Analysis of 'An Unknown Girl' by Moniza Alvi

[@deathshot3513]

I believe the ‘amber bird’ is symbolic of a Phoenix and represents how her henna has risen/revived her cultural connection to India from the ashes.

[@praveenrajanikanth705]

boy shut yo mouth

[@georgebloch6927]

Thx

[@smellyratwithagyatt]

I just finished all my English language and English literature exams and im truly forever greatful for these videos. I felt very confident answering the questions which I wouldn’t have been able to do without these helpful recordings. For the English language poetry and prose this is the poem we got questioned on and this was definitely a big help! Thanks x

[@omghjrnff]

Agreed

[@HiHi-gi5sy]

Yh I was very surprised that this popped up considering this was the 2022 poem aswell!

[@kn7-aviation780]

i'm wondering if there are a lot of people who like this poem. Me and many of my friends don't find "An Unknown Girl" influential and favourable compared to other poems. I personally would be delighted to see "The Bright Lights of Sarajevo" in the exam.

[@tossked6646]

thanks, i am so annoyed we had to do this for coursework but it is now a lot easier thanks to your amazing analysis

[@keyapancholi749]

Oooooh another thing, so usually on our palms we have lines right that could be interpreted as connotation of traditional indian culture as well because those lines are examined and studies by palmists and so the national bird of india "spreading its lines" , 'across her palm' may be seen as her re-establishing her indian roots, and further adds to her trying to connect with them in attempt to find her identify

[@keyapancholi749]

Identity*

[@Zahra-fo4cz]

bazaars are also a part of Arabian cultures, as well as many others in Asia. Also- 'I have new brown veins', could suggest that her blood is dirty, because she feels like she doesn't belong, or is pretending to be someone else to help her with her identity crisis, 'I'll scrape off the brown lines before I sleep', may mean that she can go back to being who she wants to be, because no one else is around. 'Dummies in shop-fronts that tilt and stare', may refer to how she thinks she always being stared at, and feels insecure, though they are only dummies, she is trying to remind herself that these opinions don't matter

[@Abdussalam-ml3so]

Oh wow, great points!

[@lucamifsud9395]

I didn't know or think this this Nisan amazing point

[@isabel9453]

I agree! I think that the “new brown veins” does symbolise her blood as dirty, as I think that the word “dummies” stands for the degradation of the western culture and so the dirty blood could represent a guilty conscience, as perhaps she feels unpatriotic and so therefore why she feels observed by the tilted heads of the mannequins, objects with no form of facial expressions of which she herself has the impression that they are staring, giving the reader the impression that she feels unsettled. Also, the following line is about how the Miss India cloths “canopy her”, which could be inferred as her taking refuge in the Indian culture and feeling protected by it, viewing it as a source of comfort to her from the unsettling feeling of guilt.

[@nadeem1923]

In Arabic it’s more of a souq but great points

[@phyzicskid]

single-handedly carrying my English GCSE thx

[@AB-ku8du]

do you have an exam after tomorrow too?

[@incapablecookie8021]

I know you go to school at E***** C****** in ******

[@lucamifsud9395]

I also think you could annotate the contrast in the aliteration of bird beneath as birds connote freedom and joy as they sing, while beneath shows a sense of hiding or fear

[@nah15]

nice pfp

[@morzvalorant4540]

chub

[@jawadanani1116]

such a hard carry for my gcse thx so much

[@taymourshuli127]

ya 3amo ur doing igcse not gcse, dont act smart

[@georgestockton9581]

@@taymourshuli127 they’re literally both the same thing, gcse is for public schools and igcse is for private schools and international. both the exact same, just used in different scenarios.

[@Alexander-vo4gv]

@@georgestockton9581 nah, the exams and syllabus are slightly different

[@ubeydrihane5763]

@@taymourshuli127w3sh kho anta dzayri?

[@bdFuego522]

@@taymourshuli127 bro why tf is it such a problem for u, what do you mean by dont act smart what a disproportionate reaction 😭😭😭

[@HiHi-gi5sy]

I was surprised, but delighted to see this today!!😊

[@tocadijaclips1827]

watched this right before my exam thanks

[@najmafoodie3184]

you are literally so amazing

[@WADSD856]

Thank you so much for your annotations and explanations !!!

[@xamdanpubg5666]

Please like this video so others can see and benefit from it

[@zeinaelwy]

Hello 2023 students! Day before the exam and this is perfect for a final glance at the texts! Hopped on to add two alternative views for anyone looking to get extra points for deeper analysis! 1. The "icing my hand" could also be a baking metaphor as it emphasizes the cultural contrast, icing isn't a very eastern way to describe the process of henna being put on someones hand perhaps. 2. the "amber bird" is also seen as a Phonenix, as though the henna is allowing her connection to India to rise up from the ashes and reviving it! Hope these help and good luck everyone!

[@Abdussalam-ml3so]

Thank you!!

[@YusufKhan-qs7ex]

Heeey abd :)

[@Abdussalam-ml3so]

@@YusufKhan-qs7ex Ayyy whats gooood!!

[@Abdussalam-ml3so]

@@YusufKhan-qs7ex Mans doing extra work ayy

[@YusufKhan-qs7ex]

@@Abdussalam-ml3so hahahhahaha yepp

[@igealoiacono1915]

THANKS SO MUCH! ❤️

[@chipiix_]

THANK YOU AAA

[@keyapancholi749]

This may be a little harsh 😂 but when she uses the word 'icing' it is quite funny for native indians or perhaps just me alone because it kind of highlights western interpretation of indian culture which is quite humorous i dont know if im making any sense

[@ayzack_edu]

I agree with what you siad in the end: you're making no sense at all!

[@keyapancholi749]

@@ayzack_edu ty for letting me know:)

[@abdulazizbahmed333]

In my exam I instead referenced the final reference of the “unknown girl” as actually the girl at first, as if she missed her, since the question asked how she feels of the girl, is it all based on interpretation or do you reckon I can get marks based off this interpretation?

[@idk.igcse_]

how much did you get

[@abdulazizbahmed333]

@@idk.igcse_I got a 6 lol

[@idk.igcse_]

@@abdulazizbahmed333 ain’t that bad doooo

[@abdulazizbahmed333]

@@idk.igcse_it’s mid, not good nd not bad

[@nonyesol6898]

Wait is peacock seriously the national bird of Indian🧐

[@kube9527]

Thanks a lot

[@gamingwithbuddy7565]

Thanks a lot!!!

[@Aaisha_Zulkifly]

thank you lots!!!!

[@Aaisha_Zulkifly]

@@gamingwithbuddy7565 HI

[@AlfarooqAlmenghawi]

Do I need to mention what the bazaar in India is like in the exam?

[@mrsrumsey]

That will depend on the question.

[@r0bbie216]

why does she scrape off the dry brown lines?

[@mrsrumsey]

That’s what you do with henna - you leave the liquid to dry and then you scrape it off to reveal a print on your hands.

[@kazxiii_]

The likes were 69 so I liked it to change it

[@yassinazab6187]

when? No I mean...when did anyone ask?

[@amigo5589]

@@yassinazab6187 me, from the future.

[@user-cn6og8tk5v]

Is the unknown girl the poet or the girl doing the henna for the poet?

[@aroshadasanayaka8792]

in the title its said that the poets is the unknown girl (lack of identity/she doesnt know where she belong)

[@aroshadasanayaka8792]

but in the poem the girl hennaing the hand is known to be the unknown girl

[@studentjavierpazcanut3036]

Assasaasasasasasas

[@williamhuang8423]

Stop