Meaning
How does the speaker feel about their language and identity?
Conflicted, confused, lost, insecure etc.
What does the term 'tongue' represent?
Language
What type of poem is this?
An autobiographical free verse poem.
Give me one example of how the writer uses juxtaposition in the poem?
'Foreign' and 'mother'
What does the idea of 'searching' suggest?
She is desperate, she has lost something etc.
Why is the metaphor of a 'tongue' extended throughout the whole poem?
To suggest her conflict is never-ending and keeps continuing on.
Why does the writer include autobiographical details?
To explore her own personal feelings about identity.
Why does the writer use enjambment in the poem?
To reflect how her struggles keep continuing on and how out of control she feels and conflicted.
What kind of tone does the poem have? (What mood/feeling is the overall feeling?)
Conflict or confrontation
What does the term 'mother' suggest about how she feels towards her first language?
It is comforting, she feels familiar with it.
Why does the writer use free verse?
To reflect how her identity feels so out of control and difficult to pin down (or any other acceptable answer).
Why is the Gujarati stanza in the middle of the poem?
To reflect how important it is to her identity.