1. Define the following words:

a) Critiquesb) Fragilec) Transitoryd) Ephemeral e) Endure

1.1. Which of the above words are synonyms?

1.2. Write a sentence or a number of sentences using the above words.

2. How is this a poem about power? Write a sentence or two explaining this in your own words.

2.1 How could this poem also be a poem about conflict?

3. What kind of tissue paper is Dharker referring to in STANZA 1?

3.1 What different things can ‘light’ that shines through the paper represent?

3.2. What is the importance of the modal verb ‘could’?

4.What happens between STANZA 2 and STANZA 3?

4.1. What does this method help the poet to do?

4.2. What is an extended metaphor?

4.3. Can you add anything else?

5. STANZA 4. What is personification?

5.1. What does Dharker personify?

5.2. Why is this method an effective way of critiquing humans?

5.3. Can you add anything?

6. STANZA 5. What is the problem with borders?

6.1. Who decides on where on borders should be?

6.2. Why does Dharker make the sum shine through maps – what is she trying to say?

6.3. What should borders be?

6.4. What else could you comment on in this stanza?

7. STANZA 67.1. How can money be used to control?7.2. Can you give another reason?

7.3. What is the meaning of the simile: ‘credit cards might fly our lives like kites.’

7.4. Can you give a 2nd interpretation?

8. STANZAS 7 and 8.

8.1. What is the light now shining through?

8.2. Why does Dharker want the light to shine there?

8.3. What does the light represent here?

8.4. Can you add anything else?

9. STANZAS 9 and 10. 9.1. What is the last type of Tissue Dharker refers to?

9.2. What are the connotations of skin? This is asking you what different things we think of, feel, imagine when we read the word ‘skin.’

9.3. Why does Dharker isolate the last line?

9.4. Could you give a different reason?

10.Complete the following sentences adding your own ideas. Look at the prompts in blue below.

1. Humans are presented as powerful in this poem because…

2. Humans are presented as not so powerful because…

Religious texts, morally educate, nature, control movement, fragile, have built big buildings.