Amanda!

Robin Klein
Hunch- raise shoulders and bend the
upper portion of body in forward position

Slouching- sitting in a lazy, drooping way

In these lines, Amanda, a little girl is being

scolded and instructed by her mother for
her actions.

Amanda is advised to stop biting her nails,

which is a bad habit. Amanda is also told
to sit up straight without bending her
shoulders because her mother wants her
to sit in the right posture.

The last word 'Amanda!' is used with an

exclamation mark, which shows the
irritation and frustration of Amanda's
mother.

Languid reluctant to exert itself.

Mermaid - an imaginary sea creature

having a woman's head and body with a
fish's tail instead of legs

Drifting- a slow and steady movement

Amanda is lost in her world of

imagination while her mother is
instructing her. In her world, she
imagine- she is a mermaid who lives
alone in the beautiful green sea. She
imagines that as a mermaid she would
move in the waves of the sea. She
believes that as a mermaid, her would be
peaceful and relaxing.
Tidy- arrange neatly and in order

In these lines, Amanda is being inquired about

her work.

In these lines, Amanda's mother is asking about

whether she has finished her homework and
whether she has cleaned her room. Amanda is
also reminded that she was told to clean her
shoes.

Orphan- a child whose parents are dead;

Roaming - to move about aimlessly, especially
over a wide area

Hushed-very quiet and still

Again, Amanda is not paying any attention to her

mother. Amanda is in her world of imagination.
She imagines that she is an orphan child who is
freely roaming around on the street. She has no
shoes on her feet and is making patterns on the
soft dust with her quiet and bare feet. She is
loving the silence and freedom to do anything in
her world of imagination.
 Acne common skin disease characterised
by pimples, especially on

In these lines, Amanda is instructed by

her mother to not to eat chocolates. She is
reminded that eating chocolates had
previously caused her acne (pimples).

However, as Amanda is lost in her own

thoughts, she is not paying attention to
her mother. So, her mother strictly asks
her to listen to what is being told to her.

Rapunzel is the name of a girl in a

German fairy tale who was made to live
alone in a high tower and had very
long, beautiful golden hair. She was
held captive by a witch who used to
come up to the tower by climbing her
long hair; Tranquil-free from

any trouble or anxiety, to be in a

peaceful state of mind.

Amanda is still in her world of

imagination. Now, she dreams of herself
as Rapunzel (character of a German fairy
tale) who lived alone in a tower. As Rapunzel, she will not have to worry
about anything and her life would be calm and peaceful in the tower. She
emphasises that unlike Rapunzel, she would never let her hair down and
permit anyone to come to her in the tower.
 Sulking to be upset about something;
Nagged - to irritate someone by
complaining about his or her habits
again and again.
In these lines,Amanda is not reacting
on her mother's instructions. It seems
that she is annoyed due to constant
instructions.

Amanda's mother is asking her to

stop being upset and moody. She said
that her (Amanda) upset behaviour
will show anyone that she is
disturbed due to her mother's
constant instructions.

About the Poet

Robin Klein is an Australian author celebrated for her writings for children.
She was born on 28th February 1936 in New South Wales and now resides
near Melbourne. She had her first short story published at the age of sixteen.
Several of her books have been listed for CBCA Children’s Book of the Year
Award. Robin Klein has now had more than forty books published. Many have
been shortlisted for the Australian Children’s Book of the Year Award,
including People Might Hear You (1984), Seeing Things (1984), Hating Alison
Ashley (1985), Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left (1986). In 1991 Robin
Klein was awarded the Dromkeen Medal for her significant contribution to the
appreciation and development of children’s literature in Australia.

Robin was the recipient of an honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Letters - Honoris

Causa), from the University of Newcastle in 2004.

Theme

The theme of Robin Klein’s poem “Amanda!” is childhood innocence and the
challenges of maturing. The poem tells the story of a little girl named Amanda
as she faces the difficulties of growing up when her mother expects her to
behave responsibly and she desires to escape from the restrictions put on her.
Amanda, who is constantly pointed out by her mother for making mistakes
wishes to be free like a bird. She represents all teenagers who go through this.
Summary

The poem ‘Amanda!’ describes the life of a teenage girl named Amanda whose
mother is always nagging her for her mistakes. She is pointed out for biting
her nails, not sitting in the right posture, being lazy, eating chocolates, not
cleaning her room and shoes, and also not doing her homework, not listening
to her mother, sitting in a lazy manner, not looking at her and being moody.

To escape this harassment, Amanda imagines herself as a mermaid who lives

a calm and relaxing life in the beautiful green sea; she then imagines herself
to be an orphan; then, making the patterns of her bare feet on a beach living
a peaceful life and of being Rapunzel, (a character from a fairy tale) in a huge
tower where she will be alone, live a peaceful life and never allow anyone to
come in.

The mother asks her to stop being moody because she doesn’t want anyone
to blame her for harassing her own daughter. All this while, there is no
reaction from Amanda’s side.

Read the stanza given below and choose the correct option.

Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!

Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!

Stop that slouching and sit up straight,

Amanda!

a) Fill in the blank with suitable words.

The listener seems to be oblivious to her surroundings. This shows that she
is a ………………. and suffers from ……………… .

(b) What is the tone of the speaker when they talk to Amanda?

(c) Complete the statement: The listener is biting her nails because
………………………. which shows her ………………… personality.

(i) she has a bad habit of biting her nails; nervous

(ii) she has no work to do; idle

(iii) she is provoking her mother, aggressive

(iv) she is an ill-mannered girl, poor

(d) Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines in 40 words.

Ans. (a) daydreamer and absentmindedness.

(b) The tone of the parent is commanding, instructing, and nagging.

(c) (i) she has a bad habit of biting them; nervous

(d) The poet has used simple, everyday conversational language to

showcase an adult-child relationship.

Poetic devices like alliteration in ‘Stop that slouching and sit up

straight’ and anaphora in ‘Don’t bite,’ and

‘Don’t hunch’ add to the tense situation.

Read the stanza given below and choose the correct option.

(I am an orphan, roaming the street.

I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.

The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.) [CBSE Question Bank]

(a) The tone of the given lines is ………………… .

(i) analytical (ii) despairing (iii) peaceful (iv) nervous

(b) Read the statements A and B given below, and choose the option that
correctly evaluates these statements.

Statement A – The figure ‘I’ imagines a less than realistic view of being an
orphan.

Statement B – The figure ‘I’ does not like the speaker.

(i) A is true, B is false, according to the extract.

(ii) A is true, B cannot be clearly inferred from the extract.

(iii) A cannot be clearly inferred from the extract, B is false.

(iv) A is true and can be inferred from the poem, B is true too.

(c) The golden silence is contrasted with the .............................. .

(i) chaos of the street (ii) constant instructions received

(iii) sweetness of freedom(iv) hushed, bare feet

(d) The rhyme scheme ‘aaa’ in the above extract is followed in all other stanzas
of the poem that are written in parenthesis, i.e. (). Why?

Read the reasons given below, and choose the option that lists the most
accurate reasoning:
1. It shows the simplicity of the child’s thoughts.

2. It reflects the harmony and rhythm of the child’s inner world.

3. It mirrors a child’s expression.

4. It highlights the poet’s aesthetic sensibility.

(i) 1 and 4 (ii) 1 and 2 (iii) 2 and 3 (iv) 3 and 4

(e) Pick the option that lists the usage of the word ‘pattern’, as in the extract
above.

(i) That is a lovely pattern for a wallpaper.

(ii) He decided to wear a patterned shirt to the party.

(iii) Poetry is a form of pattern making.

(iv) She patterned her hair after her favourite celebrity

(f) Which option completes the popular adage given below?

.............................. silence is gold.

(i) Precious are words for (ii) Speech is silver

(iii) Silver is the tongue (iv) Ideas may be precious but

(g) A transferred epithet is a literary device where the modifier or epithet is

transferred from the noun it is meant to describe to another noun in the
sentence.

Based on the given definition of ‘transferred epithet’, choose the option that
lists an example of transferred epithet.

(i) soft dust (ii) hushed (bare) feet

(iii) freedom (is) sweet (iv) silence (is) golden

(h) Which image corresponds to what Amanda, is doing in this extract?

Ans. (a) (iii) peaceful

(b) (ii) A is true, B cannot be clearly inferred from the extract.

(c) (ii) constant instructions received

(d) (iii) 2 and 3

(e) (iv) She patterned her hair after her favourite celebrity.

(f) (ii) Speech is silver

(g) (ii) hushed (bare) feet

(h) (ii) option 2

Read the stanza given below and choose the correct option.

Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!

Remember your acne, Amanda!

Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you, Amanda!

(I am Rapunzel, I have not a care; life in a tower is tranquil and rare;

I’ll certainly never let down my bright hair!)

(a) Fill the blank with suitable words as you deem fit.

The tone of the speaker in the above stanza is …………………… .

(b) What is the listener’s reaction to being constantly scolded?

(c) How is Amanda going to be different from Rapunzel?

(i) Rapunzel lived away from her family.

(ii) A prince is going to rescue her like Rapunzel.

(iii) Amanda is also going to be in a high tower.

(iv) Amanda would never let her hair down.

(d) Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines in 40 words.

Ans. (a) annoying and nagging.

(b) Amanda longs for tranquillity and a break from this constant scolding by
imagining herself in a distant tower all alone like Rapunzel.

(c) (iv) Amanda would never let down her hair.

(d) The poet uses parenthesis to give us additional details about Amanda’s
reaction to constant nagging. She compares herself to Rapunzel (allusion);
assonance in ‘please look at me when I’m speaking,’ consonance in ‘life in a
tower is tranquil’ and repetition of ‘Amanda’ make the language highly
impassioned and effective.

Read the stanza given below and choose the correct option.

Stop that sulking at once, Amanda!

You’re always so moody, Amanda!

Anyone would think that I nagged at you,

Amanda!

(a) Is the accusation that Amanda is a moody girl right? Give a reason to
support your answer.

(b) What is the significance of the use of poetic devices in the given lines from
the poem? Does the punctuation

play any significant role too? Answer in about 40 words.

(c) Choose the correct theme of the poem Amanda.

(i) The battle between daydreaming and parental expectations.

(ii) The battle between expectations of parents and children.

(iii) The difficulties of growing up.

(iv) The story of a little girl named Amanda.

(d) Identify the type of rhyme scheme used in the given lines of the poem.

Ans. (a) No, for Amanda, daydreaming is an escape route from the constant
nagging by her parent.

(b) The poet has made good use of poetic devices to show the parent’s guilt for
constantly harassing Amanda: alliteration in ‘Stop that sulking,’ and
repetition (the word ‘Amanda’ has been repeated). The use of exclamation
marks is to emphasize the frustration that the parent vents out on her child.

(c) (ii) the battle between expectations of parents and children

(d) The rhyme scheme in the given lines is ‘aaba.’

THINKING ABOUT THE POEM

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

Ans. I think Amanda is a teenager, that is, around 12 or 13. She has acne on
her face. Usually, boys or girls at this age have them on their faces.

2. Who do you think is speaking to her?

Ans. It is either her mother or her father speaking to her.

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

Ans. Stanzas 2, 4 and 6 are given in parenthesis because they are not spoken
by the speaker. Hence, there is a change in narration. These stanzas reflect
the thoughts of a day- dreaming girl, that is, Amanda.

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?

Ans. In stanzas 2, 4 and 6, the speaker is Amanda. In stanza 2, the speaker

is Amanda in the form of a mermaid, in stanza 4 she is in the form of an
orphan and in stanza 6, she is in the form of a fairy. She does not listen to
the speaker in stanzas 1, 3, 5 and 7 as she is a day-dreaming girl.

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

Ans. If Amanda were a mermaid, she could move about in the green sea
blissfully.

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

Ans. No, Amanda is not an orphan, wandering in the street. It is clear in

stanza 4. She says so because she wants to have freedom which perhaps she
does not have to be a parental child.

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

Rapunzel?

Ans. Rapunzel is a character taken from a fairy story. She is a beautiful girl
with long hair, who is imprisoned in a tall tower by a witch. In the story, a
handsome prince comes and is able to climb to the top of the tower to meet
her. He calls out to her. "Rapunzel. Rapunzel, let down your long hair.”
Amanda wants to be up in the tower like Rapunzel because she wants to live
in peace. She wants to enjoy tranquillity by being all alone. Unlike Rapunzel,
she has no intentions of letting down her hair or letting anyone up to join her
in the tower.

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

Ans. The girl yearns for freedom. She wants to lead her life the way she likes.
Perhaps, she does not get freedom in her house. That is why, in her day-
dreams, she imagines her to be free and charming.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What message does the poet want to give through the poem ‘Amanda’?

Ans. The poet wants to convey that parents in their endeavour to make their
children well-behaved, mannerly having good habits, give them too many
instructions or nag (always finding fault) them. They should adopt positive
measures, acceptable to children. Otherwise, they will stop listening to them
and indulge in daydreaming as Amanda did.

2. How was Amanda behaving when the poem starts? What did the
speaker ask her not to do?

Ans. When the poem beings, we found that Amanda was biting her nails. She
was hunching her shoulders. She was sitting in a slouching posture. That is
why the speaker asked her to behave normally. He asked her not to bite her
nails and hunch her shoulders. She should sit up straight.

3. Is the purpose of someone constantly giving instructions to Amanda

being fulfilled? Explain.

Ans. No, Amanda sulks and becomes moody when her mother gives her too
many instructions.

She does not listen to her mother and does not care to follow them, but she
can't dare to ignore them either, so she sulks. Parents in their endeavour to
make their children well-behaved, give them too many instructions.

4. Amanda imagines herself to be Rapunzel, yet would not like to do what

all she did. Identify and state the reasons for her decision.

Ans. Amanda wants to be Rapunzel because she wants to live a peaceful life
in a tower, where no one gives any instruction, and she doesn't have to do any
work. But she doesn't want to escape with a prince like Rapunzel. She never
wants to escape and leave such a peaceful atmosphere, with no instructions
and no work to do.
5. What message does the poet want to give through the poem, 'Amanda'?

Ans. The poet wants to convey that parents in their endeavour to make their
children well- behaved, and well-mannered give them too many instructions
or nag (always finding fault) them. They should adopt a more appealing
approach to 'reform' their children. Otherwise, they will stop listening to them
and indulge in day-dreaming as Amanda did.

6. Who was Amanda? What idea do you form of her through the poem?

Ans. Amanda was a little school-going girl. She seems to love fairy tales,
stories like Rapunzel and mermaids. She does not like too many instructions
or nagging which makes her sulk and become moody. This makes her slip
into a world of fantasy where life seems to be more pleasant.

7. Why does she dream to be an orphan?

Ans. She thinks orphans lead a care-free life. There is no one to pester them
with instructions. They can wander in a street and make patterns in the soft
dust with their bare feet. They don't have to clean the shoes or room or do the
homework.

8. How is Amanda seen behaving when the poem starts? What does the
speaker ask her not to do?

Ans. When the poem begins, we find that Amanda is biting her nails. She is
hunching her shoulders. She is sitting in a slouching posture. That is why,
the speaker asks her to behave normally. He asks her not to bite her nails
and hunch her shoulders. She should sit up straight.

9. What does Amanda say, "I am Rapunzel"? What does she promise not
to do?

Ans. Rapunzel was a beautiful girl with long hair. She was locked up in a
tower by a witch. In her imagination, Amanda thinks herself to be like
Rapunzel who led a peaceful life. She promises never to let down her bright
hair.

10. What is the central idea of the poem?

Ans. The central idea of the poem is that children love freedom. They do not
want any restrictions on their activities. Secondly, they have a dream world
of their own. They like to spend most of their time in that dream world. But
the elders are always destroying that dream world by ordering them around.

11. How would you characterise the speaker in the poem 'Amanda!"? List
any two qualities, supporting the reason of your choice, with evidence
from the poem.
(Competency-based Question) (CBSE Question Bank)

Ans. The speaker is a perfectionist and a nagging mother. She wants her child
to learn social etiquettes and present herself in a socially acceptable manner.
At the same time, she is afraid of how society would react to know that the
mother is constantly nagging her child.

12. 'Amanda is alone but not lonely in the world she envisions.' Justify
the statement with reference to any one image she pictures in her mind.
(CBSE Question Bank)

Ans. Amanda wants to live alone and away from her parents' dos and don'ts.
She imagines herself as a mermaid who is drifting happily in the sea. She
envisions herself enjoying her solitude, whereas a lonely person feels sad and
upset. That's why, it is said that she wants to live alone and not lonely.

13. What is the role of punctuation in language? Why has the poet used
the exclamation mark after Amanda? Comment on the title of the poem.
(Competency-based Question)

Ans. Punctuation is an important part of language. It is used to create sense,

clarity and stress in sentences. It is used to structure and organise the
writing. In the poem, the exclamation mark is used after Amanda to show the
mother's surprise on seeing Amanda. Amanda is a sulky and moody girl which
upsets the mother.

14. Why is Amanda forbidden to eat chocolate? How does Amanda behave
when she is addressed by the speaker?

Ans. Amanda already suffers from acne, a skin disease. If she eats chocolate,
it will I aggravate her problem further. That is why, she is asked not to eat
chocolate. When the speaker is addressing Amanda, all she does is to listen
without raising her face to look up. Her expression and her behaviour is like
a typical teenager.

15. Justify the poet's allusion to Rapunzel in 'Amanda'. (CBSE Sample

Paper, 2021)

Ans. It is justified as Rapunzel lived with a witch who was always vigilant on
her and had several rules to be followed. Amanda too, feels caged by the
impositions. She desires peace in isolation like Rapunzel had in her tower;
clarifying she will not let her hair down for anyone.

16. Comment on the tone of the speaker when he says, 'Will you please
look at me, I'm speaking to you, Amanda!'. (CBSE Sample Paper, 2022;
Term 2)
Ans. The tone of the speaker in the given line is irritated, frustrated, annoyed
and exasperated. Throughout the poem, the speaker's attitude towards
Amanda is very nagging. The speaker is one of the parents who is teaching
her how to be presentable and acceptable in the society. But in doing so, the
speaker is taking away the freedom and imagination of the child.

17. What kind of an image does “languid, emerald sea” evoke?

Ans. The phrase "languid, emerald sea" evokes an image of a calm, slow-
moving, and tranquil sea with a vibrant greenish-blue colour, suggesting a
peaceful and serene atmosphere.

18. List the things which Amanda’s mother doesn’t want her to do.

Ans. Amanda’s mother doesn’t want her to hunch her shoulders and bend
her body down. She stops her from eating chocolates as it would not be good
for her acne. She wants her to stop sulking as others would think that she is
being nagged by her mother

[Link] do you think is the significance of the exclamation mark in the

title of the poem ‘Amanda!’? [QB 2020-21]

Ans. The title of the poem ‘Amanda!’ has an exclamation mark in it to

emphasize the frustration that the mother of this school going girl named
Amanda is inflicting upon her. The poet has used this exclamation mark with
Amanda’s name throughout the poem just to make readers feel that Amanda’s
mother called out her name angrily.

[Link] reader sympathises with the speaker in the poem. Support this
opinion with a reason. [QB 2020-21]

Ans. The readers of the poem might sympathize with the speaker as she is
the mother of a school going girl named Amanda and a mother can never scold
her daughter for wrong reasons. Amanda has bad habits, so her mother wants
to correct her as an elder.

21What does the line “never let down my bright hair” tell us about
Amanda? [QB 2020-21]

Ans. The line “never let down my bright hair” tells us that Amanda longed for
freedom and privacy so much so that imagining herself as Rapunzel, she
wouldn’t let her hair down because she didn’t want anybody to come and
invade her privacy and freedom.
22. What three things does the speaker ask Amanda to do which she has
not done?

Ans:The speaker repeatedly instructs Amanda to complete her pending tasks.

She is told to finish her homework, tidy up her room, and clean her shoes.
These reminders reflect the everyday concerns of parents who want their
children to be responsible and disciplined. However, from Amanda’s
perspective, such constant instructions feel like nagging. This shows the
contrast between the adult’s expectations and the child’s longing for
independence.

23. How does Amanda describe her life as an orphan?

Ans:Amanda imagines that the life of an orphan is full of freedom and peace.
She thinks that an orphan has no one to control or pester them with endless
instructions. In her fantasy, she pictures herself roaming freely on the
streets, making patterns in the soft dust with her bare feet, and enjoying
the silence around her. For her, the silence is “golden” and the freedom is
“sweet.” These expressions clearly highlight her yearning for a carefree
existence, away from responsibilities and constant criticism. Through this
imagination, Amanda expresses her deep desire to escape from restrictions
and to live life on her own terms

24What picture do you form of Amanda’s mother/parents after reading

the poem ‘Amanda’?

Ans. Amanda’s mother seems to be an overprotective mother. She believes

that Amanda is still a girl and must live her life as her mother wants. Being a
girl, she needs constant tutoring and taking instructions from her. She should
be very careful the way she sits and stands. She should not bend down but
sit up straight. She forbids her eating chocolate as it would not be good for
her pimples. Her constant nagging leads her daughter far away from her.
Amanda escapes into the world of dreams imagining herself a mermaid, an
orphan or a fairy. She doesn’t look at her mother while she is speaking to her.
Amanda’s mother fails to understand why her daughter remains unhappy and
moody. She only asks her to stop sulking lest people should blame her mother
for nagging he
Long Answer Type Question

1. ‘Living with one’s head in the air’ is what Amanda epitomizes. Justify
with examples from the poem.

Ans. Instead of paying attention to the diktat of not biting her nails and sitting
upright, Amanda daydreams about an emerald sea where she is the sole
mermaid. Pensively, Amanda imagines herself a neglected urchin-cum-
orphan, patterning soft dust with unshod feet. Instead of hearing the
warnings about not eating the chocolate as it will bring on the acne, and listen
attentively, Amanda imagines she is Rapunzel, with long tresses. Amanda
imagines that like the fairy-story character, she will dwell in the tower quietly
and take care not to let down her hair lest the witch climbs up with its help.
Ultimately, Amanda is given an ultimatum to stop being moody and sulking,
whereas Amanda is simply daydreaming.

2. Escapism is one way to run away from harsh realities. Discuss in the
context of the poem 'Amanda'.

Ans. It is true that escapism is one way to run away from harsh realities. By
going through the whole poem, we come to know that Amanda's mother keeps
instructing her all the time. Amanda's mother's intention may be to discipline
the little girl and make her a mature person. But, children need love and a
caring attitude in their elders. Advice in the form of nagging leaves a very
harmful impression in the child's mind. The reality becomes harsh for them
and they try to escape these realities by indulging in their own fantasy world.

Here in this poem, the life of Amanda is frustrating, as she is forbidden to do

anything without seeking permission. Continuous instructions of her mother
and constant scoldings leave a very negative impact on a child's personality.

In such situation, Amanda adheres to a defence mechanism where she

imagines herself to be free and without parents so that she is not nagged. She
drifts into an imaginary situation to escape from the harsh realities of her life.
It is the mother's behaviour that is forcing her to do so. Thus, parents need
to understand that their child also requires a certain amount of freedom
which must be given to them.

[Link] the importance of proper upbringing with reference to the

poem Amanda by Robin Klein.

Answer: Upbringing plays an essential role in personality development of an

adult. Whenever we wish to admire or criticise someone, we question the
upbringing of that person. Robin Klein’s poem Amanda highlights the tension
in the ‘proper’ upbringing of a child. To instil good values and moral principles
in a growing child comes as a foremost duty for the parents. However, the
poem Amanda shows how a child feels trapped within the cluster of
instructions. Amanda is no less than a victim in this travesty. No proper space
is given to her creativity. She is instructed for everything. As a result, she feels
trapped and seeks an escape. Her imagination proves to be her escape and
also her defence against her nagging parents. Situation of Amanda is so worse
that she wishes to be an orphan, in order to get rid of her parents. She
imagines enacting various roles varying from mermaid to Rapunzel. Amanda
wishes to live alone and carefree. It is very important to understand the
situation of Amanda where her freedom is cut short by constant instructions
and guidelines. Proper balance should be maintained when dealing with such
delicate issues. Love and care should always be part of this two-way
transaction.

[Link] does Amanda tackle the nagging nature of her mother? Explain
with examples the poem.

Ans. In the poem, 'Amanda', the little girl named Amanda often escapes into
her own world. Her world of dreams give her the freedom and peace that she
seeks in reality where she is constantly nagged by her elders. Her mother
continuously instruct and scold her for her ill-manners and laziness. She is
asked not to bite her nails, not to eat chocolates, to clean her room and so on.
As Amanda's mother is giving her instructions, she is lost in her daydreams.
The persistence of Amanda's mother leave a harmful impression in her mind.
Her retreat, then, is her way of tackling her mother. It is her shield and
defence against the harsh realities that she goes through. In her reality, her
freedom is restricted,

Her need for freedom and peace, finds expression in her dreams where she
imagines a carefree and happy life as an orphan, mermaid and Rapunzel,
without her mother. Amanda may seem moody and upset, 1 her mother, but
is not really so. The nagging nature of her mother makes her escape into a
world away from the realities of her life.

[Link] the key points in the poem Amanda. What do you learn from it?
[CBSE2016]

Answer:Every child is special, and it requires a great deal of patience and love
to make them understand this. Parents should give proper space to children,
as they learn through experiences as well. Children do tend to learn certain
bad habits, to undo that requires great level of understanding and right
approach. One cannot teach their child everything in one day and expect them
to behave properly henceforth. It is natural for a childlike Amanda to seek
freedom at her place, to curb that freedom means to make her angry and
moody. Growing up of child should not be about dos and don’ts only. To have
nagging parents judging every action of child would do more harm than good.
Robin Klein points to the fact that Amanda is forbidden to do anything without
seeking permission. Everything she does it is corrected by her mother all the
time, she cannot perform a single thing according to her will. She can’t sit
lazily around; she can’t eat chocolate for that could cause acne. Life of
Amanda is very suffocating and limited. She yearns for freedom and choice.
Her mother doesn’t understand the fact that Amanda is innocent and naive,
she is too small to understand the benefits of advice. Only thing that matters
to Amanda’s mother is what society will make of Amanda. We witness the
miserable failure of parents when Amanda wishes to be an orphan so that she
could be free.

[Link] would you characterize the speaker in the poem ‘Amanda!’? List
any two qualities, supporting the reason of your choice, with evidence
from the poem.

Ans. The speaker in the poem "Amanda!" can be characterized as critical and
demanding.

1. Critical: The speaker repeatedly points out Amanda's flaws and

shortcomings, such as biting nails, slouching, eating chocolate, and
sulking. This critical tone is evident throughout the poem as the
speaker continually scolds Amanda.

2. Demanding: The speaker demands Amanda's attention and

compliance by using exclamation marks and questioning her actions,
such as asking if she finished her homework, tidied her room, or
cleaned her shoes. The tone is insistent, reflecting the speaker's
demanding nature.

[Link] up children/teenagers can be both a challenge and fun. How

far do you agree? Express your views with reference to Amanda’s life.

Ans:
Bringing up children, especially teenagers, is indeed both a challenge and a
source of joy. Teenagers are at a stage where they yearn for freedom and
individuality but still require guidance and discipline. In the poem Amanda,
we see this conflict very clearly. Amanda’s parent constantly reminds her to
do her homework, tidy her room, and maintain good posture. These repeated
instructions reflect the parent’s concern for her well-being and development.
At the same time, they become a challenge because Amanda perceives them
as restrictions and nagging.

Amanda escapes into her imagination—wishing to be a mermaid, an orphan,

or Rapunzel—because she longs for independence, peace, and freedom from
constant control. This shows the tension between parental authority and a
teenager’s desire for autonomy. However, despite these challenges, raising
children can also be rewarding, as parents witness their child’s growth,
creativity, and unique personality. Thus, Amanda’s life highlights the delicate
balance of love, discipline, and understanding needed in bringing up
teenagers.

8. As a teenager, Amanda records her frustration of being nagged by the

leader and expresses her concept of freedom. Imagining yourself as
Amanda, make a diary entry in about 100-120 words.

Monday, 28thApril, 2025 10:30 pm

Today I felt completely suffocated by the constant instructions at home. I am

always told to sit straight, finish my homework, tidy my room, and even clean
my shoes. Sometimes it feels as if every moment of my life is under
supervision. I long for peace and silence, where no one interrupts me. I often
imagine myself as an orphan, wandering freely on the streets, making
patterns in the dust with my bare feet, without anyone to nag me. The thought
of such freedom feels golden and sweet. If only I could live in a world where I
could breathe, dream, and simply be myself.

AMANDA

9) This is Calvin, a character from a comic strip created by Bill

Watterson. Do you think this might be something Amanda would say?
Why/ why not? Give reasons.

Ans. Amanda's tendency to escape into her imaginative worlds in the poem
suggests that she might resonate with the sentiment expressed by Calvin: "It's
not denial, I am just very selective about the reality I accept." This is because
Amanda uses her daydreams as a coping mechanism to deal with the constant
criticism and demands placed upon her by the speaker. She selectively
embraces the imaginative reality she creates to find solace and freedom from
the real world's pressures and negativity.

[Link] at the given image of a book cover. If the author, Jason Kotecki
were to ask a grown-up Amanda to help with his book by writing one of
the 8 secrets based on her experiences, what might she share? Elaborate
based on your understanding of the poem.

Ans. If Jason Kotecki were to ask a grown-up Amanda for her input on his
book "ESCAPE ADULTHOOD: 8 Secrets from childhood for the stressed-out
grown-up," she might share a secret related to the power of imagination and
the importance of retaining a childlike sense of wonder.

Amanda, based on her experiences in the poem, has a profound ability to

escape into her imagination as a means of finding solace and tranquillity
amidst the demands and criticisms of adulthood. She might emphasize the
value of setting aside time for daydreaming, creative thinking, and escaping
the stressors of daily life. Amanda could suggest that nurturing one's inner
child, allowing moments of imaginative play, and embracing a world of make-
believe can provide adults with a much-needed break from the pressures of
grown-up responsibilities.

In essence, Amanda's secret might revolve around the idea that retaining a
connection to one's childhood imagination can be a powerful tool for reducing
stress and finding moments of joy and relief in the midst of adult life's
challenges.

Literary devices:
Anaphora: Repeated use of a word at start of two or more lines (don’t bite…
don’t hunch)
Assonance: use of vowel sound ‘o’ (don’t hunch your shoulders)
Metaphor: use of word emerald sea for green colour of sea being similar to
the colour of emerald
Repetition: use of word ‘Amanda’
Imagery: drifting blissfully
Alliteration: ‘Stop that slouching and sit up straight’ – ‘s’ sound is being
repeated at the start of closely placed words.
Allusion: ‘mermaid’ is a well-known imaginary creature.

Literary devices:
Anaphora: Repeated use of a word at start of two or more lines (did you
finish….did you tidy)
Assonance: use of vowel sound ‘o’ (Thought, told, you, your, shoes)
Repetition: use of word ‘Amanda’
Metaphor: silence is golden – silence is said to be glorious like golden colour
freedom is sweet – freedom is said to be sweet in taste.

Literary devices:
Allusion: use of famous fairy tale character Rapunzel
Assonance: use of vowel sound ‘e’ and ‘o’ (Will you please look at me when
I’m speaking to you
Consonance: use of sound ‘r’ (I am Rapunzel; I have not a care …..Bright
hair)
Repetition: use of word ‘Amanda’
Literary Devices:
Alliteration: ‘Stop that sulking’ – ‘s’ sound is repeated at the start of closely
placed words
Repetition: use of word ‘Amanda’

Repetition

• The name ‘Amanda’ is repeated in the poem to emphasise the

restrictions imposed on Amanda by the adult speaker.

• Other repeated words by the adult speaker are ‘don’t’, ‘stop’ and ‘did’
which further emphasise the theme of control.

Allusion

• An allusion is an indirect reference to a person, place, thing, and idea.

In the poem, Amanda briefly refers to becoming a ‘mermaid’ and
‘Rapunzel’.

• A mermaid is a sea creature who is half-woman and half-fish and lives

in the sea.

• Rapunzel is a character from a fairy-tale.

• Amanda, in the poem, alludes to these figures to stress on her desire

to escape from her parents and live a life of freedom.

Alliteration

• The poem contains alliterative words to enhance the rhyme of the

poem. In the poem, ‘Stop that slouching and sit up straight’ and ‘stop
that sulking’ are examples of alliteration.

Metaphor

• The phrases ‘silence is golden’ and ‘freedom is sweet’ are examples of

metaphor. Klein draws an indirect comparison between different
things here.

• In ‘silence is golden’, silence is said to be as precious as gold.

• In ‘freedom is sweet’, freedom is said to be like a sweet-tasting fruit.

Anaphora

• Anaphora is a literary device wherein certain words are used at the

beginning of successive lines.

• The words ‘don’t bite’ ‘don’t hunch’, ‘did you finish’ and ‘did you tidy’
are examples of anaphora in the poem.
 • They further emphasise the nagging and controlling nature of the
adult speaker.

Transferred Epithet

• The phrase ‘hushed, bared feet’ is an example of transferred epithet in

the poem.

• In the phrase, Amanda’s feet aren’t ‘hushed’ or silent. Rather, the

phrase describes the silent way in which Amanda would make dust
patterns with her feet as a street orphan.