"First Neighbours" by P.K. Page- CORE-VIII CANADIAN STUDIES

 Part II: "First Neighbours" by P.K. Page

Stanza 1:

 "The people I live among, unforgivingly 

previous to me, grudging

 the way I breathe their 

property, the air,"

Let's break it down:

This stanza introduces the speaker's sense of being an outsider. The neighbors are described as "unforgivingly previous," suggesting they have an established presence that the speaker feels excluded from. The idea of grudging even the air implies a deep sense of unwelcome.

Stanza 2: "speaking a twisted dialect to my differently

 shaped ears 

though I tried to adapt

 (the girl in a red tattered 

petticoat, who jeered at me for my burned bread 

Go back where you came from

 I tightened my lips; knew that England 

was now unreachable, had sunk down into the sea 

without ever teaching me about washtubs)"

Let's break it down:

This stanza delves deeper into the speaker's feelings of alienation. The "twisted dialect" emphasizes the cultural and linguistic barriers. The incident with the girl in the red petticoat illustrates the hostility and rejection the speaker faces. The reference to England sinking into the sea symbolizes the impossibility of returning to the familiar, while also highlighting the speaker's lack of practical knowledge in this new environment.

Stanza 3: 

got used to being 

a minor invalid, expected to make

 inept remarks,

 futile and spastic gestures

 (asked the Indian 

about the squat thing on a stick

 drying by the fire: ls that a toad? 

Annoyed. he said No no, 

deer liver, very good)

Let's break it down:

Here, the speaker describes adapting to a new identity as an outsider. The term "minor invalid" suggests feeling incapacitated by cultural differences. The misidentification of the deer liver as a toad illustrates the speaker's unfamiliarity with local customs and the resulting social awkwardness.

Stanza 4: 

Finally I grew a chapped tarpaulin

 skin; I negotiated the drizzle 

of strange meaning, see it

 down to just the latitude: 

something to be endured

 but not surprised by .

Let's break it down:

This stanza shows the speaker's gradual adaptation. The "chapped tarpaulin skin" metaphor suggests developing a tougher, more weathered exterior to cope with the harsh new environment. "Negotiating the drizzle of strange meaning" implies slowly coming to terms with cultural differences.

Stanza 5: "

Inaccurate. The forest can still crick me:

 one afternoon while I was drawing

 birds. a malignant face

 flickered over my shoulder;

 the branches quivered."

Let's break it down:

Despite adaptation, the speaker still experiences moments of unease. The "malignant face" and quivering branches suggest lingering fears and a sense of being watched or judged in this unfamiliar environment.

Stanza 6: 

Resolve : to be both tentative and hard to startle 

(though clumsiness and 

fright are inevitable) 

In this area where my damaged 

knowing of the language means 

prediction is forever impossible.

Let's break it down:

The final stanza expresses the speaker's strategy for coping: remaining cautious yet resilient. The acknowledgment of inevitable "clumsiness and fright" shows ongoing challenges. The "damaged knowing of the language" emphasizes the permanent nature of being an outsider, where full understanding and prediction remain elusive.

Quick Review - Short Questions:

1. Q: How does the speaker describe the people she lives among?

   A: The speaker describes them as "unforgivingly previous to me."

2. Q: What does the speaker say these people grudge her?

   A: They grudge the way she breathes their "property, the air."

3. Q: What article of clothing is mentioned in relation to a girl who jeered at the speaker?

   A: A red tattered petticoat is mentioned.

4. Q: What had happened to England, according to the speaker?

   A: England had "sunk down into the sea."

5. Q: What does the speaker say she got used to being?

   A: The speaker got used to being "a minor invalid."

6. Q: What does the speaker ask the Indian about?

   A: The speaker asks about "the squat thing on a stick drying by the fire."

7. Q: What kind of skin does the speaker say she grew?

   A: The speaker says she grew a "chapped tarpaulin skin."

8. Q: What does the speaker say she negotiated?

   A: The speaker negotiated "the drizzle of strange meaning."

9. Q: What appears over the speaker's shoulder while she's drawing birds?

   A: A malignant face flickered over her shoulder.

10. Q: What does the speaker resolve to be at the end of the poem?

    A: The speaker resolves to be "both tentative and hard to startle."

Detailed Discussion - Longer Questions:

1. Q: Analyze the theme of cultural alienation in "First Neighbours".

   A: Page explores cultural alienation through:

   - The speaker's difficulty in understanding the local dialect

   - Her perceived ineptitude in daily tasks (e.g., burned bread)

   - The feeling of being grudgingly tolerated by neighbors

   - The loss of connection to her homeland (England)

   - Her resolution to remain "tentative," suggesting ongoing outsider status

2. Q: Discuss the use of sensory imagery in "First Neighbours".

   A: Page uses sensory imagery to convey the speaker's experience:

   - Auditory: "twisted dialect" to "differently shaped ears"

   - Tactile: "chapped tarpaulin skin"

   - Visual: "red tattered petticoat," "malignant face"

   - Gustatory: "deer liver, very good"

   - Kinesthetic: "futile and spastic gestures"

3. Q: Explain how Page creates a tone of discomfort and adaptation in the poem.

   A: Page creates this tone through:

   - The speaker's self-deprecating descriptions ("minor invalid," "inept remarks")

   - The gradual process of adaptation described

   - The underlying tension between the speaker and her environment

   - The resolution to be "tentative and hard to startle"

   - The final acknowledgment that "prediction is forever impossible"

In-depth Analysis - Essay Question:

Q: Analyze how P.K. Page explores the themes of cultural displacement and adaptation in "First Neighbours". How does she use imagery, tone, and structure to convey the speaker's experience as an outsider?

Let's begin with an introduction:

In "First Neighbours," P.K. Page delves into the complex experience of cultural displacement and the challenging process of adaptation. Through vivid imagery, a distinctive tone, and a revealing structure, Page paints a poignant picture of an outsider struggling to find her place in a new and often hostile environment.

I. Imagery

Page employs striking imagery to convey the speaker's sense of displacement:

- The "twisted dialect" and "differently shaped ears" emphasize communication barriers.

- The "chapped tarpaulin skin" suggests both protection and discomfort in the new environment.

- The "malignant face" flickering over the shoulder while drawing birds symbolizes the persistent sense of unease and alienation.

These images work together to create a visceral sense of the speaker's discomfort and otherness in her new surroundings.

II. Tone

The poem's tone evolves, reflecting the speaker's journey of adaptation:

- Initially, there's a sense of frustration and hurt ("unforgivingly," "grudging").

- This shifts to self-deprecation ("minor invalid," "inept remarks").

- Finally, there's a tone of cautious resolution ("both tentative and hard to startle").

This progression in tone mirrors the stages of cultural adaptation, from initial shock to attempted integration.

III. Structure

The poem's structure reflects the disjointed nature of the speaker's experience:

- It begins with broad statements about the neighbors and environment.

- It then moves to specific incidents (the girl with the petticoat, the interaction with the Indian).

- The final stanzas become more introspective, focusing on the speaker's internal response to her situation.

This structure mimics the process of cultural adaptation, moving from broad observations to specific interactions to internal adjustments.

IV. Themes

The poem explores several interconnected themes:

- Cultural Displacement: The speaker's struggle to understand and be understood in a new environment.

- Adaptation: The gradual process of developing a "chapped tarpaulin skin" to navigate the new culture.

- Identity: The tension between the speaker's past (England) and present circumstances.

- Otherness: The persistent feeling of being an outsider, even as adaptation occurs.

Conclusion:

In "First Neighbours," P.K. Page crafts a nuanced exploration of cultural displacement and adaptation. Through her use of evocative imagery, shifting tone, and revealing structure, she captures the complex and often painful experience of being an outsider in a new culture. The poem highlights the challenges of cross-cultural communication, the psychological toll of displacement, and the resilience required to adapt to a new environment. Ultimately, Page's work serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing negotiation of identity and belonging that characterizes the immigrant experience.