Amanda

Textual Solutions for Class 10 English 

Poem – Amanda!

The poem 'Amanda' by Robert Klein is about a young girl who gets lots of orders from someone, probably her parents. Amanda is told not to bite her nails because it's a bad habit. She's told to sit up straight so she doesn't hurt her back. Amanda dreams of being a mermaid in a calm sea, where she can escape from all these orders. She's also told to do her homework and clean her room and shoes, but she feels like she never has enough time. Amanda imagines herself as an orphan walking alone in a quiet street. She feels insecure when she's told not to eat chocolate because of her acne. Even after giving her so many orders, her parents don't realize they've made Amanda feel overwhelmed. They tell her to stop sulking, but Amanda just wants to stay in her own little world like Rapunzel in her tower, without having to escape using her hair.

Thinking about the Poem (Page 62)

1. How old do you think Amanda is? How do you know this?

Amanda is a little girl, about 9 or 10 years old. Sometimes, her mom and dad tell her things she should or shouldn't do, like saying "please" and "thank you" or sitting up straight at the table. They're just trying to teach her how to be polite and behave nicely because she's still learning about these things.

2. Who do you think is speaking to her?

One of her parents is speaking to her. Moms are usually the ones who teach children about manners and how to behave well. They want their kids to do the right things and be polite. So, the things Amanda's mom is saying to her probably come from a place of love and wanting what's best for her.

3. Why are Stanzas 2, 4 and 6 given in parenthesis?

Stanzas 2, 4 and 6 are given in parenthesis because they say Amanda’s thoughts and reactions as she gets instructions from her mother in stanzas 1, 3 and 5. Each stanza containing rebukes by Amanda’s mother is followed by her inner reaction to it in parenthesis. Thus, the poet uses the parenthesis to show that Amanda doesn’t voice her inner protests, giving the poem a humorous tone.

4. Who is the speaker in Stanzas 2, 4 and 6? Do you think this speaker is listening to the speaker in Stanzas 1, 3, 5, and 7?

The speaker of stanzas 2, 4 and 6 is the child, Amanda herself. No, she is not listening or paying heed to her mother’s words in stanzas 1, 3 and 5 as she is lost in her own dream world. Her imagination lets her escape from reality as she is lost in her own world.

5. What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?

If Amanda were a mermaid, she'd imagine herself floating gently on a calm, green ocean. She'd dream of being the only one there, with no one else around to bother her. Amanda wants to be independent and find happiness all on her own. To her, being a mermaid means feeling free and amazed by the world around her.

6. Is Amanda an orphan? Why does she say so?

No, Amanda is not an orphan. Amanda wants to be on her own because she's tired of her parents always telling her what to do. Even though she's not an orphan, she wishes she were so she could do whatever she wants without anyone bothering her. She longs for quiet and freedom, wanting to wander the streets alone and make patterns in the dust with her feet. To her, being an orphan means having the freedom to be herself without anyone nagging her.

7. Do you know the story of Rapunzel? Why does she want to be Rapunzel?

A story called Rapunzel is about a girl who lives alone in a tall tower. An evil witch keeps her there. Rapunzel is happy in the tower and has long blonde hair. The witch uses her hair to climb up. One day, a prince comes and climbs up to see her using her hair. The witch finds out and punishes them by keeping them apart. After many years, they finally get together forever. Amanda wants to be like Rapunzel, living alone in a tower, because she wants peace and freedom. But she says she won't let anyone climb up her hair because she wants to be left alone. She just wants to be happy without anyone bothering her.

8. What does the girl yearn for? What does this poem tell you about Amanda?

Amanda is a young girl who yearns for freedom and wants to be on her own. With constant scolding from her parents, she realises that she is incapable of fulfilling their expectations. Generally, children of Amanda’s age have similar feelings, irrespective of class, colour or nationality. We all know that traditional societies always demand well-mannered behaviour from every person and the training of children by their parents plays a significant role in moulding their personality. However, most parents tend to ignore the innocence and understanding level of their children, and the young minds face tremendous pressure from their elders that impacts their imaginative power and thoughts.

9. Read the last stanza. Do you think Amanda is sulking and is moody?

No, Amanda isn't being sulky or moody; she just wants her freedom. She's tired of always having to listen to her parents' instructions. She has a big imagination, like when she imagines herself living like Rapunzel, free from her parents' nagging and scolding. She just wants to live without being told what to do all the time and enjoy life without worries.