Daljit Nagra Singh Song!. Suggests long, mundane working day Childish language suggests his father...
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Transcript of Daljit Nagra Singh Song!. Suggests long, mundane working day Childish language suggests his father...
Daljit Nagra
Singh Song!
Suggests long, mundane working day
Childish language suggests his father still has control over his life
Rebels against his father’s rules – takes control of his own life.
I run just one ov my daddy’s shops
from 9 o’clock to 9 o’clock
and he vunt me not to hav a break
But ven nobody in, I do di lock
Unusual image of love-making creates humour
Poor grammar – shows he’s still getting used to the English languageRepetition emphasises
the couples unity
cos up di stairs is my newly bride
vee share in chapatti
vee share in di chutney
after vee hav made luv
like vee rowing through Putney -
Exaggeration creates humour and highlights the contrast between the unreliable narrator and his careful father
Sounds like a chorus of voices, emphasised by phonetic speech.
Disregards the rules of the shop – distracted by love. A comical image of rebellion
Ven I return vid my pinnie untied di shoppers always point to cry:Hey singh, ver yoo bin?Yor lemons are limesyor bananas are plantain,dis dirty little floor need a little bit of mopin di worst Indian shopon di whole Indian road -
Suggests that his wife runs a dating agency – modern approach to relationships
His new bride is glamorous, linked to a new generation that’s embracing Western culture.
Above my head high heel tap di ground
as my vife on di web is playing with di mouse
ven she netting two cat on her Sikh lover site
she book dem for di meat at di cheese ov her price-
Lively language suggests he finds his wife’s swearing funny
Shows his wife has a sense of humour – he doesn’t mind her poking fun at his parents
Repetition suggests he’s proud of his new wife and can’t stop thinking about her
my bride
she effing at my mum
in all di colours of Punjabi
den stumble like a drunk
making fun at my daddy
Repetition shows he’s proud of his new wife and can’t stop thinking about her
Wife described as both dangerous and cute- she’s a combination of lots of different things
Her clothes are a mixture of British and Indian culture – she embodies both
my bride
tiny eyes ov a gun
and di tummy ov a teddy
my bride
she hav a red crew cut
and she wear a Tartan sari
a donkey jacket and some pumps
on di squek ov di girls dat are pinching my sweeties-
He’s a terrible shopkeeper but the complaints sound quite playful because they’re written phonetically.
Suggests relationship is affectionate and carefree
Ven I return from di tickle ov my bride
di shoppers always point and cry:
Hey singh, ver yoo bin?
Di milk is out ov daye
and di bread is alvays stale,
di tings yoo hav on offer yoo hav never got in stock
in di worst Indian shop
on di whole Indian road -
Makes Britain sound exotic and exciting.
Money imagery contrasts with romantic descriptions of beaches in the moonlight.
Sudden moment of calm shows the couple are alone. Contrasts with all the voices of the chorus.
Late in di midnight hour
ven yoo shoppers are wrap up quiet
ven di precinct is concrete-cool
vee cum down whispering stairs
and sit on my silver stool,
from behind di chocolate bars
vee stare past di half-price window signs
at di beaches ov di uk in di brightey moon-
Thinks in terms of money again – poem isn’t overly sentimental about love
from di stool each night she say
how much do yoo charge for dat moon baby
from di stool each night I say
is half di cost ov you baby
Poem left hanging after final word – looks to the possibility of the future
Repetition makes the couple’s conversation sound rhythmic and song-like.
From di stool each night she say,
How much does dat come to baby
from di stool each night I say,
Is priceless baby-
Questions
• What is the poem about?
• What can you tell me about the form of the poem?
• What can you identify as the structure?
• List any humorous description / phonetic Indian English?
• What feelings and attitudes can you identify?
Questions• You need to come up with your own ideas about
the poem, to help you answer the following;• 1) Do you think the title of the poem is effective?
Why?• 2) What does the poem suggest about modern
marriage?• 3) What is the narrator’s attitude towards
balancing his marriage and work?• 4) Do you think the narrator seems happy in the
poem ? Why?
Form
• Definition –
• The type of poem e.g. sonnet, ballad, and its features e.g. rhyme scheme, rhythm
Form
• The poet uses some rhymes to give the poem a light hearted tone.
• As well as the narrator’s voice, it features the voices of his wife and the customers he ignores, showing how he fits into the community.
• It’s like a song with verses and a chorus which makes it sound lively and rhythmic.
Structure
• The order of ideas and events, e.g. how the poem begins, develops and ends.
Structure
• The poem alternates between descriptions or the narrator’s marriage and his customers’ complaints.
• The repeated choruses emphasise how often he neglects his work.
Phonetic Indian English
• Voices in the poem combine Indian and English words and accents, sometimes creating new words.
• This shows the influence of both cultures on the people in the poem.
Best Comparisons
• ‘Les Grands Seigneurs’
• ‘Medusa’