carpet weavers, Morocco - carol rumens

Question 1

what is the central assertion of carpet weavers, Morocco?

Answer 1

an exploration of a particular culture and religion (islamic) and its examination of its positives and negatives. not in an argumentative manner though.

Question 2

what are the key themes in the poem by carol rumens?

Answer 2

• child labour or work/school
• cultural differences
• false beauty / illusions
• religion

Question 3

how does rumens explore cultural differences in her poem?

Answer 3

• she uses child labour to comment on the differences
• and sympathy is evoked from the stark contrast and comparisons between the worlds (worlds meaning diff countries)
• compares the children working to TV, linking things back to ‘normal’ children things. makes western reader feel bad, increases respect for them
• religion by linking children’s work to religion and the carpets they pray on, that the children are making

Question 4

how does rumens explore false beauty / illusions in carpet-weaver, Morocco?

Answer 4

• children may look beautiful and wear beautiful things but they are tearing themselves up while they work
• reader feels sympathy toward them
• work takes away their childhood

Question 5

what forces the reader to appreciate the beauty of the carpets the children are making?

Answer 5

• the work and time they put into it

- religion and the beauty of it

Question 6

cultural differences quotes in carpet-weavers, Morocco?

Answer 6

• “at the loom of another world” play on words, metaphor exaggerates cultural differences. other world is where they stand bc they are isolated
• “watch their flickering knots like television” their entertainment is work, westerners have TV. comparison. simile - dont have TV
• weave very quickly “flickering”

Question 7

religion quotes in carpet-weavers, Morocco?

Answer 7

• “the garden of islam grows” the design of carpet, as they weave more it grows
• “servants of the mosque” diff ppl spread the carpet, used for prayer
• “it will give when heaped with prayer” yield to the knees, also means it could give something back to them (religious reasons)
• carpet symbolises religion

Question 8

how does rumens explore work/school in carpet-weavers, Morocco?

Answer 8

• implications that children aren’t in school, diff from western world where its law etc
• children are working while we watch TV
• the title would normally imply its an adults job but the second word says “children” and implies they are working

Question 9

work/school quotes in carpet-weavers, Morocco?

Answer 9

• “they will lace the dark-rose vines of the tree-tops” imagery, metaphor of islam running through their veins. implies them weaving their heart and soul into the carpets, gives life to the carpet
• “the school of days” what they do, it is their school and future etc, again diff views of school and life from both worlds

Question 10

what is the structure like in carpet-weavers and what does is it say?

Answer 10

rigid, very uniform

- relates to preciseness in carpets.