TOPIC AMANDA

BY ROBIN KLEIN

MIND MAP
MLP
Q.1 Who is Amanda and what do you know about her ?
Ans.Amanda is a little school going girl.She is constantly instructed by her mother.She is fed up
with all the instructions.She longs to be free and live life in her own way.
Q.2 What is Amanda asked for in the first stanza ?
Ans.Amanda is asked not to bite her nails ,not to hunch her shoulders and to sit up straight.Her
parent nags her for sitting lazily with her shoulders bent into a stoop.
Q.3 Why does Amanda say she is an orphan ?
Ans. Amanda seems to be fed up with continuous instructions and naggings.She feels her
freedom is curtailed.That is why she imagines herself an orphan street child who leaves imprints
caused on the soft dust by bare feet.She feels that silence is precious and freedom is sweet.
Q.4 What type of life does Amanda wish for?
Ans.Amanda feels she is leading a controlled life under constant nagging.She wishes for a life
free from all restrictions .She wants to lead a life like a fairy,a mermaid ,an orphan.She wants to
enjoy her freedom.
Q.5 What is the role of a mermaid here in this poem?
Ans.Mermaid is a part of Amanda’s fantasy in her own created world.As mermaid sails in a sead
carelessly and effortlessly , similarly Amanda longs to do so in a place where she is all by
herself.
Q.6 List the things which Amanda’s mother doesn't want her to do . Ans . Her mother
doesn't want her to hunch her shoulders and bend her body down.She stops her from eating
chocolates.as it wouldn't be good for her pimpled face.She wants her to stop her sulking as other
would think that she is being nagged by her mother
Q.7 Why does Amanda want to be Rapunzel?
Ans. Amanda is fascinated by the lonely and tranquil life of Rapunzel in a closed tower.She
wishes such a life so that her nagging mother may not reach there.She also yearns for her
freedom.
Q.8 Is Amanda an orphan? Why does she say that?
Ans . Amanda is not an orphan .She is nagged all the time by her parents .So she feels it better to
have been an orphan .Then she could roam about freely in the street living patterns of hardware
feet in the soft dust.
Q.9 Is Amanda at fault at all?
Amanda is not at fault at all. It is too harsh for a small child to understand the concept of acne
and not eating chocolate. Love of parents is missing from Amanda’s life. It is with pity that we
look towards Amanda. There is nothing worse for a child who wishes to be an orphan. Amanda
just seeks freedom from the overpowering environment around her.
Q.10 What is the central theme of the poem Amanda?
The poem Amanda by Robin Klein highlights the importance of upbringing of a child. It points
out that upbringing doesn’t involve making a child responsible and fit for the society only. It is
important to note that upbringing involves understanding from both sides. One cannot just
force a child to be civilized and good mannered. Love and proper care is required in nurturing a
child.
COMPETENCY BASED QUESTIONS
Q. 1 Justify the title of the poem ‘Amabda’.
The title of the poem is Amanda as it revolves around the upbringing of a little girl named
Amanda. Her life is full of struggles where she is denied freedom and expression. Amanda is so
much irate (angry) that she escapes reality by living in her imaginative world. Through this
gateway she experiences calmness, away from her nagging parents.
Q.2 Amanda seems moody most of the time.What do you think is the actual reason behind her
behaviour?
Answer: Amanda seems moody most of the times because she is trying to make an escape from
her sorry reality where she is nagged most of the time. It is indeed a sorry state for a small child
like Amanda to bear. Here the only defence against such reality is her imagination where she
often escapes to. Hence, it makes her look moody and uninterested.
Q 3 State the key points in the poem Amanda. What do you learn from it?
And.Every child is special itself, and requires a great deal of patience and love to make them
understand this. Parents should give proper space to children, as they learn through experiences
as well. Children do tend to learn certain bad habits, to undo that requires great level of
understanding and right approach. One cannot teach one’s child everything in one day and
expect him/her to behave.
Q.4 Excessive nagging makes children defiant. Elucidate your answer in reference to the
poem Amanda !.
Answer: In the poem Amanda excessive nagging leads to the defiance and escapism in the child
Amanda is constantly criticised and instructed by her mother ,causing her to retreat into
imaginative worlds . She envisions herself as a mermaid in a calm,emerald sea,as an orphan
wandering freely and to be happy Rapunzel who would never enable any prince to liberate her.
This nagging suppresses her spirit, making her earn for independence and the negative impact of
excessive parental control on a child's well being.
Q.5 You have been chosen to write a blog on the importance of proper upbringing. Prepare the
blog with reference to the poem ‘Amanda’ by Robert Klein.
Answer:Title Importance of Upbringing Upbringing plays an important role in the personality
development of an adult. The poem Amanda shows how a child feels trapped with numerous
instructions on what to do and how to act.Amanda is a victim in this travesty.She has no freedom
to explore her creativity.She receives instructions on everything.Her imagination is her escape. It
also acts as a defence against her wish to live alone and be free. Parents should act as guides their
children.They should let their children explore the word around them without interference
unnecessarily.
MIND MAP
By
Suman Bala
LJN DAV Public School Garhdiwala