and exploitation in a
patriarchal society.

2. What is the message of the poem?

Nikita Gill’s “Fire" is an advice to the women readers. It is an inspiration to every

woman vulnerable to injustice, humiliation and exploitation in a patriarchal society. The poet
is urging women to react when the patriarchy takes advantage of the softness and kindness of
women. Women are treated as “the fair sex” and “the weaker sex” in a patriarchal society.
They are vulnerable to all sorts of injustice, humiliation and exploitation in such a system.
Gill tells them that it is true that women generally wear the skin of a gentle human being. But
the patriarchs should be taught how hell looks like even when it appears gentle and soft
outwardly.

3. Discuss "Fire" as a feminist poem.

Nikita Gill’s “Fire" is a feminist poem. It is also a poem of protest and rebellion.
Written in the form of advice to women, the poem urges them to strongly react when the
patriarchy takes advantage of their softness and kindness. Women are treated as “the fair sex”
and “the weaker sex” in a patriarchal society. They are vulnerable to all sorts of injustice,
humiliation and exploitation in such a system. Gill tells them that it is true that women
generally wear the skin of a gentle human being. But the patriarchs should be taught how hell
looks like even when it appears gentle and soft outwardly.

4. Comment on the style, structure and language of the poem "Fire".

The poem “Fire" by Nikita Gill is a short poem of 15 run-on lines. The poem is made
up of just two sentences. The first sentence is carried over in six lines, and the second
sentence in nine lines. The poem consists of two stanzas. The first stanza prepares the
background for the revolutionary second stanza. It is written in simple style and diction.

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Though simple outwardly, each word is carefully selected to convey the intended message.
The poem effectively challenges the prejudices of gender roles and expectations. It urges
women to react when the patriarchy takes advantage of their softness and kindness.

SHORT ANSWER
1. What does "your softness is your weakness" mean?
Women are usually soft and kind. But the patriarchs mistakenly take it as their
weakness and exploit them. This is the meaning of the expression.

2. What is the tone of the poem?

The tone of the poem is fury. The poet is furious at the patriarchs who exploit
women’s softness and kindness.

3. What does the poet mean by "You remind them what hell looks like when it wears
the skin of a gentle human"?
Gill tells the readers that it is true that women generally wear the skin of a gentle
human being. But the patriarchs should be taught how hell looks like even when it appears
gentle and soft outwardly.

4. What does "every dragon, every wolf, every monster" mean?

Dragons, wolves and monsters are powerful images that mean fire, fury and freedom.
They mean the fire inside every woman.

5. What is the main theme of the poem "Fire" by Nikita Gill?

The main theme of the poem is power and women empowerment. It challenges the
prejudices of gender roles and expectations in powerful, bold language.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu
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Readings from the Fringes

14
Poem

History Lesson
Jeannette Armstrong

INTRO

Jeanette Armstrong is a Canadian award-winning writer.

In “History Lesson”, she writes about the Indigenous people’s first encounters with
the European settlers. She tells us how the white colonisers dismantled the culture of the
Indigenous people, exploited nature, and maintained dominance over the Natives through
violence and racism.

SHORT ANSWER
1. What did the whites bring as gifts?
The whites brought smallpox, alcoholic drinks and processed food such as rice
krispies as gifts.

2. "Civilization has reached the promised land." Explain.

It refers to the white European settlers reaching North America. They thought they
were doing good to the native people. In fact, they ruined everything and destroyed a
civilisation to create a new one.

3. What is the green paper mentioned in the poem?

The green paper is money, the dollar bills with the smiling picture of the Queen on
them.

4. Explain "farmers sowing skulls and bones".

The skull and bones refer to the sacrifice the Indigenous people have made against
their will. When they resisted, the white settlers killed them mercilessly and the farms were
littered with skulls and bones of the natives.

5. What does "skinless animals" signify?

The indigenous people have been stripped of their human rights, and they were forced
to change to fit into the beliefs of the Europeans. This is the result of the brutal colonisation.

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PARAGRAPH

1. What is the theme of "History Lesson"?

In “History Lesson”, Jeanette Armstrong portrays the Indigenous people’s first
encounters with the European settlers. The poet tells us how the white colonisers ruined their
culture, exploited nature, and maintained dominance over them through violence and racism.
The white settlers destroyed the land, culture and life style of the natives. They killed their
animals for fun and for their fur, skin and meat. They destroyed the forests and farmlands to
build new cities. They mined the land for minerals. When the natives resisted, they were
mercilessly killed. All this destruction was justified under the word "colonization."

2. Comment on the use of irony in the poem.

In "History Lesson," Armstrong tells the story of colonization from the perspective of
Native Americans. She describes how European settlers destroyed the Native American land,
life, and livelihood. All this destruction was justified under the word "colonization." Though
European settlers murdered Native Americans, mocked their culture, raped women, and
suppressed their freedom, they branded it as "colonization." Armstrong points out the irony in
this branding. The word "colonization" has a positive connotation – a partnership of two
different peoples. Here, the European's colonization was not at all civilized. In this way,
Armstrong highlights the horrible irony that surrounds the colonization of the Native
American peoples.

3. Explain the significance of the title "History Lesson".

The title "History Lesson" is very significant. The poem depicts how the white
colonisers dismantled the culture of the Indigenous people, exploited nature, and maintained
dominance over the Natives through violence and racism. The European settlers came in
ships and ran in all directions killing animals for their fur, shooting buffaloes for their meat
and hides. They mined the land for minerals. They destroyed the forests to build their cities.
They brought gifts in the form of smallpox, alcoholic drinks, and rice krispies. All this
destruction was justified under the word "colonization." This is a big history lesson.

ESSAY
Q.1. Analyse "History Lesson" as a poem of colonisation.

Jeanette Armstrong is a Canadian award-winning writer. In “History Lesson”, she writes

about the Indigenous people’s first encounters with the European settlers. The poem
describes the arrival of the Europeans to North America. It also tells us how they destroyed
the natives’ culture and land.

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The European settlers came in ships and ran in all directions. They killed animals for
their fur, meat and hides. They mined the land for minerals. They destroyed the forests to
build their cities. They brought gifts in the form of smallpox, alcoholic drinks, and rice
krispies.
The white colonisers dismantled the culture of the Indigenous people, and exploited
nature. They maintained dominance over the Natives through violence. They destroyed the
land, culture and life style of the natives. The whites killed their animals for fun and for their
fur, skin and meat. When the natives resisted, they were mercilessly killed.
All this destruction was justified under the word "colonization." Though European
settlers murdered Native Americans, mocked their culture, raped women, and suppressed
their freedom, they branded it as "colonization." The word "colonization" has a positive
connotation. Here, the European's colonization was not at all civilized. Armstrong points out
the irony in this branding. The poet shows how colonization made the life of the natives full
of misery and pain.
It is in this way that the poem describes the negative aspects of Imperialism and
colonization of the Indigenous people of Canada.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu
 Page |1

Readings from the Fringes

12
Poem

The Body Politic

Hiromi Goto

INTRO
Hiromi Goto is a Japanese-Canadian poet.
In the poem ‘The Body Politic’, she depicts the struggle of a racially discriminated
immigrant in Canada. She presents her own experience of the identity crisis she has to face as
an immigrant. She speaks about the social construction and conditioning of the normative
body. She also tells us how the people who do not fit into the category are branded as the
“other.”

ESSAY

1. What are the stereotypes assigned to the poet as an immigrant from Japan?

OR

How does Hiromi Goto portray the stereotypes associated with the physical features of a
racist subject in the poem "The Body Politic"?

Hiromi Goto is a Japanese-Canadian poet. In the poem ‘The Body Politic’, she
portrays the stereotypes associated with the physical features of a racist subject. It also
describes the struggle of a racially discriminated immigrant in Canada.
As her parents are Japanese, Goto has all features of the Japanese people such as their
colour and their slanting eyes. The white people speak about her colour in ways she finds
intolerable. They want to dress her up in kimonos and garter belts. They should hear about
Zen and Buddhism. They also want to enjoy tiny slices of raw fish and finish off with exotic
oriental sex. Then they request her to pen a haiku for them. She is fed up with all these
unnecessary comments and questions.
Goto also highlights how the politics of normalcy and otherness is shaped around the
body. Sometimes friends ask her if she is coloured. To the whites, white is not a colour. That

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is why they call all others as coloured people. The whites find fault with everything that is not
white: about the colour, body shape, the eyes and hair of the person, dress, language, gait,
food and manners. Anybody that is not white is “the other" to them. And the other is always
discriminated against, criticised and condemned as inferior to the white.
In the poem, Goto talks about the social construction and conditioning of the
normative body. She also highlights how people who do not fit into the category branded as
the other.

SHORT ANSWER
1. What is "That which you carry with you all times and / cannot be removed like a
costume or eaten like a five-course dinner"?
It is one's own identity and racial characteristics such as colour, appearance and other
features that you always carry with you.

2. Why does she say my vision is oblique?

Being a Japanese, Hiromi Goto has slanted eyes and she sees things with them; so,
she says that her vision is oblique.

3. Who is a coloured person?

A coloured person is one who is wholly or partly of non-white descent such as Asian
or African. It is an offensive term now.

4. What is 'Ke-mo-nees"?
It is a mispronunciation of kimono, a long loose traditional Japanese robe with wide
sleeves, tied with a sash.

PARAGRAPH

1. "I dress with culture / every single morning." Explain.

As Hiromi Goto’s parents are Japanese, she has all features of the Japanese people
such as their colour and their slanting eyes. She tells us how the people who do not fit into the
category are branded as the “other.” She says she can't change her features and her culture.
They are part of her and they go with her wherever she goes at all times. She dresses with
culture every morning, and eats her culture for breakfast. She bags it for lunch and eats it for
dinner. Then she bathes in it. Culture is her sleeping partner at night.

2. What are the questions people pose to the poet as an immigrant from Japan?
Hiromi Goto is a Japanese-Canadian poet. Being an immigrant from Japan, the whites
ask her so many questions. The white people speak about her colour in ways she finds

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intolerable. They want to dress her up in kimonos and garter belts. They are eager to hear
about Zen and Buddhism, and enjoy tiny slices of raw fish with exotic oriental sex. They also
want to know about hara-kiri, which is a ritual suicide to avoid dishonour Then they request
her to pen a haiku for them. She is fed up with all these unnecessary comments and questions.

3. "It's only that I want someone to know me by my name." Explain.

As Hiromi Goto’s parents are Japanese, she has all features of the Japanese people
such as their colour and their slanting eyes. In Canada, people like her are branded 'the other'.
The white people speak about her colour in ways she finds intolerable. They want to dress her
up in kimonos and garter belts. They should hear about Zen and Buddhism, and enjoy tiny
slices of raw fish with exotic oriental sex. Then they request her to pen a haiku for them. She
is fed up with all these unnecessary comments and questions. She says she wants someone to
know her by her name.

4. "People want to dress me up in/ke-mo-nees and garter belts/ They want to hear about Zen
and Buddhism and ritual/Hairy Carrie." Explain.
As Hiromi Goto’s parents are Japanese, she has all features of the Japanese people
such as their colour and their slanting eyes. The white people speak about her colour in ways
she finds intolerable. They want to dress her up in kimonos and garter belts. They should hear
about Zen meditation and Buddhism. They also want to know about hara-kiri, which is a
ritual suicide to avoid dishonour. They would like to enjoy tiny slices of raw fish. Then they
request her to pen a haiku for them. She is fed up with all these unnecessary comments and
questions.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu
 Page |1

Readings from the Fringes

10
Prose

Dear Ijeawele
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

INTRO
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer and feminist.
“Dear Ijeawele”, is an excerpt from her book, Dear Ijeawele, Or A Feminist
Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions (2017). The book is a manifesto in the form of a letter (an
epistolary manifesto) containing 15 suggestions on how to raise a girl child as a feminist. The
suggestions were given to Adichie's friend Ijeawele regarding her newborn daughter,
Chizalum Adaora. Adichie advises parents to equally share child care and domestic
responsibilities.

ESSAY 1
1. Childcare is an equal responsibility of both the parents. Comment.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer and feminist. “Dear Ijeawele”, is an excerpt
from Dear Ijeawele, Or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions), a manifesto in the
form of a letter containing 15 suggestions to her friend Ijeawele on how to raise her newborn
daughter as a feminist. She advises parents to equally share child care and domestic
responsibilities.
Adichie says that parenting is practice - and love. A new mother need not necessarily
know how to calm a crying baby; she may fail. Don't assume that you should know
everything. She should read books, look things up on the Internet, ask older parents, or just
use trial and error. Don’t think of it as 'doing it all'. Domestic work and care-giving should be
gender-neutral.
The author’s advice is, “Do it together.” A father is as much a “verb” (a doing word)
as a mother. The husband should do everything that biology allows – which is everything but
breastfeeding. Sometimes mothers are complicit in diminishing the role of fathers. They
might think that husbands will not bathe baby daughters exactly as they’d like. It doesn’t
matter. She won't die at the hands of her father. The father loves her. It's good for her to be
cared for by her father.

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Adichie advises parents to share child care equally. 'Equally' does not mean a literal
fifty-fifty, but they know when the child-care work is equally shared. Domestic work and
care-giving should be gender-neutral.

ESSAY 2
2. Critically evaluate Chimamanda Adichie's concept of gender.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a feminist writer from Nigeria. In the extract from her
book Dear Ijeawele, Adichie explains her concept of gender.
Assigning gender roles to people is disgusting. In many societies, household chores
such as cooking, washing and sweeping are done only by women. Bringing up children is
supposed to be the prime responsibility of women. Adichie says that such thinking has to
change. She asks her friend Ijeawele never to tell her daughter what to do or not to do just
because she is a girl.
Adichie remembers being told as a child to bend down properly like a girl while
sweeping. It means sweeping is only for girls. We are often told that the reason men and
women behave as they do is because of their gender. Men are active, rational, and industrious
because they're men; women are passive, emotional, and caring because they're women.
In Adichie's view, boys and girls are born equal. It is society that thrusts gender roles
on them. All the things that women do, men also can do, except bearing and breastfeeding
children. Mothers should not identify too strongly with the role of motherhood. From the
moment babies are born, society begins to condition boys and girls differently. We dress
them differently, talk to them differently, and choose different toys for them to play with.
Adichie says that the idea of gender roles is absolute nonsense because such an idea
has no validity. She also hates the pink-blue binary. She advises parents to equally share child
care and domestic responsibilities.

SHORT ANSWER
1. Who is Chizalum Adaora?
Chizalum Adaora is the newborn daughter of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s friend,
Ijeawele.

2. What was the purpose of writing "Dear Ijeawele"?

The purpose of writing “Dear Ijeawele” was to give fifteen suggestions to Adichie's
friend Ijeawele, on how to raise her newborn daughter, Chizalum Adaora as a feminist.

3. What are the 'two feminist tools' discussed in the chapter "Dear Ijeawele"?
The first tool is the feminist premise, “I matter. I matter equally.” The second tool is a
question: “Can you reverse X and get the same results?”

4. What was the advice given by Marlene Sanders to the younger journalist?

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“Never apologize for working. You love what you do, and loving what you do is a
great gift to your child”, was Marlene Sanders`s advice to the younger journalist.

5. What does your job do for you?

Your job gives you plenty of confidence and self-fulfilment that come with doing and
earning. You can love that.

6. Why does the narrator advise to reject the 'language of help'?

The narrator advises to reject the 'language of help’ because Chudi (husband) is not
'helping' you by caring for his child. He is doing what he should. 'When we say fathers are
'helping', we are suggesting that child care is a mother's territory.

7. Why does the author recommend not to say Chudi is babysitting?

The author recommends never say that Chudi (husband) is `babysitting' – people who
babysit are people for whom the baby is not a primary responsibility.

8. Why does the narrator think that 'gender neutral' is silly?

Adichie considers 'Gender-neutral' as silly because it is premised on the idea of male
being blue and female being pink and “gender neutral” being its own category. It is silly to
associate a colour with a particular gender.

9. How are the toys for boys and girls arranged in a toy section of the shop?
The toys for boys and girls are arranged in a toy section of the shop by gender. The
toys for boys are mostly active, and involve some sort of doing – trains, cars. The toys for
girls are passive and are mostly dolls.

10. Why is it important to make sure that Chizalum rejects gender roles from the
beginning?
Gender roles are so deeply conditioned in us that we will often follow them even
when they are against our true desires, needs, and happiness. To unlearn them is very
difficult. So, it is important to make sure that Chizalum rejects gender roles from the
beginning.

PARAGRAPH

1. Discuss the author's opinion about motherhood.

Motherhood is a glorious gift. But mothers should not define themselves solely by
motherhood. If a sister-in-law tells them to be a 'traditional' mother and stay home, they
should ignore her. Mothers should ask for help, and let others help them. We are not
Superwoman. Parenting is practice and love. A new mother may fail; she need not necessarily
know how to calm a crying baby. She should read books, look things up on the Internet, ask
older parents, or just use trial and error. A mother should focus on remaining a full person.
She may take time for herself.

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2. Comment on the form of "Dear Ijeawele."

Written in the form of a letter by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,
Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions consists of fifteen suggestions
on how to raise a feminist daughter. It was posted on her official Facebook first. Then “Dear
Ijeawele” was a personal e-mail written by Adichie in response to her friend, Ijeawele, who
had asked Adichie's advice on how to raise her daughter as a feminist. Though it was written
to a female friend, its audience scope extended beyond the mothers of daughters. Finally, it
was published as a book in 2017.

3. What is parenting, according to Chimamanda Adichie?

Chimamanda Adichie says that parenting is practice - and love. A new mother need
not necessarily know how to calm a crying baby; she may fail. Don't assume that you should
know everything. She should read books, look things up on the Internet, ask older parents, or
just use trial and error. A mother should focus on remaining a full person. She may take time
for herself. She should nurture her own needs. Don’t think of it as 'doing it all'. Domestic
work and care-giving should be gender-neutral. Women should support parents in their dual
duties at work and at home.

4. Comment on the blue/pink binary dichotomy.

The author wonders about the clever marketing person who invented this pink-blue
binary. There was also a 'gender-neutral' section, with its array of bloodless greys. At a shop
in the girls’ section were pale creations in washed out shades of pink. The boys' section had
outfits in vibrant shades of blue. At the toy section also, things were arranged by gender.
Toys for boys are mostly active, and involve some sort of doing - trains, cars and similar
things. But toys for girls are passive and mostly dolls. The author asks why not just have
baby articles organized by age and displayed in all colours? The bodies of male and female
infants are similar, after all.

5. Why does the narrator think that the idea of gender roles is absolute nonsense?
The narrator thinks that the idea of 'gender roles' is absolute nonsense. She tells
Ijeawele never to tell her daughter that she should or should not do something because she is
a girl. She says that “Because you are a girl” is never a reason for anything. She remembers
being told as a child to “bend down properly while sweeping, like a girl.” It means that
sweeping was about being female. A better instruction would be, “bend down and sweep
properly because you'll clean the floor better.” The author wishes her brothers had been told
the same thing.

6. Comment on the narrator's views on cooking.

The narrator says that the idea of marriage as a prize to women is questionable. It is
absurd that to earn that prize, a wife needs to cook. It is funny that we are still talking about
cooking as some kind of marriageability test for women. She adds that the knowledge of
cooking does not come pre-installed in a vagina. Cooking is a skill that is learned by practice.

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Cooking - domestic work in general – is a life skill that both men and women should ideally
have. It is also a skill that can elude both men and women.

7. How do the mothers of baby boys and baby girls behave in a baby play group?
Once an acquaintance of the narrator took her one-year-old son to a baby playgroup,
where babies were brought by their mothers. She noticed that the mothers of baby girls were
very restraining. They were constantly telling the girls “Don’t touch” or “Stop and be nice.”
The baby boys were encouraged to explore more. They were not restrained as much and
almost never told to “be nice.” Her theory was that parents unconsciously start very early to
teach girls how to be, that baby girls are given less room and more rules where as baby boys
more room and fewer rules.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu