Main Text – Amanda
Amanda – Translate Assamese
Amanda!
—Robin Klein
Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!
Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!
Stop that slouching and sit up straight, Amanda!
নখবোৰ নাকামুৰিবা , আমাণ্ডা!
কান্ধ দুটা কুঁজ খোৱাই নাৰাখিবা, আমাণ্ডা!
ভাঙি-ভাঙি বহাটো বন্ধ কৰা আৰু পোনে পোনে বহা, আমাণ্ডা
(There is a languid, emerald sea,
where the sole inhabitant is me—
a mermaid, drifting blissfully.)
(এটা শান্ত, পান্না ৰঙৰ সাগৰ আছে,
য’ত একমাত্ৰ মইহে বাস কৰোঁ—
এগৰাকী জলপৰী হৈ, আনন্দেৰে ভাহি ফুৰিছোঁ।)
Did you finish your homework, Amanda?
Did you tidy your room, Amanda?
I thought I told you to clean your shoes, Amanda!
হোমৱাৰ্ক শেষ কৰিলা নে, আমাণ্ডা?
তুমি তোমাৰ কোঠাটো পৰিপাটি কৰিলা নে, আমাণ্ডা?
মোৰ বোধ হয়, মই তুমাৰ জোতা চাফা কৰিবলৈ কৈছিলোঁ, আমাণ্ডা!
(I am an orphan, roaming the street.
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.
The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)
(মই এজন অনাথ, ৰাস্তাত একেলে ঘূৰি ফুৰিছোঁ।
মোৰ নিঃশব্দ, খালী ভৰিৰে কোমল ধূলিত ফুৰিছোঁ।
সোণালী নিস্তব্ধতা, মিঠা স্বাধীনতা।)
Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you, Amanda!
সেই চকলেটটো নাখাবা, আমাণ্ডা!
তোমাৰ মুখৰ ব্ৰণটো মনত কৰা, আমাণ্ডা!
মই কথা পাতোঁতে, অনুগ্ৰহ কৰি মোৰ ফালে এবাৰ চাবা নে, আমাণ্ডা!
(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!)
(মই ৰেপাঞ্জেল, মোৰ কোনো চিন্তা নাই;
টাৱাৰত জীৱনটো শান্ত আৰু অনন্য।
মই কেতিয়াও মোৰ দীঘল উজ্জ্বল চুলি নামাব নোৱাৰোঁ!)
Stop that sulking at once, Amanda!
You’re always so moody, Amanda!
Anyone would think that I nagged at you, Amanda!
সেই বিষন্ন মুখখন একেবাৰে বন্ধ কৰা, আমাণ্ডা!
তুমি সদায় ইমান মেজাজ দেখোৱা কিয়, আমাণ্ডা!
মানুহে ভাবিব, মইহে তোমাক সদায় বিৰক্ত কৰি থাকোঁ, আমাণ্ডা!
Summary of the Poem “Amanda!”
The poem Amanda! is about a small girl named Amanda. She is often told what to do and what not to do by an elder person—maybe her mother. That elder keeps scolding Amanda for small things like biting nails, not sitting properly, not finishing homework, and eating chocolate. She is also told to keep herself clean and look at the person when spoken to.
While all these instructions are going on, Amanda escapes into her imagination. She dreams of being a mermaid in a peaceful sea, an orphan walking freely on the street, and a princess like Rapunzel living alone in a quiet tower. Amanda imagines these things because she wants freedom, silence, and peace.
At the end, the elder person says Amanda is always moody and sulking, and that people might think she is always being scolded. But Amanda never replies. She stays silent, lost in her thoughts.
This poem shows how children feel when they are always controlled. Amanda wants freedom and space. Her imagination is her only escape.
কবিতা “আমাণ্ডা!”
আমাণ্ডা কবিতাটোত! আমাণ্ডা নামৰ এগৰাকী সৰু ছোৱালীৰ বিষয়ে কোৱা হৈছে। তাইক প্ৰায়ে কি কৰিব লাগে আৰু কি কৰিব নালাগে বুলি এজনী বয়সস্থ ব্যক্তিয়ে কৈ থাকে— হয়তো বয়সস্থ মানুহ জনী তাইৰ মাক। সেই বয়োজ্যেষ্ঠজনে আমাণ্ডাক নখ কামোৰাৰ কাৰণে, ভালদৰে বহিব নোৱাৰাৰ কাৰণে, ঘৰুৱা কাম শেষ নকৰাৰ কাৰণে, চকলেট খোৱাৰ দৰে সৰু সৰু কথাবোৰৰ বাবে বকাবকি কৰি থাকে। তাইক নিজকে পৰিষ্কাৰ কৰি ৰাখিবলৈ আৰু কথা পাতিলে মানুহজনৰ ফালে চাবলৈও কোৱা হয়।
এই সকলোবোৰ নিৰ্দেশনা চলি থকাৰ সময়তে আমাণ্ডাই নিজৰ কল্পনাৰ মাজলৈ পলায়ন কৰে। তাইৰ সপোন দেখা যায় যে তাই শান্তিপূৰ্ণ সাগৰত জলপৰী, ৰাস্তাত মুক্তভাৱে খোজ কাঢ়ি যোৱা অনাথ আৰু নিস্তব্ধ টাৱাৰত অকলে থকা ৰেপাঞ্জেলৰ দৰে ৰাজকুমাৰী। আমাণ্ডাই এইবোৰ কল্পনা কৰে কাৰণ তাই স্বাধীনতা, মৌনতা আৰু শান্তি বিচাৰে।
শেষত জ্যেষ্ঠ ব্যক্তিজনে কয় যে আমাণ্ডা সদায় খিটখিটিয়া আৰু বিষণ্ন হৈ থাকে, আৰু মানুহে হয়তো ভাবিব পাৰে যে তাইক সদায় বকাবকি কৰা হৈছে। কিন্তু আমাণ্ডাই কেতিয়াও উত্তৰ নিদিয়ে। চিন্তাত হেৰাই গৈ তাই নিমাত হৈ থাকে।
এই কবিতাটোৱে দেখুৱাইছে যে শিশুসকলক সদায় নিয়ন্ত্ৰণত থাকিলে কেনে অনুভৱ হয়। আমাণ্ডাই স্বাধীনতা আৰু স্থান বিচাৰে। তাইৰ কল্পনাই তাইৰ একমাত্ৰ পলায়ন।
- How old do you think Amanda is? How do you know this?
Answer: Amanda seems to be a school-going girl, maybe around 9 to 12 years old. We know this because she is told to do homework, clean her room, and not eat chocolate—all these things happen with children of that age.
১/ আমাণ্ডাৰ বয়স কিমান বুলি তুমি ভাবা? এই কথা তুমি কেনেকৈ জানা?
উত্তৰঃ আমাণ্ডা স্কুললৈ যোৱা ছোৱালী যেন লাগে, হয়তো প্ৰায় ৯ৰ পৰা ১২ বছৰ। আমি এই কথা জানো কাৰণ তাইক হোমৱৰ্ক কৰিবলৈ কোৱা হৈছে, কোঠাটো চাফা কৰিবলৈ কোৱা হৈছে, চকলেট নাখাবলৈ কোৱা হৈছে—এই সকলোবোৰ সেই বয়সৰ ল’ৰা-ছোৱালীৰ লগত ঘটে। - Who do you think is speaking to her?
Answer: The person speaking to Amanda is an elder, maybe her mother or guardian. This person is giving her many instructions and correcting her behaviour.
২/ তাইৰ লগত কোনে কথা পাতিছে বুলি তুমি ভাবা?
উত্তৰঃ আমাণ্ডাৰ লগত কথা পতা ব্যক্তিজন এজন বয়োজ্যেষ্ঠ, হয়তো তাইৰ মাক বা অভিভাৱক। এই ব্যক্তিজনে তাইক বহু নিৰ্দেশনা দি তাইৰ আচৰণ শুধৰাই আছে। - Why are Stanzas 2, 4 and 6 given in parenthesis?
Answer: Stanzas 2, 4 and 6 are in parenthesis because these are Amanda’s thoughts. She is imagining something peaceful and different while the elder is scolding her.
৩/ ২, ৪ আৰু ৬ নং স্তৱক কিয় বন্ধনীত দিয়া হৈছে?
উত্তৰঃ ২, ৪ আৰু ৬ নং স্তৱক বন্ধনীত আছে কাৰণ এইবোৰ আমাণ্ডাৰ চিন্তা। বয়জেষ্ঠজনীয়ে তাইক বকাবকি কৰি থকাৰ সময়তে তাই শান্তিপূৰ্ণ আৰু বেলেগ কিবা এটা কল্পনা কৰি আছে। - 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?
Answer: In those stanzas, Amanda herself is the speaker. She is not listening to the elder; instead, she is lost in her imagination and dreams.
৪/ ২, ৪ আৰু ৬ নং স্তৱকত বক্তা কোন? এই বক্তাই ১, ৩, ৫, আৰু ৭ নং স্তৱকত বক্তাৰ কথা শুনিছে বুলি তুমি ভাবানে?
উত্তৰঃ সেই স্তৱকবোৰত আমাণ্ডা নিজেই বক্তা। তাই ডাঙৰৰ কথা শুনা নাই; বৰঞ্চ তাই নিজৰ কল্পনা আৰু সপোনত হেৰাই যায়। - What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?
Answer: If Amanda were a mermaid, she could live alone in a calm, green sea and drift peacefully. She would be free and happy.
৫/ আমাণ্ডাই যদি জলপৰী হয় তেন্তে কি কৰিব পাৰিলেহেঁতেন?
উত্তৰঃ আমাণ্ডা যদি জলপৰী হ’লহেঁতেন তেন্তে শান্ত, সেউজীয়া সাগৰত অকলে থাকিব পাৰিলেহেঁতেন আৰু শান্তিৰে সাতুৰিব পাৰিলেহেঁতেন। তাই মুক্ত আৰু সুখী হ’লহেঁতেন। - Is Amanda an orphan? Why does she say so?
Answer: No, Amanda is not really an orphan. She says so in her imagination because orphans are free to do anything. They don’t get scolded. She wants that kind of freedom.
৬/ আমাণ্ডা অনাথ নেকি? তাই কিয় তেনেকৈ কয়?
উত্তৰঃ নাই, আমাণ্ডা আচলতে অনাথ নহয়। তাই কল্পনাত তেনেকৈ কৈছে কাৰণ অনাথ শিশুৱে যিকোনো কাম কৰিবলৈ স্বাধীন। বকাবকি নাপায়৷ তাই সেই ধৰণৰ স্বাধীনতা বিচাৰে। - Do you know the story of Rapunzel? Why does she want to be Rapunzel?
Answer: Yes, Rapunzel was a girl who lived alone in a tower. Amanda wants to be like Rapunzel because that life is quiet and peaceful. She wants to be alone and happy, without any disturbance.
৭/ ৰেপাঞ্জেলৰ কাহিনী জানেনে? তাই কিয় ৰেপাঞ্জেল হ’ব বিচাৰে?
উত্তৰঃ হয়, ৰেপাঞ্জেল আছিল এগৰাকী টাৱাৰত অকলে বাস কৰা ছোৱালী। আমাণ্ডাই ৰেপাঞ্জেলৰ দৰে হ’ব বিচাৰে কাৰণ সেই জীৱনটো নিস্তব্ধ আৰু শান্তিপূৰ্ণ। তাই অকলশৰীয়া আৰু সুখী থাকিব বিচাৰে, কোনো ধৰণৰ অশান্তি নোহোৱাকৈ। - What does the girl yearn for? What does this poem tell you about Amanda?
Answer: Amanda wants freedom, peace, and silence. The poem tells us that Amanda is tired of being told what to do all the time. She uses her imagination to escape from this world.
৮/ ছোৱালীজনীয়ে কিহৰ বাবে হাহাকাৰ কৰে? এই কবিতাটোৱে তুমি আমাণ্ডাৰ বিষয়ে কি কোৱা?
উত্তৰঃ আমাণ্ডাই স্বাধীনতা, শান্তি আৰু মৌনতা বিচাৰে। কবিতাটোৱে আমাক কয় যে আমাণ্ডাই সকলো সময়তে কি কৰিব লাগে বুলি কোৱাত ভাগৰি পৰিছে। এই পৃথিৱীৰ পৰা পলায়ন কৰিবলৈ তাই নিজৰ কল্পনা শক্তি ব্যৱহাৰ কৰে। - Read the last stanza. Do you think Amanda is sulking and is moody?
Answer: In the last stanza, the elder says Amanda is sulking and moody. But Amanda does not reply. She is just silent and lost in her thoughts. Maybe she is not sulking, just trying to stay calm in her own way.
৯) শেষৰ স্তৱকটো পঢ়া। তুমি ভাবানে আমাণ্ডা বিষণ্ণ আৰু খিটখিটীয়া?
উত্তৰঃ শেষৰ স্তৱকত ডাঙৰজনে কৈছে যে আমাণ্ডা বিষণ্ণ আৰু খিটখিটীয়া স্বভাৱৰ । কিন্তু আমাণ্ডাই কোনো উত্তৰ নিদিয়ে। তাই মাথোঁ নিমাত হৈ নিজৰ চিন্তাত হেৰাই গৈছে। হয়তো তাই হুমুনিয়াহ কাঢ়ি থকা নাই, মাত্ৰ নিজৰ ধৰণেৰে শান্ত হৈ থাকিবলৈ চেষ্টা কৰিছে।
20 Multiple Choice Questions
- Who is the poet of the poem “Amanda!”?
a) Carolyn Wells b) Robin Klein c) William Blake d) Sylvia Plath
Answer: b) Robin Klein - What is Amanda being told not to do in the first stanza?
a) Dance b) Sing c) Bite nails d) Jump
Answer: c) Bite nails - What is Amanda imagining in stanza 2?
a) A fairyland b) A school c) An emerald sea d) A mountain
Answer: c) An emerald sea - Amanda wants to be a mermaid because she wants —
a) To play b) To drift in peace c) To talk to fish d) To fight pirates
Answer: b) To drift in peace - In stanza 3, Amanda is asked if she has —
a) Read a book b) Played outside c) Finished homework d) Made a drawing
Answer: c) Finished homework - What shows Amanda’s love for silence and peace?
a) She cries a lot b) She runs away c) She imagines being an orphan d) She talks to others
Answer: c) She imagines being an orphan - What is the meaning of “languid” in the poem?
a) Busy b) Energetic c) Relaxed d) Confused
Answer: c) Relaxed - What does Amanda imagine herself as in stanza 6?
a) Cinderella b) Sleeping Beauty c) Rapunzel d) Red Riding Hood
Answer: c) Rapunzel - Amanda doesn’t want to let her hair down like Rapunzel because —
a) She is scared b) She wants to stay alone c) She has short hair d) She lost her hair
Answer: b) She wants to stay alone - What is Amanda blamed for in the last stanza?
a) Lying b) Being moody c) Running d) Sleeping
Answer: b) Being moody - The poem shows a conflict between —
a) Two friends b) Amanda and teacher c) A child and an adult d) Two animals
Answer: c) A child and an adult - What does Amanda want the most?
a) Toys b) Books c) Freedom and silence d) Chocolates
Answer: c) Freedom and silence - What is the tone of Amanda’s imagination?
a) Angry b) Peaceful c) Sad d) Excited
Answer: b) Peaceful - What type of life does Amanda dream of as an orphan?
a) Sad life b) Busy life c) Free and quiet life d) Royal life
Answer: c) Free and quiet life - What is Amanda told to remember before eating chocolate?
a) Her health b) Her acne c) Her teeth d) Her exam
Answer: b) Her acne - Amanda uses her imagination to —
a) Argue back b) Escape from scolding c) Fight d) Cry
Answer: b) Escape from scolding - Who is the real speaker in the poem’s first and last stanzas?
a) Amanda b) Amanda’s friend c) An elder (probably her mother) d) Her teacher
Answer: c) An elder (probably her mother) - What is the poetic device used in Amanda’s daydreams?
a) Irony b) Pun c) Imagery d) Alliteration
Answer: c) Imagery - Why does Amanda not reply in the poem?
a) She is angry b) She is sleepy c) She is lost in thoughts d) She is shy
Answer: c) She is lost in thoughts - What does “the silence is golden” mean in the poem?
a) Silence is expensive b) Silence is harmful c) Silence is valuable and peaceful d) Silence is boring
Answer: c) Silence is valuable and peaceful
Additional
- Why is Amanda asked not to bite her nails or slouch?
Answer: Amanda is asked not to bite her nails or sit in a lazy way because the elder wants her to behave properly and maintain good manners. The elder is worried about how Amanda looks and behaves. - What does Amanda imagine while being scolded in the first stanza?
Answer: While she is being scolded, Amanda imagines herself as a mermaid living alone in a calm green sea. In her imagination, she is drifting peacefully, far away from all the rules. - Why is Amanda asked about homework and tidying her room?
Answer: Amanda is questioned about her homework and cleaning her room because the elder wants her to be responsible and disciplined. These are things adults usually expect from children. - How does Amanda respond to these questions?
Answer: Amanda does not respond with words. Instead, she quietly goes into her thoughts. She imagines she is an orphan, walking freely on the street, enjoying silence and sweet freedom. - Why is Amanda told not to eat chocolate?
Answer: She is told not to eat chocolate because it might give her acne. The elder seems more concerned about her appearance than her feelings. - What does Amanda imagine when she hears about chocolate and acne?
Answer: Amanda starts thinking of herself as Rapunzel, living alone in a quiet tower. She dreams of a life where no one disturbs her, and she doesn’t have to follow anyone’s rules. - What does the elder say in the last stanza of the poem?
Answer: In the last stanza, the elder complains that Amanda is always sulking and moody. The elder also says that people might think she is always nagging Amanda, even though she believes she is only guiding her. - Is Amanda really sulking?
Answer: No, Amanda is not really sulking. She is just silent. She doesn’t argue or shout. She escapes into her dreams, and that silence is mistaken by the elder as sulking. - What kind of life does Amanda wish for?
Answer: Amanda wishes for a life full of peace and freedom. She dreams of being alone, without anyone controlling her or giving her orders all the time. - What does this poem tell us about Amanda’s feelings?
The poem shows that Amanda is tired of being told what to do. She feels suffocated and ignored. She finds happiness only in her imagination, where she is free and peaceful.
- Describe Amanda’s nature and behaviour as shown in the poem.
Answer: Amanda is a small girl who is full of imagination. She does not talk much, and she never replies when the elder scolds her. But from her dreams, we can understand that she wants peace and freedom. She imagines herself as a mermaid, an orphan, and even Rapunzel—all living alone and free. Amanda does not like too many instructions. She wants to live in a world where no one controls her. She looks quiet and moody, but in her heart, she is dreaming of a happy life. - How does Amanda try to escape from the reality she is living in?
Answer: Amanda is always told what to do and what not to do. She is scolded for small things like slouching, eating chocolate, or not cleaning her room. This makes her feel trapped. But she does not argue or fight. Instead, she escapes into her imagination. She dreams of being a mermaid swimming in a green sea, an orphan walking alone in silence, and Rapunzel living in a tower. These dreams are her way of running away from the real world. She finds peace in her thoughts. - What do Amanda’s dreams tell us about her life and feelings?
Answer: Amanda’s dreams show that she is not happy in her real life. She is always scolded and corrected. Her life feels full of rules and no freedom. That is why she dreams of living alone, without anyone telling her what to do. When she imagines herself as a mermaid or Rapunzel, it means she wants peace, quiet, and freedom. Her dreams tell us that she feels lonely and tired of being controlled. She wants a life where she can be free and happy. - Why do you think Amanda remains silent throughout the poem? What does her silence mean?
Answer: Amanda remains silent even though the elder keeps talking to her. She does not reply at all. Her silence is not because she is rude. It shows that she is tired. She does not want to fight or speak back. She is silently going into her dream world. In her mind, she is imagining a better life where she is free and no one scolds her. Her silence means she is escaping the noise of real life. It is her way of protecting her peace. - What message does the poem “Amanda!” give to parents and elders?
Answer: The poem gives an important message to all parents and elders. It shows that children like Amanda need love, care, and freedom. If they are always scolded and corrected, they feel sad and trapped. The poem tells us that children also have feelings. They should be heard and understood. If we don’t listen to them, they will stop talking and only live in their own imagination. So, the poem says parents should guide children, but with kindness and respect.
- Explain how Amanda uses her imagination to escape from the reality of her life. What do her dreams say about her mind and feelings?
Answer: Amanda is a small girl who is always being scolded and corrected. The elder keeps giving her rules: don’t bite your nails, sit straight, do your homework, clean your shoes, don’t eat chocolate, and so on. This kind of life becomes too heavy for Amanda. She feels like she has no freedom and no peace. But Amanda does not fight or argue. She stays silent and escapes into her imagination.
In her dreams, Amanda becomes a mermaid, an orphan, and Rapunzel. As a mermaid, she lives in a peaceful green sea, floating alone and happily. As an orphan, she walks on the street quietly, with no one shouting at her. As Rapunzel, she lives in a tower where no one comes, and she never lets her hair down, so no one can reach her. These dreams show that Amanda wants freedom, silence, and peace. She does not want anyone to disturb her. Her dreams show her creative mind and her wish to live a calm life.
Amanda’s imagination is her only escape. It protects her from the stress of being told what to do all the time. Her silence is not because she is angry—it is because she is tired and wants to live in her dream world. This shows that children like Amanda need more love, care, and understanding from elders. - Discuss the contrast between Amanda’s thoughts and the reality around her. How does the poet use this contrast to show the mental state of Amanda?
Answer: In the poem Amanda!, there is a clear difference between what Amanda is thinking and what is happening around her. In the real world, Amanda is being scolded by an elder—most likely her mother. The elder keeps pointing out her mistakes, telling her to behave properly, finish her homework, sit straight, clean her shoes, and stop sulking. This world is full of orders, complaints, and pressure.
But Amanda does not speak back. She only imagines beautiful and peaceful things in her mind. She dreams of being a mermaid in a calm green sea. She sees herself as an orphan walking freely on the streets. She thinks of being Rapunzel in a tower, where no one can disturb her. These imaginations are completely different from her real life. In dreams, she is happy and peaceful. In real life, she feels controlled and tired.
The poet uses this contrast to show Amanda’s mental state. She is not naughty or careless. She is a sensitive girl who feels trapped by too many rules. She finds comfort in her thoughts, where she can do what she wants. This contrast helps us understand how children may feel when they are always controlled. It shows that Amanda’s silence is not rudeness—it is her way of protecting her mind. - What does the poem “Amanda!” tell us about the relationship between children and parents/elders? What lesson can we learn from this poem as teachers or guardians?
Answer: The poem “Amanda!” tells us a very important truth about how children feel when they are constantly corrected by elders. Amanda is a little girl who is always being told what to do—don’t bite your nails, sit properly, do your homework, clean your shoes, don’t eat chocolate, and stop sulking. These instructions are given again and again, without asking Amanda what she feels or what she wants.
Amanda does not answer back. She simply listens and quietly goes into her own imagination. In her mind, she becomes a mermaid, an orphan, or Rapunzel. In each of these dreams, she is alone and free. There is no one shouting at her. No rules, no scolding, just peace and silence. This shows that Amanda is feeling suffocated in her real life. She is not happy with so many instructions.
The poet wants to show that children like Amanda may look silent, but they are thinking a lot. They are feeling a lot. If we don’t understand them, they will stop talking to us. They will live only in their dreams. As parents, teachers, or elders, we should guide children with love. Discipline is good, but it should not become a burden. We must give children space, freedom, and time to grow. The biggest lesson from this poem is: listen to children, respect their feelings, and give them love, not just rules.
Poetic Devices
- Repetition
The name “Amanda” is repeated many times in the poem. For example:
“Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!”
“Did you tidy your room, Amanda?”
This repetition shows how often Amanda is scolded or given instructions. It also creates a rhythm in the poem and shows how tired Amanda must feel. - Parenthesis
Some lines are written in brackets like this: (…). These are Amanda’s thoughts.
They show what Amanda is imagining while the adult is speaking to her.
These parts help us understand how she wants to escape from reality and be free. - Imagery
The poem uses strong images to create pictures in our minds.
For example, Amanda imagines herself as a mermaid in a calm green sea, an orphan walking in soft dust, and Rapunzel living quietly in a tower.
These pictures show her wish to be alone, peaceful, and free from rules. - Allusion
The poem mentions famous characters like mermaid, orphan, and Rapunzel.
These are not explained in the poem because the poet expects us to know them.
They show Amanda’s desire to escape into stories where no one tells her what to do. - Contrast
There is a clear difference between two voices in the poem.
• The adult’s voice gives orders and complaints.
• Amanda’s voice, in her imagination, is peaceful and dreamy.
This contrast shows how different Amanda’s real life is from her dreams. - Tone
The tone of the adult is strict and complaining.
The tone of Amanda’s thoughts is calm and soft.
This shows that Amanda feels stressed and wants peace. - Enjambment
Some lines in the poem continue without a pause at the end.
For example:
“Stop that slouching and sit up straight, Amanda!”
This makes the poem sound like normal conversation, just like how an adult would talk in real life. - Irony
At the end, the adult says:
“Anyone would think that I nagged at you, Amanda!”
This is ironic because the adult has been nagging Amanda the entire time. It shows that the adult does not realize how much pressure they are putting on her. - Symbolism
Amanda’s dreams are full of symbols.
• Mermaid = complete freedom
• Orphan = being alone and free
• Rapunzel = a quiet life without interference
These symbols show what Amanda wants in life: peace, silence, and no one to order her around.
Final Review: Poetic Devices in Amanda!
Robin Klein has used poetic devices in Amanda! very cleverly to show the emotions of a child who wants freedom but is always being corrected by an adult. These devices make the poem powerful and easy to connect with.
One of the most important devices is repetition. The name “Amanda” is repeated again and again, which shows how the girl is constantly being scolded. It also creates a rhythm that sounds like nagging.
The use of parenthesis (brackets) is very effective. Amanda’s dreams are written inside them. This shows that while she is being told what to do, her mind is somewhere else. She is dreaming of peaceful, quiet places.
Imagery is used to create clear and beautiful pictures in the reader’s mind. The green sea, dusty streets, and a tall tower help us see what Amanda is imagining. These images show her wish to escape from her strict surroundings.
The poet also uses allusion, which means referring to well-known characters like mermaids and Rapunzel. These help show Amanda’s desire for a life where no one bothers her.
There is also contrast between the two voices in the poem. The adult voice is sharp and full of orders. Amanda’s inner voice is soft and dreamy. This contrast makes the reader feel sympathy for Amanda.
The tone of the poem changes between harsh (the adult) and calm (Amanda). This change helps show how different Amanda’s world is from what she wants.
Enjambment is used to make the poem flow naturally, like real speech. It makes the poem sound like a real conversation or scolding.
Finally, there is irony in the last stanza. The adult says they are not nagging Amanda—but the whole poem is full of nagging. This shows how adults may not understand how they affect children.
In short, all these poetic devices work together to show Amanda’s feelings clearly. They help the reader understand her world, her dreams, and her silent rebellion. The poem is simple in words but deep in meaning, and the poetic devices make it rich and expressive.
