POEM – AMANDA

CBSE COMPETENCY BASED QUESTIONS BASED ON EXTRACT

(A) (I am an orphan, roaming the street.
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.
The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)

i. The tone of the given lines is

(a) analytical.
(b) despairing.
(c) peaceful.
(d) nervous.
ii. Read the statements A and B given below, and choose the option
that correctly evaluates these statements.
Statement A- The figure ‘I’ imagines a less than realistic view of
being an orphan.
Statement B- The figure ‘I’ does not like the speaker.
(a) A is true, B is false, according to the extract.
(b) A is true, B cannot be clearly inferred from the extract.
(c) A cannot be clearly inferred from the extract, B is false.
(d) A is true and can be inferred from the poem, B is true too.
iii. The golden silence is contrasted with the ________.
(a) chaos of the street.
(b) constant instructions received.
(c) sweetness of freedom.
(d) hushed, bare feet.
iv. The rhyme scheme ‘aaa’ in the above extract is followed in all other
stanzas of the poem that are written in parenthesis, i.e. (). Why?
Read the reasons given below, and choose the option that lists the
most accurate reasoning:
(I) It shows the simplicity of the child’s thoughts.
(II) It reflects the harmony and rhythm of the child’s inner world.
(III) It mirrors a child’s expression.
(IV) It highlights the poet’s aesthetic sensibility.
(a) (I) and (IV)
(b) (I) and (II)
(c) (II) and (III)
(d) (III) and (IV)
v. Pick the option that lists the usage of the word ‘pattern’, as in the
extract above.
(a) That is a lovely pattern for a wallpaper.
(b) He decided to wear a patterned shirt to the party.
(c) Poetry is a form of pattern making.
(d) She patterned her hair after her favourite celebrity.
 vi. Extra Q.
Which option completes the popular adage given below? ________
silence is gold.
(a) Precious are words for
(b) Speech is silver
(c) Silver is the tongue
(d) Ideas may be precious but
vii. Extra Q.
A transferred epithet is a literary device where the modifier or epithet
is transferred from the noun it is meant to describe to another noun in
the sentence. Based on the given definition of ‘transferred epithet’,
choose the option that lists an example of transferred epithet.
(a) soft dust
(b) hushed (bare) feet
(c) freedom (is) sweet
(d) silence (is) golden
viii. Extra Q.
Which image corresponds to what Amanda, is doing in this extract?

(a) option 1
(b) option 2
(c) option 3
(d) option 4
(B) Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!
Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!
Stop that slouching and sit up straight,
Amanda!
i. The purpose of the speaker’s words in the given extract is to
(a) show the speaker’s power over the listener.
(b) make the listener a better human being.
(c) advise the listener as an elder.
(d) improve the listener’s posture and habits.
ii. Pick the option that lists the image which correctly corresponds to the
speaker’s mood in the extract.

(a) Image (i)

(b) Image (ii)
 (c) Image (iii)
(d) Image (iv)
iii. Alliteration is a literary device used in the extract. Which of the
following options DOES NOT include examples of this literary
device?
(a) The moon and the shimmering stars watched over us
(b) With that charming chat, Catherine chose comfort
(c) Away ran the pathetic pooch pouting like a princess
(d) Dee dee was driving down day after day
iv. What does the repetition of “Amanda!” at the end of each line reflect?
(a) It describes who the speaker is talking to.
(b) It represents the absent-mindedness of the listener.
(c) It shows the frustration of the speaker.
(d) It helps create a rhyme scheme.
v. select the option that fits with the following:
slouching : straight:: ________ : ________
(a) transparent : translucent
(b) lazy : agile
(c) forgetful : lively
(d) generous : liberal

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

1. Write a short note on the title of the poem?
The title of the poem is Amanda revolves around the upbringing of little girl
named Amanda. Her life is full of struggles where she is denied freedom and
expression. Amanda is so much irate that she escapes reality by living in her
imaginative world. Through this gateway she experiences calmness, away
from her nagging parents.
2. Why is Amanda getting scolded for having chocolate?
Amanda is getting scolded for having chocolates as previously it had caused
her acne. Amanda’s mother is very particular about such things.
Amanda is made conscious about her physical appearance. It is very sad that
at such a young age Amanda is made to worry about natural experiences.
3. How life on a tower would be different from life anywhere else for
Amanda?

Life on tower for Amanda would be very different from her reality. Just like
Rapunzel, even she desires to live on top of a tower, away from everyday
chaos. Amanda suffers due to the constant nagging from her parents. She
seeks a place full of peace and serenity, where there is no one to disturb her.
Hence, she wishes to live on a tower.

PRACTICE
4. Why does Amanda seem moody most of the times? [CBSE 2016]

5. Why does Amanda wish to be a mermaid, an orphan, or Rapunzel?

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in 100-120 words:

1. Discuss the importance of proper upbringing with reference to the poem

Amanda by Robin Klein.

Upbringing plays an essential role in personality development of an adult.

Whenever we wish to admire or criticize someone we question the
upbringing of that person. Robin Klein’s poem Amanda highlights the tension
in the ‘proper’ upbringing of a child. To instill good values and moral
principles in a growing child comes as a foremost duty for the parents.
However, the poem Amanda shows how a child feels trapped within the
cluster of instructions. Amanda is no less than a victim in this travesty. No
proper space is given to her creativity. She is instructed for everything. As a
result, she feels trapped and seeks an escape. Her imagination proves to be
her escape and also her defense against her nagging parents. Situation of
Amanda is so worse that she wishes to be an orphan, in order to get rid of
her parents. She imagines enacting various roles varying from mermaid to
Rapunzel. Amanda wishes to live alone and carefree. It is very important to
understand the situation of Amanda where her freedom is cut short by
constant instructions and guidelines. Proper balance should be maintained
when dealing with such delicate issues. Love and care should always be part
of this two way transaction.

2. How does Amanda tackle the nagging nature of her parents? Explain with
examples from the poem. What values does it portray about Amanda?
Amanda is a small girl who is termed as moody for her careless behaviour.
But it is very surprising to know that this is her defence mechanism to shield
against her nagging parents. Amanda is getting instructions from her parents,
which become too much to handle for the small girl. She is told not to eat her
nails and sit in a proper position. Amanda’s response to it is her work of
imagination where she is a mermaid drifting effortlessly by the languid river.
Further, she is asked about cleaning her room and finishing her homework to
which she reacts being an orphan roaming in the street and making patterns
with her bare feet. Amanda then faces the heat for eating a chocolate, which
had once caused her acne. She takes the form of Rapunzel and wishes to live
on top of a tower away from everyone in her imagination. Amanda’s parents
are upset over her behaviour and casualness, but she stays in her own world.
All these portray Amanda in a positive light while her parents in a negative
light. We as readers feel very sorry for a childlike Amanda.
PRACTICE
3. State the key points in the poem Amanda. What do you learn from it?