New
New
Year 10
AQA

Analysing ideas of identity and heritage in Mundair's 'Name Journeys'

I can explain how Mundair uses metaphorical language and a subversion of the ghazal form to express ideas of identity and heritage in ‘Name Journeys’.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Analysing ideas of identity and heritage in Mundair's 'Name Journeys'

I can explain how Mundair uses metaphorical language and a subversion of the ghazal form to express ideas of identity and heritage in ‘Name Journeys’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Mundair uses powerful verbs to describe the experience of isolation felt by the speaker.
  2. Mundair may use the metaphor “woven tapestries” to refer to how our identities are created by ‘threads’ of life.
  3. Mundair uses a variation of the ghazal form to, arguably, connect to Indian heritage and thematic links.
  4. Mundair may have varied the ghazal form to comment on ideas of identity, heritage and belonging.

Common misconception

Subverting a poetic form means you are being critical of it.

Subverting a poetic form means that you are in some way commenting on either the context of the form or the general theme of the form and using that to enhance the meaning of the poem.

Keywords

  • Woven - made or constructed by interlacing threads or strips of material or other elements into a whole

  • Metaphorically - describing something by means of an image or symbol

  • Ghazal - originally an Arabic verse form dealing with loss and romantic love consisting of rhymed couplets

  • Discordant - (of sounds) harsh and jarring because of a lack of harmony

You may wish to spend more time considering concepts of free verse and enjambment if the students are unfamiliar or unsure of these.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the AQA World and Lives anthology for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Free verse means a poem with...
a regular structure
Correct answer: an irregular structure
four stanzas
Q2.
Enjambment is...
the use of words or figurative language to create vivid pictures
Correct answer: the continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line, stanza or couplet
a pause or a break in a line of verse, often marked by punctuation
Q3.
To describe something as 'woven' means...
Correct answer: made or constructed by interlacing threads
made by artificial means
made by collecting fragments and creating a whole
Q4.
To describe something 'metaphorically' means...
to describe it literally
Correct answer: to describe it by means of a symbol
to describe it with powerful and vivid language
Q5.
Which of these is an accurate summary of Mundair's 'Name Journeys'?
The speaker moves from Manchester to India and feels isolated.
Correct answer: The speaker moves from India to Manchester and feels isolated.
The speaker moves from India to Manchester and feels accepted.
Q6.
By referring to Hindu deities in Mundair's 'Name Journeys', the speaker is arguably...
trying to show their piety
Correct answer: trying to show a connection to their Indian heritage
trying to sever a connection to their Indian heritage

6 Questions

Q1.
Discordant means...
Correct answer: having a harsh sound
having a balanced sound
having a pleasing sound
Q2.
Match the verb with the connotation.
Correct Answer:"toiled",hard work; difficult

hard work; difficult

Correct Answer:"dulled",lessened and weakened

lessened and weakened

Correct Answer:"chastened",feels humbled and punished

feels humbled and punished

Q3.
A ghazal generally uses...
free verse
Correct answer: rhymed couplets
unrhymed couplets
Q4.
The use of free verse in Mundair's 'Name Journeys' could reflect...
the sense of freedom the speaker feels in Manchester
the sense of belonging the speaker feels in Manchester
Correct answer: the sense of disconnection the speaker feels in Manchester
Q5.
The use of enjambment in Mundair's 'Name Journeys' may represent which of the following?
Correct answer: the speaker's continued feelings of isolation
Correct answer: the connection between the speaker's identity and heritage
the speaker's continued feelings of belonging
the searation between the speaker and their identity
Q6.
Which of the following may have been Mundair's reasons for creating a variation on the ghazal form?
Correct answer: to show the speaker's lack of belonging
Correct answer: to show the speaker's connection to their heritage
to represent the speaker's return to India
to represent the speaker's acceptance of their new home