An Unknown Girl

An Unknown Girl

In the poem ‘An Unknown Girl’, Moniza Alvi uses poetic techniques such as metaphors, personification, alliteration, repetition and similes in order to depict her struggles in rediscovering her cultural identity. Along with references to India and the scenery surrounding the narrator, this essay will also analyse the descriptions of India portrayed by the narrator through her use of poetic techniques.

Alvi’s use of a metaphor in “she is icing my hand” creates an image for readers of henna work on the narrator’s hand. Alvi not only does this to create a strong image of hennaing, but she also does this to attract the reader’s interest through the sensual word “icing”. The incorporation of the senses gives readers insight into what henna feels like. As henna is a part of Indian culture, the imagery created helps readers understand that this is a very important aspect of the culture and is very important to the narrator herself.

In accordance with that, the poet’s use of juxtaposition in the same line “icing my hand…is hennaing my hand”; a comparison between cultures is generated. As the narrator is of a culturally different