Chapter 4 of the Class 10 English Book, ‘First Flight’, comprises a poem, Amanda!, written by Robin Klein. Here’s a simple summary of the poem – Amanda!
CBSE Class 10 English Amanda! Summary
The poem portrays Amanda, a young girl consistently corrected by her mother for her errors. Robin Klein writes about Amanda’s feelings, showing how she feels controlled and corrected for small things. The poem’s message is clear kids should have freedom and not feel constantly nagged by their parents. Parents should understand their children’s perspective instead of frustrating them. Children shouldn’t feel like orphans have more freedom than they do.
Amanda! Poem Explanation
We’ve also included the poem below to make it easier for students to understand. This way, they can read the poem and its meaning together.
Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!
Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!
Stop that slouching and sit up straight,
Amanda!
(There is a languid, emerald sea,
where the sole inhabitant is me—
a mermaid, drifting blissfully.)
Did you finish your homework, Amanda?
Did you tidy your room, Amanda?
I thought I told you to clean your shoes,
Amanda!
(I am an orphan, roaming the street.
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.
The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)
Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you,
Amanda!
(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!)
Stop that sulking at once, Amanda!
You’re always so moody, Amanda!
Anyone would think that I nagged at you,
Amanda!
Explanation:
The poet talks about a girl named Amanda and her mom. Amanda’s mom keeps telling her what to do and what not to do. In the first stanza, she tells Amanda not to bite her nails. Then she tells her to stand up straight and not to slouch. She also scolds Amanda for walking lazily with her head down. Instead, she tells her to sit up straight. All these instructions make Amanda frustrated with her mom. She starts imagining herself in a beautiful ocean. In her imagination, she’s a sea god with a fishtail instead of legs. She thinks about how happy she would be swimming freely in the waves, going up and down with them.
In the second stanza, Amanda’s mom asks if she finished her homework and tidied her room. She also reminds her to clean her shoes. This makes Amanda imagine life as an orphan. She pictures herself wandering freely in the streets, drawing in the dust with her feet. As an orphan, she thinks, nobody would bother her, and she could enjoy a peaceful, quiet life. But actually, Amanda’s mom was just trying to teach her good habits for hygiene and health. Amanda misunderstood, feeling like her freedom was being taken away, so she fantasized about the freedom of being an orphan.
In the third stanza, Amanda’s mom forbids her from eating chocolates because they give her pimples. She insists that Amanda listen to her and follow her instructions. This prompts Amanda to imagine herself as Rapunzel, a character from a fairy tale. In the story, Rapunzel is locked in a tower by a witch who climbs up using Rapunzel’s long hair. Amanda wishes to live like Rapunzel, enjoying a peaceful life in a serene setting. But she resolves never to let her hair down, ensuring that nobody can enter the tower.
In the last stanza, Amanda’s mom warns her to stop acting strangely. She points out that Amanda has become moody and always seems to be in a bad mood. Her mom worries that if others notice, they might think she’s mistreating Amanda. The poet shows that Amanda feels trapped because she can’t express her true feelings about her mom. If she does, her mom would see it as an attack on her pride and scold her to behave like other kids. Amanda’s mom is portrayed as very controlling and dominant.
We trust that this summary of the CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Poem “Amanda!” has provided you with a quick grasp of the poem. Stay connected with GK Publications for the latest updates on CBSE and study materials. Explore sample papers and question papers from various years to enhance your preparation for the Board exams.
