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Want to revise how key themes develop in 'Singh Song!'?
This activity aims to help you understand how Nagra's language choice and tone develop key themes in the poem.
In other words, what is the effect of these key themes on the reader? What exactly is Nagra trying to show about these themes?
First, let's identify the main themes in the poem. They are:
Love, Sexuality, Tenderness, Culture, Unconventionality, Responsibility/Irresponsibility, Humour, and Stereotypes
The activity is designed so that you not only identify these key themes and ideas in the poem according to the language Nagra uses, but to help you explore how these themes develop in the poem.
So, choosing just one theme, let's ask: how does Nagra develop the theme of stereotypes in his poem?
Here's an example of an evaluation on the theme of stereotypes:
Nagra plays with the theme of stereotypes in 'Singh Song!' He does this by using Indian dialect in the poem, so that the reader of the poem has no choice but to hear the Indian accent in their heads as they read the poem. The quote "I run just one ov my daddy's shops" starts the poem off with a burst of Indian dialect: the noun '"daddy" reinforces the Indian culture in the poem (as many Indian men call their fathers "daddy" colloquially).
However, the poem also works to break down traditional and typical stereotypes, as it progresses. For example, the speaker seems proud of his wife who is "effing at [his] mum". The speaker's wife acts very untraditionally, breaking down the stereotypes of a typical Indian bride.
If you want to make this activity more of a revision exercise, then jot these themes down. If you want to use this activity to test yourself, then go ahead and try to memorise the key themes/motifs.
It's up to you how you want to use this activity!
Remember, it's not a race. So take your time with each step and you'll be fine.
You should always refer to your own text when working through these examples. These quotations are for reference only.
