these are the times we live in Flashcards
(31 cards)
what is the poem about
explores paranoia and stereotyping people faced after 9/11
themes
immigration stereotypes, identity and suspicion, prejudice
tone
sarcasm, frustration, critique of modern social attitudes
how is poem structured
free verse, with fragmented and conversational lines mimicking a checklist
significance of repetition of ‘your name’
highlights how names can be a point of scrutiny and a tool for profiling in a paranoic world
what does the poem say about identity
shows how its reduced to stereotypes, assumptions and invasive questions in a society dominated by fear and suspicion
message
critiques how fear-based systems and prejudice dehumanize individuals and reduce them to a set of assumptions
meaning of ‘we know you are clean, but not clean enough’
reflects persistent suspicion faced by individuals- suggesting no one is every fully trusted
how is irony used
seemingly polite questions mask the invasive and accusatory undertones, emphasizing societal mistrust
intentions
reflects the anxieties, fears, and complexities of modern life, particularly in a world marked by heightened security, mistrust, and prejudice. It seeks to shed light on the ways in which personal freedoms and identities are scrutinized under societal and political surveillance. Dharker critiques the dehumanization that accompanies these times while inviting the reader to reflect on their complicity in perpetuating or challenging such norms.
Irony and Satire
The poem employs irony to critique the absurdity of hyper-surveillance and the reduction of individuals to categories or data.
Metaphors
The act of “emptying pockets of certainty” serves as a metaphor for the erosion of trust and security in modern life.
“Unbutton your identity” metaphorically illustrates the stripping away of individuality under systemic scrutiny.
Voice and Perspective
The second-person address implicates the reader, making them reflect on their experiences and responsibilities.
The speaker’s critical perspective provides a lens through which the reader views societal norms.
when was this poem published
shortly after the 9/11 attacks
what does the title refer to
the post nine eleven period where xenophobia increased and how being a muslim woman going through controls was challenging
first word has what effect
by using second person voice, brings the reader into this situation
why hand over instead of give
hand over sounds more like surrendering
the full stop in the first verse and then a dangling word He
creates tension as there is a caesura and then one single word so reader needs to stop
looks is repeated often symbolising how
reflects how initial appearances are sometimes all that we’re judged on
reading you backwards gives impression
that the attempt to realy know the speaker is going to fail as the officer doesn’t know anything about her
in second stanza, it starts with you COULD be offended - why could and not ARE
it suggests that it has already happened so often that she is resigning herself to these situations
the third stanza starts with a metaphor, what does the shrinking word symbolise
shows the power dynamic in the situation where the officers hand as it goes over the passport symbolises his power while the tiny passport is the woman’s identity
you can see his mind working is a shift from
woman’s perspective to officers
in the third stanza, her pronoun changes
from she to it which dehumanises her as she becomes the passport the officer holds and nothing more
