Compare the methods the poets use to explore the connection between people and the places in which they live in ‘Hurricane Hits England’ and one other poem.

In the two poems ‘Hurricane Hits England’ and ‘Presents From My Aunts In Pakistan’ both poets use a variety of literary techniques such as the setting style and themes to invoke within the reader a sense of the narrators nationality in the poem.

The poem ‘Presents From My Aunts In Pakistan’ is set in England with a girl remembering her previous life in Pakistan. The poet Moniza Alvi depicts the dilemma of the young Asian girl who is growing up in England but family and relatives are strongly rooted in Pakistani culture and traditions. She feels lost, she’s confused about her identity and she feels ‘half-English.’ This indicates that she is not truly identifying with English cultures. The poem is written as a first person narrative to enable us to share her story, the reader can identify more easily with one person. Imagery is used throughout the poem, ‘Glistening like an orange split open.’ This enables the reader to visualise, hence become more involved and the poem becomes more alive. The conflict between her two cultures felt by this young girl is juxtaposed throughout the poem this reinforces the differences between the two nationalities. ‘My salwar kameez didn’t impress the school friend.’ Her friends did not like beautiful, top quality, traditional Pakistani clothes. The poet also makes a political comment by mentioning the ‘Fractured land’ she is referring to the conflict in Kashmir.

‘Hurricane Hits England.’ The poem is set in England and the main persona is a middle-aged Caribbean lady. The poem deals with her inner turmoil of trying to belong to two different cultures. It starts off in the third person, ‘It took a hurricane to bring her closer.’ But by the second verse it is written in first narrative, this technique demonstrates the change of finding her personal identity. The hurricane acts as a catharsis and enables the lady to awaken past memories. The main literary technique used within this poem is pathetic fallacy this means the weather mimics a characters emotions; the hurricane demonstrates the turmoil within the character. Repetition is used to reinforce the new found confidence ‘Talk to me Huracan/ Talk to me Oya/ Talk to me Shango.’ These are Caribbean Gods and she believes that they are the hurricane. Rhetorical questions are a main technique used within this poem they are used to get the reader thinking ‘What is the meaning/ of old tongues/Reaping havoc/ in new places? As the poem continues with an epiphany, ‘The blinding illumination’, this also describes the flashes of lightening related to the storm, the length of the verses change which replicates the change in the woman’s emotions. While the pivotal moment of the poem has one line all on its own, as a stand out point.’ O why is my heart unchained?’ Another rhetorical question. This obviously emphasizes the importance of this part; it is the most noticeable portion of the poem.

Both poems explore the idea of origins and cultural identities using a single female central persona in the first person. One poem starts of happy ‘They sent me a salwar kameez peacock-blue.’ She receives beautiful presents from her Aunts; the tone of the poem then changes ‘I longed for denim and corduroy.’ to demonstrate her internal conflict regarding her cultural identity. The other poem is different as the women starts off confused but eventually comes to terms with her own identity ‘That the earth is the earth is the earth.’ She realises that it does not matter where you come from; it is who you are which is important. Both personas use metaphorical devices to emphasise the prose in ‘Hurricane Hits England.’ The author uses ‘Falling heavy as whales.’ To describe trees ripped out by the hurricane. In ‘Present From My Aunts In Pakistan.’ The description of colours produced by a lamp was likened to stained glass ‘Marvel at the colours/ like stained glass.’ One can imagine the beauty of this object. Instead of the variety of structure used in ‘Hurricane Hits England.’ ‘Present From My Aunts In Pakistan.’ Uses consistent verse form throughout. The technique of juxtaposition is used by both authors, although in different ways, the whole poem of ‘Present From My Aunts In Pakistan.’ Is a lesson in contrast between the two cultures, ‘I tried each satin-silken top/ was alien in the sitting room.’ In almost every verse there is evidence of the cultural conflict. While in, ‘Hurricane Hits England.’ The use of juxtaposition is more localised such as ‘Fearful and Reassuring.’ This reflects the ladies inner turmoil.

As diverse as these two poems are it is evident that the authors have used similar literacy techniques to achieve comparable works of prose.