Slide 1

Presents From My Aunts in Pakistan Section 1 They sent me a salwar kameez peacock-blue, and another glistening like an orange split open,embossed slippers, gold and black points curling. Candy-striped glass bangles snapped, drew blood. Like at school, fashions changed in Pakistan - the salwar bottoms were broad and stiff,a salwar kameez peacock-blue, glistening like an orange split open, points curling. Candy-striped glass bangles snapped, drew blood. the salwar bottoms were broad and stiff, then narrow. then narrow. My aunts chose an apple-green sari, silver-bordered for my teens. I tried each satin-silken top - was alien in the sitting-room. I could never be as lovely as those clothes - I longed for denim and corduroy. My costume clung to me and I was aflame, I couldn't rise up out of its fire, half-English, unlike Aunt Jamila. was alien in the sitting-room. I longed for denim and corduroy. My costume clung to me and I was aflame, I couldn't rise up out of its fire, Use the hyperlinks in the poem to go to the questions about the language and then click here to go to the final taskhere Slide 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 wouldnt? Slide 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? Slide 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. Slide 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? Slide 6 How does the way these two lines are laid out link to what is being described? Candy-striped glass bangles snapped, drew blood. Slide 7 In this section of the poem, the trousers of the salwar are described: the salwar bottoms were broad and stiff, then narrow. 1.What does this suggest about the girls attitude to the clothes? 2.Find and record any other lines which show this attitude. 3.How does the layout of these two lines link to the description? Slide 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? Slide 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? Silk Corduroy Denim Slide 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? Slide 11 My costume clung to me and I was aflame, I couldn't rise up out of its fire, What do you think the poet is suggesting about the girls clothes in this line? Slide 12 Now youve 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.