Literature in English | Imtiaz Dharker : ‘Number 106’ , ‘Speech Balloon’, ‘It Doesn't Matter’

Imtiaz Dharker: Study Notes for HKDSE

Hello there! Welcome to your study guide for three fantastic poems by Imtiaz Dharker: ‘Number 106’, ‘Speech Balloon’, and ‘It Doesn't Matter’. Don't worry if you find poetry a bit tricky; we're going to break these down together, step-by-step. These notes will help you understand the poems, analyse the techniques Dharker uses, and feel confident for your exam.

Imtiaz Dharker is a poet who often writes about big ideas like identity, home, and freedom. She was born in Pakistan, grew up in Scotland, and now lives between India and London. This experience of moving between cultures gives her a unique and powerful voice. Let's dive in!

'Number 106'

First, what's this poem about?

Imagine a house that isn't just bricks and mortar, but a living thing that holds all the memories of the people who have lived there. That's the core idea of 'Number 106'. The poem explores how a place, a home, can become a part of our identity, breathing with the life that has passed through it.

Let's Break It Down

The poem describes a house that seems alive. Let's look at the key images:

• The living house: Dharker uses personification (giving human qualities to an object) to describe the house. It "breathes", its walls "lean in to listen", and it "exhales" the smell of food and life. It's like the house itself is a character in the poem.
• Layers of life: The poem talks about layers of paint on the walls. This is a metaphor for the layers of memories and lives that have been lived in the house. Each new family paints over the last, but the old memories are still there, underneath. Think of it like the history of your phone – you might get a new background, but the old data is still stored somewhere!
• The sounds and smells: The house is filled with the "ghosts of smells" (like cooking) and the sounds of "a door / slammed shut" years ago. These sensory details (smell, sound) make the past feel present and real.
• Connection to the body: The poem links the house directly to a human body. It has a "spine" and a "roof-skull". This strengthens the idea that the house is a living container for human experience.

Key Themes

• Home and Belonging: The poem asks what "home" really is. Is it just a building, or is it the memories and feelings connected to it?
• Memory and the Past: The house is a library of memories. The past isn't gone; it lives on within the walls, influencing the present.
• Identity: Our identity is shaped by the places we live. The house holds a piece of the identity of everyone who has called it home.

Literary Devices to Know

• Personification: Giving the house human qualities. Example: "The house breathes..." This is the most important device in the poem!
• Metaphor: A comparison where one thing is said to be another. Example: The layers of paint are metaphors for layers of history.
• Sensory Imagery: Language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste). Example: "ghosts of smells / from kitchens..."
• Enjambment: When a line of poetry runs onto the next line without punctuation. This creates a gentle, flowing feeling, almost like breathing or the continuous flow of memory.
• Free Verse: The poem doesn't have a regular rhyme scheme or rhythm, which makes it feel natural and conversational, like someone telling you a story.

Tone and Mood

The tone is nostalgic, gentle, and reflective. It's like someone looking back fondly and thoughtfully at a place full of history. The mood is calm and a little bit melancholic, but also warm.

Quick Review: 'Number 106'

Main Idea: A house is a living container of memories and identity.
Key Technique: Personification (the house is alive).
Themes: Home, Memory, Identity.
Feeling: Gentle, nostalgic, and thoughtful.

'Speech Balloon'

First, what's this poem about?

Think about a comic book. A character's words appear in a speech balloon. But what about the thoughts they *don't* say? This poem uses the idea of a speech balloon as a metaphor for communication. It explores the gap between what we say and what we truly mean, and the power of things left unsaid.

Let's Break It Down

• The Central Metaphor: The "speech balloon" represents our words. It's described as a fragile thing, "a white bubble of silence". This suggests that our words are delicate and can easily fail to express what's truly inside us.
• What's Inside?: The poem imagines what might be inside the balloon if you could look closely. You might see "the things that were not said," secrets, or truths that are too difficult to speak.
• The Shape of Words: The balloon holds the "shape of a mouth" and "the shape of a scream". This powerful imagery suggests that even when we are silent, the emotion and the desire to speak are still there, trapped.
• Words as Air: Words are compared to breath or air ("a puff of air"). This makes them seem temporary and insubstantial. Can they ever be enough to carry our real feelings? The poem asks us to question this.

Key Themes

• Communication and its Limits: The poem highlights how difficult it is to truly communicate our inner thoughts and feelings. Words can be inadequate.
• Silence and the Unsaid: Silence isn't just emptiness. It can be full of meaning, secrets, and powerful emotions. The most important things are often the ones we don't say.
• Truth and Honesty: The poem suggests that a hidden truth lies beneath the surface of our everyday conversations.

Literary Devices to Know

• Extended Metaphor: The entire poem is built around the single metaphor of the speech balloon.
• Imagery: Strong visual images are used to explore the abstract idea of communication. Example: "a white bubble of silence", "the shape of a scream".
• Symbolism: The balloon symbolises spoken words, while the space inside it symbolises unspoken thoughts.
• Structure: The poem is written in short stanzas with lots of white space around them. This visual emptiness on the page reinforces the themes of silence and things being left unsaid.

Tone and Mood

The tone is questioning and philosophical. The speaker is pondering a deep question about human connection. The mood is quiet, thoughtful, and slightly mysterious.

Quick Review: 'Speech Balloon'

Main Idea: Words are fragile and often fail to express our true, unspoken thoughts.
Key Technique: Extended metaphor of the speech balloon.
Themes: Communication, Silence, Truth.
Feeling: Questioning, thoughtful, and quiet.

'It Doesn't Matter'

First, what's this poem about?

This poem is like a powerful anthem of self-acceptance and defiance. The speaker lists all the ways society might judge or label them—their skin colour, their background, their choices—and dismisses it all with the repeated, powerful phrase, "It doesn't matter." It’s a declaration of freedom from the opinions of others.

Let's Break It Down

• The Power of Repetition: The phrase "It doesn't matter" is repeated throughout the poem. This technique is called anaphora (repeating a phrase at the beginning of lines). It acts like a drumbeat, making the poem sound strong, confident, and defiant.
• Contrasting Pairs: The speaker lists many opposites: "black or white", "straight or bent", "lost or found". By saying none of these labels matter, the speaker rejects a world that tries to force people into simple boxes. They are choosing to define themselves.
• Personal and Universal: The list includes very personal things ("if I wear a turban / or a rosary") and more universal experiences ("if I am right or wrong"). This shows that the poem is about both a personal struggle for identity and a wider statement about social pressure.
• The Final Word: The poem builds to a climax, with the final repetition of "It doesn't matter" feeling the most powerful and liberating of all. The speaker has found strength in ignoring judgment.

Key Themes

• Resilience and Defiance: The poem is a powerful act of resisting pressure and criticism. The speaker refuses to be broken by judgment.
• Identity and Self-Acceptance: The central message is about accepting yourself for who you are, regardless of societal labels. True identity comes from within.
• Freedom: By declaring "It doesn't matter," the speaker is claiming their freedom from the expectations and prejudices of others.

Literary Devices to Know

• Repetition (Anaphora): The repeated use of "It doesn't matter" is the key structural and rhetorical device. It creates rhythm and emphasizes the poem's message.
• Listing: The speaker lists various labels and judgments, which shows the wide range of pressures people face.
• Juxtaposition/Contrast: Placing opposing ideas next to each other (e.g., "black or white") highlights the simplistic way society tries to categorise people.

Tone and Mood

The tone is incredibly strong, defiant, and confident. It's not angry, but it is firm and unwavering. The mood is empowering and liberating, making the reader feel a sense of freedom and strength.

Did you know?

Imtiaz Dharker often works with images as well as words. She is also an accomplished artist and filmmaker. This visual sense comes through in the strong, clear imagery of her poems, like the "speech balloon" or the "layers of paint".

Quick Review: 'It Doesn't Matter'

Main Idea: A defiant declaration of self-worth and freedom from social judgment.
Key Technique: Repetition of the phrase "It doesn't matter."
Themes: Resilience, Identity, Freedom.
Feeling: Strong, defiant, and empowering.

Putting It All Together: Comparing the Poems

For your exam, you'll need to compare the poems. Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds! It's all about finding connections. Let's look at some ways these three poems relate to each other.

Comparing Themes

The biggest connecting theme is IDENTITY.

• 'Number 106': Identity is shaped by our place and past. We are part of the history of our homes.
• 'Speech Balloon': Identity is connected to our voice (or lack of it). Who are we, behind the words we choose to say?
• 'It Doesn't Matter': Identity is an act of personal choice and defiance. We can choose to reject labels and define ourselves.

Comparing Techniques and Tone

| Feature | 'Number 106' | 'Speech Balloon' | 'It Doesn't Matter' | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Main Technique | Personification | Extended Metaphor | Repetition (Anaphora) | | Structure | Gentle, free-flowing (enjambment) | Sparse, lots of white space | Strong, rhythmic, chant-like | | Tone | Nostalgic, gentle, reflective | Questioning, quiet, philosophical | Defiant, confident, strong | | Speaker's Voice | A quiet observer of the past | A curious and thoughtful ponderer | A powerful and resilient individual |

Common Mistake to Avoid!

When comparing poems, don't just describe one poem and then describe the other. You need to make direct links! Use comparison words like "Similarly...", "In contrast...", "While 'Number 106' explores identity through place, 'It Doesn't Matter' focuses on identity as an act of defiance...". This shows the examiner you are really analysing.

Final Thoughts

Imtiaz Dharker's poetry gives a voice to complex feelings about who we are. Whether it's the quiet memories in an old house, the secrets hidden in silence, or the loud refusal to be judged, her poems invite us to think about our own lives and identities.

You've done a great job working through these notes! Read the poems again with these ideas in mind. The more you read them, the more you will see. Good luck!