Amanda
Thinking About the Poem
1. How old do you think Amanda is? How do you know this?
Answer:
Amanda is a young school-going girl, probably a teenager. We can infer this because she is asked to finish her homework, clean her room, sit straight, stop slouching, and not bite her nails. She is also warned about eating chocolate because of acne.
2. Who do you think is speaking to her?
Answer:
The speaker is most probably Amanda’s mother. She continuously gives Amanda instructions about her homework, manners, posture, habits and behaviour.
3. Why are stanzas 2, 4 and 6 given in parentheses?
Answer:
Stanzas 2, 4 and 6 are given in parentheses because they represent Amanda’s inner thoughts and fantasies. They show how she mentally escapes from the constant instructions and scolding of the speaker.
4. Who is the speaker in stanzas 2, 4 and 6? Do you think she is listening to the speaker in stanzas 1, 3, 5 and 7?
Answer:
The speaker in stanzas 2, 4 and 6 is Amanda herself, expressing her thoughts and imagination. No, she is not really listening to the speaker in the other stanzas. She escapes into her imaginary world whenever she feels disturbed by the constant instructions.
5. What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?
Answer:
If Amanda were a mermaid, she would drift peacefully and blissfully in a calm, green sea. She would be the only inhabitant there and would enjoy complete freedom without anyone giving her instructions.
6. Is Amanda an orphan? Why does she say so?
Answer:
No, Amanda is not an orphan. She imagines herself as an orphan because she wants to escape from restrictions and live independently. She thinks that an orphan can roam freely and enjoy silence and freedom without being controlled by others.
7. Do you know the story of Rapunzel? Why does Amanda want to be Rapunzel?
Answer:
Yes. Rapunzel is a girl who lives alone in a high tower. Amanda wants to be like Rapunzel because she imagines that living alone in a quiet tower would give her peace and freedom. She says that she would never let down her hair because she does not want anyone to come and disturb her.
8. What does the girl yearn for? What does this poem tell you about Amanda?
Answer:
Amanda yearns for freedom, peace and independence. The poem shows that she is a sensitive, imaginative and freedom-loving girl. She feels troubled by constant instructions and therefore escapes into her imaginary world.
9. Read the last stanza. Do you think Amanda is sulking and is moody?
Answer:
Yes, Amanda appears to be sulking and moody. However, her moodiness is mainly a result of the continuous instructions and restrictions she experiences. She wants some freedom and personal space.
Additional Short Answer Questions
10. How does Amanda describe her imaginary life?
Answer:
Amanda imagines living a peaceful and unrestricted life. She dreams of being a mermaid in a green sea, an orphan roaming freely in the streets, or Rapunzel living alone in a quiet tower.
11. How does Amanda respond to the speaker’s instructions?
Answer:
Amanda does not respond directly to the instructions. Instead, she escapes into her imagination. She dreams of being a mermaid, an orphan and Rapunzel, all of whom represent freedom and independence.
12. Describe Amanda’s nature.
Answer:
Amanda is a sensitive, imaginative and freedom-loving girl. She appears moody because she is constantly instructed and corrected. She dislikes restrictions and dreams of living a peaceful and independent life.
13. Why is Amanda told not to eat chocolate?
Answer:
Amanda is told not to eat chocolate because she has acne, and eating chocolate is presented in the poem as something that may worsen her skin condition.
14. What does Amanda want to remember?
Answer:
Amanda is told to remember that she has acne and therefore should not eat chocolate.
15. What does the word “slouching” mean?
Answer:
“Slouching” means sitting or standing in a lazy, careless way, usually with the shoulders bent forward.
16. What does “languid” mean in the poem?
Answer:
“Languid” means relaxed, slow and peaceful.
17. What does the repetition of “Amanda!” show?
Answer:
The repetition of “Amanda!” shows the speaker’s continuous instructions and impatience. It also emphasizes how frequently Amanda is being corrected.
18. Why does Amanda imagine herself as an orphan?
Answer:
Amanda imagines herself as an orphan because she associates orphanhood with freedom. She imagines that an orphan can roam freely without anyone giving orders or controlling her.
19. Why does Amanda imagine herself as a mermaid?
Answer:
Amanda imagines herself as a mermaid because she wants to live peacefully in a beautiful sea, away from people and their instructions. The mermaid represents freedom and solitude for her.
20. Why does Amanda want to be Rapunzel?
Answer:
Amanda wants to be Rapunzel because she wants to live alone in a peaceful tower. She imagines that such a life would be free from interference and unwanted instructions.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Who is Amanda?
(i) A teacher
(ii) A school-going girl
(iii) A mother
(iv) A mermaid
Answer: (ii) A school-going girl
2. Who is the poet of “Amanda!”?
(i) Leslie Norris
(ii) Carolyn Wells
(iii) Robin Klein
(iv) John Berryman
Answer: (iii) Robin Klein
3. What does Amanda want?
(i) Wealth
(ii) Fame
(iii) Freedom
(iv) Power
Answer: (iii) Freedom
4. Amanda is most likely a:
(i) Child/young girl
(ii) Adult
(iii) Teacher
(iv) Old woman
Answer: (i) Child/young girl
5. A mermaid lives in the:
(i) River
(ii) Sea
(iii) Pond
(iv) Forest
Answer: (ii) Sea
6. Amanda is told not to eat:
(i) Bananas
(ii) Almonds
(iii) Chocolate
(iv) Rice
Answer: (iii) Chocolate
7. Why is Amanda told not to eat chocolate?
(i) She dislikes it
(ii) She has acne
(iii) She is allergic to it
(iv) It is expensive
Answer: (ii) She has acne
8. What does “slouching” mean?
(i) Running quickly
(ii) Sitting in a lazy or careless way
(iii) Jumping
(iv) Walking straight
Answer: (ii) Sitting in a lazy or careless way
9. The sea in Amanda’s imagination is:
(i) Dark and dangerous
(ii) Languid and emerald
(iii) Rough and stormy
(iv) Dry and empty
Answer: (ii) Languid and emerald
10. What does “drifting” mean?
(i) Moving very fast
(ii) Moving slowly and gently
(iii) Running
(iv) Jumping
Answer: (ii) Moving slowly and gently
11. According to Amanda, who enjoys freedom?
(i) A teacher
(ii) A mermaid and an orphan
(iii) A king
(iv) A student
Answer: (ii) A mermaid and an orphan
12. Why does Amanda imagine herself as an orphan?
(i) She wants to be famous
(ii) She wants to enjoy freedom
(iii) She wants to become rich
(iv) She wants to go to school
Answer: (ii) She wants to enjoy freedom
13. What does Amanda imagine herself as in the second stanza?
(i) An orphan
(ii) Rapunzel
(iii) A mermaid
(iv) A princess
Answer: (iii) A mermaid
14. What does Amanda imagine herself as in the fourth stanza?
(i) A mermaid
(ii) An orphan
(iii) A teacher
(iv) A queen
Answer: (ii) An orphan
15. What does Amanda imagine herself as in the sixth stanza?
(i) Cinderella
(ii) Rapunzel
(iii) A mermaid
(iv) A fairy
Answer: (ii) Rapunzel
16. Why does Amanda not want to let down her hair?
(i) She is afraid of heights
(ii) She does not want anyone to come to her
(iii) She wants to cut it
(iv) She wants to decorate it
Answer: (ii) She does not want anyone to come to her
17. Who is speaking to Amanda?
(i) Her friend
(ii) Her teacher
(iii) Most probably her mother
(iv) Her sister
Answer: (iii) Most probably her mother
18. What is Amanda asked to finish?
(i) Her homework
(ii) Her lunch
(iii) Her drawing
(iv) Her game
Answer: (i) Her homework
19. What is Amanda asked not to bite?
(i) Her lips
(ii) Her nails
(iii) Her hair
(iv) Her fingers
Answer: (ii) Her nails
20. What is Amanda asked not to do to her shoulders?
(i) Move them
(ii) Hunch them
(iii) Raise them
(iv) Shake them
Answer: (ii) Hunch them
21. What should Amanda do instead of slouching?
(i) Lie down
(ii) Sit up straight
(iii) Run outside
(iv) Sleep
Answer: (ii) Sit up straight
22. What does Amanda yearn for?
(i) Freedom
(ii) Money
(iii) Fame
(iv) Food
Answer: (i) Freedom
23. What does “tranquil” mean?
(i) Noisy
(ii) Peaceful and calm
(iii) Crowded
(iv) Dangerous
Answer: (ii) Peaceful and calm
24. What is the main theme of the poem?
(i) Adventure
(ii) Freedom and the effect of excessive parental control
(iii) Friendship
(iv) Nature
Answer: (ii) Freedom and the effect of excessive parental control
25. The stanzas in parentheses mainly represent:
(i) The teacher’s instructions
(ii) Amanda’s inner thoughts and imagination
(iii) A conversation between friends
(iv) A story about animals
Answer: (ii) Amanda’s inner thoughts and imagination
26. The repetition of “Amanda!” mainly shows:
(i) Happiness
(ii) Fear
(iii) Continuous instructions and impatience
(iv) Surprise
Answer: (iii) Continuous instructions and impatience
27. “Freedom is sweet” contains which literary device?
(i) Simile
(ii) Metaphor
(iii) Personification
(iv) Alliteration
Answer: (ii) Metaphor
28. “Stop that slouching and sit up straight” contains:
(i) Simile
(ii) Metaphor
(iii) Alliteration
(iv) Hyperbole
Answer: (iii) Alliteration
29. The poem “Amanda!” contains how many stanzas?
(i) Five
(ii) Six
(iii) Seven
(iv) Eight
Answer: (iii) Seven
30. The word “emerald” refers to the colour:
(i) Red
(ii) Green
(iii) Blue
(iv) Yellow
Answer: (ii) Green
Human Generate Question Answer
1. Who was Amanda?
Ans: (B) A school-going girl.
2. How is silence described?
Ans: (A) Golden
3. What does Amanda wish to do in the sea?
Ans: (C) watch soft-moving waves
4. Name the literary device used in the line “freedom is sweet”
Ans: (C) Metaphor
5. How should Amanda sit?
Ans: (C) Straight
6. She is being instructed to
Ans: (A) clean her room
7. What should Amanda not do to her shoulders?
Ans: (B) Hunch
8. What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?
Ans: (C) All of the above (Live in the green sea and lead a relaxing life)
9. What does Amanda wish to do in the sea?
Ans: (C) watch soft-moving waves
10. Who is asked to stop sulking?
Ans: (A) Amanda
11. What was Amanda to finish?
Ans: (A) Her Homework
12. Amanda thinks that she’ll never let down her
Ans: (B) bright hair (Refers to the Rapunzel imagery)
13. What does the speaker ask Amanda not to do to her nails?
Ans: (B) Bite it
14. Name the literary device used in the line “Stop that slouching and sit up straight”.
Ans: (D) Alliteration (Repetition of the ‘s’ sound)
15. Why should Amanda not eat chocolate?
Ans: (C) It causes acne.
16. Who is the poet of the poem “Amanda”?
Ans: (D) Robin Klein
17. How is silence described?
Ans: (A) Golden
18. She is instructed to –
Ans: (D) sit up straight
19. What is the meaning of “slouching”?
Ans: (B) Sit in a lazy way
20. What does she picture herself as in the last stanza?
Ans: (D) None of the Above (In the final stanza, she is simply described as sulking/moody by the speaker)
21. Name the literary device used in the line “Don’t bite your nails, Amanda! Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!”
Ans: (A) Anaphora (Repetition of “Don’t” at the start of consecutive lines)
22. The tone of the lines “I am an orphan, roaming the street…” is
Ans: (C) peaceful
23. The golden silence is contrasted with the
Ans: (B) constant instructions received.
24. What will Amanda’s behavior make people think?
Ans: (B) her mother harasses her
25. The purpose of the speaker’s words in the opening extract is to
Ans: (D) improve the listener’s posture and habits.
26. What does the repetition of “Amanda!” at the end of each line reflect?
Ans: (C) It shows the frustration of the speaker.
27. In Amanda there are how many stanzas?
Ans: (C) seven
28. The sea is
Ans: (A) languid and emerald
Part II: Thinking about the Poem
- How old do you think Amanda is? How do you know this?
Amanda is likely a young school-going girl, roughly 9 to 12 years old. We can infer this because she is being scolded for habits typical of that age group, such as biting her nails, not cleaning her room, and having concerns about acne. Her parents are in the stage of trying to drill manners and “proper” behavior into her. - Who do you think is speaking to her?
The speaker is likely her mother. In many traditional household settings, the mother is often the one closely monitoring the child’s daily habits, chores, and hygiene. The specific nature of the instructions—cleaning the room and sitting straight—points toward a parental figure. - Why are stanzas 2, 4 and 6 given in parenthesis?
The parenthesis are used to indicate Amanda’s inner world. While the other stanzas represent the loud, nagging reality of her mother’s voice, these stanzas show Amanda’s private daydreams. They act as her mental “escape” from the scolding, creating a sharp contrast between the external world and her internal desire for peace. - Who is the speaker in stanzas 2, 4 and 6? Is she listening?
The speaker in these stanzas is Amanda herself (her imagination). She is definitely not listening to the speaker in the other stanzas. She is so exhausted by the constant stream of commands that she completely tunes them out, retreating into fantasies where she is a mermaid or an orphan. - What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?
If she were a mermaid, Amanda would drift blissfully in a languid, emerald sea. She imagines herself as the sole inhabitant of this water world, moving slowly and carelessly with the waves. For her, the mermaid represents total isolation and freedom from human interference. - Is Amanda an orphan? Why does she say so?
No, Amanda is not an orphan. She imagines being one because she is so suffocated by her parents’ constant supervision. To her, the life of an orphan—roaming the streets barefoot and drawing patterns in the dust in silence—seems like “sweet freedom” compared to her restricted life at home. - Why does she want to be Rapunzel?
Amanda wants to be Rapunzel to live in a high, lonely tower where life is “tranquil and rare.” However, she adds a twist: unlike the fairy tale, she would never let down her hair. She doesn’t want to be rescued; she wants to ensure that no one can ever climb up to bother her again. - What does the girl yearn for? What does this poem tell you about Amanda?
Amanda yearns for autonomy and peace. The poem reveals that she is a highly imaginative and sensitive child who feels “nagged” and controlled. It highlights a common conflict where parents, in their attempt to raise a “perfect” child, accidentally stifle the child’s spirit and drive them into a world of lonely escapism.
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