AN UNKOWN GIRL

ABOUT THE POET: Moniza Alvi was born in Lahore, Pakistan. Her father is a Pakistani and her mother is
British and the family moved to England when Alvi was a baby. Alvi grew up in England and only visited
her home country when she was an adult. Alvi’s early poetry reveals the loss of identity, culture and
roots that she felt while growing up in England.

1. IN THE EVENING BAZAAR: Repetition: the repetition emphasizes the relevance of this memory
as it is the place she was finally able to reconnect with her Indian identity. The Bazaar is and
Indian market place known for having a loud atmosphere and it helps her to reconnect as she is
immersed in Indian culture at that moment
2. STUDDED WITH NEON: Metaphor: Studs are usually used in the form of decoration. Alvi’s
reference to these lights in the market place indicate her admiration towards the beauty of the
bazaar. As a result we understand how beautiful her memory of India is.
3. WET, SATIN-PEACH: Tactile Imagery: She recalls the memory with the vivid detail as it is an
important time in her life. How fresh the memory is to her is known to us by the texture of the
unknown girl’s skin pleased nature of the memory Soft color beautiful
4. SHE IS ICING MY HAND: Metaphor: Delicately, carefully, and gently. Even though the girl is
unknown to her she cares about the design as it is important to Alvi . Alvi feels the gratitude and
appreciation as even though the unknown girl does not know the significance of the act, she
draws the design with care. The decoration of those peacock lines again helps Alvi to feel the
reconnection.
5. FEW RUPEES: Adjective: In monetary terms the decoration does not reflect the true value for
her excitement as she is finally able to reconnect wither Indian values/roots.
6. NEON: Color Imagery: A bright color that is usually associated with India due to its exotic
nature. We understand the intensity of the memory because of the intense brightness of the
light
7. SHADOW STITCHED KAMMEZ: Symbolism: KAMEEZ Her attire is associated with the Indian
culture. Therefore, the poet wears it showing her desire to relate to her Indian identity.
SHADOW STITCHED A form of embroidery where the shadow represents the loss of identity. The
darkness of the shadow implies that the identity is unknown.
8. PEACOCK: Symbolism: Symbolic as the peacock is the national bird of India and the poet is
having her hand decorated with the peacock design. We understand that she wants the Indian
culture to be a part of her.
9. COLOURS LEAVE THE STREET FLOAT UP IN THE BALLOONS: Metaphor: The poet indicates the
darkness is approaching as the night is falling. As the darkness approaches she realizes the
influence of western culture on India, which is why she feels a sense of loss because no matter
what it is never going to be the same.
10. DUMMIES, TILT, STARE: Personification: She feels uncomfortable in the Bazaar as she feels that
she doesn’t belong there.
11. SOFA CLOTH CANOPY ME: Verb: “Canopy” means to cover. So she feels like they are covering
her. She feels that her western culture prevents her from reconnecting with her Indian roots.
 12. BROWN VEINS…(BROWN LINE): Metaphor: The decoration is spreading as it is becoming a part
of her body where those brown lines before seems to become her veins and her blood. Her
identity becomes the part of her blood that ties her to India.
13. I AM CLINGING TO THESE FIRM PEACOCK LINES LIKE PEOPLE WHO CLING TO THE SIDES OF A
TRAIN: Simile of a popular Indian Image: Her holding on to the design indicates her holding on
to her Indian identity because if she loses it a part of her will die
14. FURIOUS, HUSHED: Juxtaposition: Indicates the passing of time as the streets are no longer
busy. Now that she has reconnected with her Indian identity she is at peace and no longer
conflicted.
15. DRY BOWN LINES…(WET BROWN LINES)
16. SOFT AS A SNAIL TRAIL: Assonance: The long ‘ai’ sound is a dragging sound which indicates how
she wants to extend her long moments as it was the time that she connected with her indian
roots
17. I’LL LEAN ACROSS A COUNTRY: Metaphor: Indicates the distance between herself and India
physically as the distance is what she is willing to bridge because it is important to her to
remember her Indian identity.
18. OUTSTRETCHED LONGING: Verbs: A welcoming stance as she yearns to embrace her Indian
identity. We understand her great desire to get an Indian identity.
19. UNKNOWN GIRL: Simile: Represent the unknown Indian identity that she doesn’t want to loose.

MonizaAlvi successfully presents her feelings of Cultural Identity and loss throughout the poem of ‘An
Unknown Girl’.  Her Cultural Identity is the connection she seems to have with India and its culture and
she has a feeling of loss because she is no longer in contact with this culture partly because it is being
overrun by the Western one.

The author successfully presents her feelings through images of the country.  Firstly, she does this
through repetition.  The phrase ‘in the evening bazaar’ is repeated three times during the poem.  This
repetition highlights the fact that India is the place that the author wants to stay and has a real
connection with in her heart.  This repetition also highlights her feeling of loss of the Indian Culture due
to the fact that the poem ends with the phrase ‘neon bazaar’, not ‘evening bazaar’.  The fact that the
bazaar is now neon suggests that the Indian culture has been westernised and because of this she has a
feeling of loss because she can no longer experience the traditional Indian culture, instead only the
Western one.

She continues to present her feelings in this method when she says, ‘Banners for Miss India 1993…
canopy me’.  This metaphor illustrates how the Western introduction of the ‘Miss World’ has invaded
India and has cloaked it in its influence.  This metaphor particularly illustrates her loss of the Indian
culture as it has been shrouded by the ‘canopy’ of the Western culture as so is no longer as dominant
and accessible for her.  Not only can this phrase be interpreted in this way, but the ‘canopy me’ could
also be seen as India protecting the poet and all the things around her representing India.  This
interpretation really highlights the cultural identity of the poet with India and how her life almost relies
on India and its culture.

Thirdly the writer continues to present her feelings through images of India through the lack of run-on
lines.  Immediately before the writer introduces the influx of Western culture within India she says,
‘Colours leave the street float up in balloons.’.  This sentence is not a run-on line as it ends with a full
stop, as this full stop suggests the finality of the colours leaving the street.  The metaphor ‘Colours leave
the street’ refers to the Indian culture leaving the street and being replaced by the Western culture.  As
the word ‘colours’ refers to the Indian culture it illustrates how the culture of India is exotic and
beautiful.  The finality of this action helps the writer to successfully present her feeling of loss with the
Indian culture as it has permanently left the street and so can never be experienced again.  The
metaphor presents the writer’s cultural identity with India as it illustrates the exotic nature of the
country and therefore the fact that it should be explored and savoured as something very much
different from the Western world.

MonizaAlvi also presents her feelings through the way she feels about having her hand painted.  The
author writes, ‘She is icing my hand’.  The metaphor which particularly presents her feelings is the word
‘icing’.  Icing is a form of decoration and beauty; however it is temporary and won’t last long.  The fact
that icing is a temporary form of decoration helps the author to present her feelings of loss with the
Indian culture, as the henna (something synonymous with Indian culture) is only temporary as so cannot
be savoured, remembered and experienced forever.  Also, later in the poem the poet writes, ‘a peacock
spreads its lines’.  This links with the icing being a form of beauty as the peacock is the exotic and
beautiful bird of India.  This connection that the peacock has with both beauty and India illustrates the
writer’s feeling of having a cultural identity and connection with India.

Finally, the writer uses the phrase, ‘I have new brown veins.’ particularly well to present her feelings. 
Once again the writer uses a metaphor very successfully.  This metaphor is used to illustrate the fact
that the henna, and particularly India, has become part of her blood and body, and without the country
and its culture she will no longer be able to live.  This really highlights her feeling of cultural identity with
India.  The point is enhanced by the fact that it is a very short sentence (not a run-on line) which creates
a greater impact on the reader about the writer’s feelings and also demonstrates her sense of pride
about being part of India.

Overall Moniza Alvi successfully presents her feelings of cultural identity and loss through both images
of the country and the way she feels about having her hand painted.