Meena Alexander | Birthplace | Analytical Study
Meena Alexander’s Poem ‘Birthplace’-An Analytical Study
“Birthplace” by Meena Alexander is a poem that explores the concept of identity and belonging in relation to one’s homeland. The poem delves into the complexities of returning to the “old country” and the struggle to find a sense of connection to it.
In easy language, the poem tells the story of someone who comes back to their ancestral homeland with certain expectations but finds that things are not as they thought. The person realizes that the roots they see are not their own and feels like an orphan, disconnected from the land they are supposed to call home.
The narrator reflects on their past, remembering a time when they were like stone, rigid and unfeeling. They recall sleeping on stone floors as a child, dreaming of birds and rivers. As they grew older, they transformed into a woman, but they felt like they had a hard exterior, like stone, and were unable to fully connect with their roots.
The poem contrasts the narrator’s experiences with their current state, where they are distant from the old country and feel like they have moved away from their past. They see a cat in the room, but they are far away, and their eyes feel like they are made of glass, lacking warmth and life.
When confronted with an old woman begging for food, the narrator turns away, feeling no familial connection because she is not their grandmother. This emphasizes the feeling of detachment and alienation from the people and the place they are supposed to belong to.
As the poem progresses, the narrator acknowledges their true identity as a woman with her own skin, blood, and heart. They assert their individuality and independence, no longer identifying with the rigidness of stone or the coldness of glass.
In the end, the poem by Meena Alexander portrays a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. The narrator realizes that they are a woman with their own unique identity, no longer defined solely by their birthplace or ancestral roots. The poem highlights the importance of embracing one’s true self, regardless of the expectations or pressures of others or the idea of a “home” that may not truly belong to them. 0 0 0.
Meena Alexander Birthplace Analytical Study
N. B. The article ‘Meena Alexander Birthplace Analytical Study’ originally belongs to the book ‘Analytical Studies of Selected Indian English Poems‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Meena Alexander Birthplace Analytical Study
Books of Literary Criticism by M. Menonimus:
- World Short Story Criticism
- World Poetry Criticism
- World Drama Criticism
- World Novel Criticism
- World Essay Criticism
- Indian English Poetry Criticism
- Indian English Poets and Poetry Chief Features
- Emily Dickinson’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Walt Whitman’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Critical Essays on English Poetry
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: Return of the Spirit-An Analytical Study
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: ‘Yawmiyyat Naib Fil Arayaf’-An Analytical Study
- Analytical Studies of Some Arabic Short Stories
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Pre-Islamic Period (500 AD-622 AD)
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Early Islamic Period (622 AD-661 AD)
- Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works
- Reviews of Charles Dickens’ Works
- Reviews of John Milton’s Literary Works
- Reviews of Some Iconic Travelogues
- Shakespeare’s Sonnets-Critical Studies
- Analytical Studies of Selected Poems of Sarojini Naidu
- Analytical Studies of Selected Poems of Rabindranath Tagore
- Analytical Studies of Selected Indian English Poems …
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