Presents From My Aunts in Pakistan Section 1

1. Presents From My Aunts in Pakistan Section 1 They sent me a salwar kameezpeacock-blue,and anotherglistening like an orange split open,embossed slippers, gold and blackpoints curling.Candy-striped glass banglessnapped, drew blood.Like at school, fashions changedin Pakistan -the salwar bottoms were broad and stiff, then narrow.My aunts chose an apple-green sari,silver-borderedfor my teens. I tried each satin-silkentop -was alien in the sitting-room.I could never be as lovelyas those clothes -I longedfor denim and corduroy.My costume clung to meand I was aflame,I couldn't rise up out of its fire,half-English,unlike Aunt Jamila. Use the hyperlinks in the poem to go to the questions about the language and then click here to go to the final task

2. The poet could have chosen to use the adjectives red or pink or orange to describe the salwar kameez. Instead she described it as being “peacock blue.” What does this adjective suggest about the clothing which red, orange or pink wouldn’t?

3. The poet describes another kameez which is sent to her as “glistening like an orange split open.” Why do you think she says the kameez glistens and what else is “split open” in the poem?

4. Why do you think the writer has used an “embossed” slipper with the “points curling” in the poem, rather than another kind of slipper? Hint: Think about how this kind of slipper might feel to wear.

5. The poet says that the “candy-striped glass bangles snapped, drew blood.” Who would candy normally appeal to? Why is what happens with the bangles surprising then?

6. How does the way these two lines are laid out link to what is being described? “Candy-striped glass bangles snapped, drew blood.”

7. In this section of the poem, the trousers of the salwar are described: • the salwar bottoms were broad and stiff, • then narrow. • What does this suggest about the girl’s attitude to the clothes? • Find and record any other lines which show this attitude. • How does the layout of these two lines link to the description?

8. The writer uses the word “alien” to describe how she feels in her own sitting room. How should you feel in your sitting room? What do you think she means when she says she feels “alien?”

9. Here are some magnified pictures of denim, corduroy and silk. Why is it surprising, based on the textures, that the girl chooses denim and corduroy over the silk of the Pakistani clothes? Denim Silk Corduroy

10. The writer says that she “longed” for denim and corduroy. Why does she use the verb longed, instead of “wanted” or “would have quite liked?

11. My costume clung to meand I was aflame,I couldn't rise up out of its fire, What do you think the poet is suggesting about the girl’s clothes in this line?

12. Now you’ve answered the individual questions about the first section of the poem, try this task out for size: Explain how the writer of Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan shows the attitudes of the girl towards her own culture. You should write about: Her attitudes towards her clothing The language she uses to describe her culture The way her culture makes her feel Answer the question on a separate word document.