Living Space by Imtiaz Dharker (WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
Written by: Helen Cunningham
Reviewed by: Kate Lee
What is the poem about?
Published in 1997, ‘Living Space’ was written by the Pakistan-born British poet Imitaz Dharker. Imitiaz has suggested that the poem describes the slums of Mumbai in India, though this is not directly stated in the poem. As the title suggests, the poem describes someone’s living space, or home. The poem conveys the fragility of these homes but more importantly, it celebrates them as a testament to human resilience.
Language, structure and form revision | What happens in the poem? |
Language:
Form:
Structure:
| Stanza One
Stanza Two
Stanza Three
|
Poems for comparison:
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Key words
Context: | Marginalised communities | Slums of Mumbai | Social inequality | Human spirit |
Themes: | Inequality | Resilience | Faith |
Poem analysis
'Living Space' by Imtiaz Dharker
There are just not enough
straight lines. That
is the problem.
Nothing is flat
or parallel. Beams
balance crookedly on supports
thrust off the vertical.
Nails clutch at open seams.
The whole structure leans dangerously
towards the miraculous.
Into this rough frame,
someone has squeezed
a living space
and even dared to place
these eggs in a wire basket,
fragile curves of white
hung out over the dark edge
of a slanted universe,
gathering the light
into themselves,
as if they were
the bright, thin walls of faith
Language
“Living space” refers to someone’s home, but this description lacks the comfort and softness that the notion of a home evokes; the “living space” is both a place to live and a place that is alive
The present tense renders a series of vivid, cinematic images of the scene
The use of plosive alliteration with enjambment in “Beams”/”balance” emphasises the precariousness of the structure
The adjective “miraculous” has religious connotations, juxtaposed with the previous imagery of instability — a sense of awe at the resourcefulness of the city’s inhabitants is highlighted
Verbs are used to convey the precariousness of the structure: “leans”, “thrust”, “clutch”
The imagery of “eggs in a wire basket” could suggest the delicate nature of human life
Religious connotations of “gathering the light” and “thin walls of faith”
Structure
In the first stanza, mostly short statements are used. In contrast, stanza two and three consist of a single sentence, creating a more fluid rhythm which alters the tone
Short sentences reflect the lack of space and physical awkwardness
Enjambment reflects the idea of things spilling over
The first stanza focuses on describing the physical while the ending is more abstract
Form
There is no regular rhyme scheme but there are rhymes in (“Beams”, “seems”, “space”, ”place”, “white” light”. In this way, the rhymes reflect the irregularity of the space, providing just enough to hold the poem together phonologically, in the same way that the nails only just hold the structure together
Overview of themes
Themes | Key quotations | Language, form and structure |
Inequality | “Nothing is flat
“hung out over the dark edge | The juxtaposition of “flat” and “parallel” highlights the absence of order or symmetry. The subtext of “or parallel” suggests that while some live in safety and spaciousness, others exist in a parallel universe
|
Resilience | “Beams balance crookedly on supports thrust off the vertical. “Into this rough frame, “and even dared to place | The verbs “thrust” and “clutch” are linked to animate subjects, suggesting human effort and tenacity in creating a living space in a hostile environment. “Nails clutch at open seams” is a mixed metaphor indicating both the inhabitants' vulnerability and how they grasp for opportunities to elevate their social status
|
Faith | “The whole structure leans dangerously towards the miraculous” “these eggs in a wire basket, “gathering the light “as if they were | The persistence of the structure appears miraculous; however, the word “miraculous” also alludes to religion and faith. Despite the harsh reality of life for some, humans manage to endure The eggs may symbolise life and its fragility; they are hanging precariously in their own structure, just as the inhabitant’s life hangs precariously in their cramped living space. Eggs also symbolise new life, which could be linked to optimism Through personification, the eggs are presented as actively “gathering” light unto “themselves”. The rhyming words “white” and “light” connote to religion, suggesting that the people’s faith serves as a source of resilience
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Historical and literary context
Imtiaz Dharker was born in Pakistan in 1954 before moving to Scotland as a child
She is a poet, documentary filmmaker and artist who spends her time between the UK and India
She has won a number of awards for her poetry including the Queen’s Gold Medal
She describes herself as a “Scottish Muslim Calvinist”
Her mixed heritage has greatly influenced her work, which includes the themes of home, cultural displacement, faith, conflict, freedom and gender politics
‘Living Space’ was published in 1997, in a collection called Postcards from god:
Dharker has said that ‘Living Space’ is about the slums of Mumbai where an estimated 41% of the city’s population live in informal settlements
The slums in Mumbai are among the largest in the world and people living in them face overcrowding and a lack of sanitisation
Despite the many challenges, there is often a strong community spirit in the slums, as well as opportunities to work and raise families
Comparing poems
Look at this exam-style question about ‘Living Space’
How does Imitaz Dharker present people in the poem ‘Living Space’? Choose one other poem from the anthology in which the poet also writes about people. Compare the way the poet presents people in your chosen poem with the way Imtiaz Dharker presents them in ‘Living Space’. In your answer you should:
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How you could approach this question:
Thesis/Essay introduction: Both poems explore the impact of social inequality and its impact on people. While ‘Living Space’ conveys an optimistic view of resilience through the power of faith, hope and human spirit, ‘London’ presents a pessimistic portrayal of misery and inescapable oppression. Dharker uses vivid visual motifs to symbolise the fragility and strength of slum inhabitants, whereas Blake captures the suffering of different people through their cries, sighs and curses. Each of the poets uses structure to reflect the themes of their poems, but their approaches are very different. | |
Similarities | Differences |
Both poets explore the impact of social inequality and focus on the injustices and hardships faced by marginalised individuals within their respective societies | Despite the challenging conditions, Dharker’s ‘Living Space’ is optimistic in its presentation of the power of faith, hope and human spirit. By contrast, Blake’s ‘London’ is a pessimistic poem depicting misery with no apparent means of escape |
Both poets use powerful imagery to portray the harsh realities of social inequality and the impact it has on human lives. The imagery compels the reader to consider the injustices within societal structures | Dharker presents a highly visual scene using physical structures as motifs for the inhabitants’ fragility and strength. Blake, meanwhile, describes the sounds of different people to signify their suffering |
Both poets use structure to reflect their themes. Line breaks and stanza breaks are used to create pauses and shifts in tone, allowing for a deeper contemplation of the societal issues depicted in the poems | ‘London’ uses a four quatrain structure with a regular rhyme scheme to reflect the inescapable oppression. In contrast, ‘Living Space’ uses a free verse form mirroring the precarious lives of the slum inhabitants |
Thesis/Essay introduction: Both poets depict people’s resilience in the face of adversity; in ‘Living Space’, the challenge comes from the socio-economic situation, but in ‘Cozy Apologia’, it is the extreme weather. In Dharker’s poem, she presents a living space made against formidable odds; in Dove’s poem, the couple’s love for each other prepares them to weather any storm. | |
Similarities | Differences |
Both poets use the backdrop of external adversity to convey the resilience and strength of their respective subjects. Both highlight the human capacity to find solace and perseverance in the face of adversity | While Dharker’s poem illustrates the challenges faced by inhabitants in makeshift dwellings amidst social inequality, Dove’s poem explores the resilience of a couple facing an incoming hurricane |
Both poets depict a domestic scene and the sanctuary it offers. Dharker’s poem explores the humble home of individuals in makeshift spaces and similarly, Dove’s poem unfolds within a couple’s home while they await the storm | In ‘Living Space’, the precarious structure of the building, barely held together, reflects the poverty of its inhabitants. Conversely, in ‘Cozy Apologia’, the couple have possessions that signify their affluence and comfort, which is juxtaposed with the stark conditions in Dharker’s poem |
Predicted exam questions to prepare for
Compare the ways poets explore the theme of place in ‘Living Space’ and in one other poem from the anthology.
Compare the ways poets present faith in ‘Living Space’ and in one other poem from the anthology.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When writing your response, you should refer to writers’ techniques to explain how the meanings you infer are shaped and communicated by the poets. However, be sure to avoid “feature spotting”. In other words, if the poet has used alliteration, explain the effect of this device and what it contributes to the meaning and to your interpretation.
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