An Unknown Girl

1. “in the evening bazaar / studded with neon”

Imagery, metaphor – “Studded” makes the neon lights feel like jewels, giving the scene a
romantic, glittering allure. Suggests India’s vibrancy and the speaker’s enchantment.
2. “an unknown girl / is hennaing my hand”
Juxtaposition of known/unknown – The intimacy of the act contrasts with the anonymity
of the girl. Highlights transient human connection and cultural depth.
3. “she steadies her hand on my arm”
Sensory detail, physical closeness – Suggests trust and a quiet bond. There’s tenderness
and calm, even though they’re strangers.
4. “as she scripts my skin”
Metaphor, alliteration (“scripts my skin”) – Henna is compared to writing, symbolising
storytelling, identity, and impermanence. Implies the act is meaningful.
5. “the little air catches”
Personification – The “air” is given agency, suggesting fragility and unpredictability.
Creates a gentle, intimate atmosphere.
6. “those who have never known fresh food”
Contrast, commentary – A jarring shift from the personal moment to harsh
socioeconomic realities. Reminds us that beneath beauty, there’s inequality.
7. “are selling”
Present continuous tense – Creates immediacy and realism. The present tense suggests
these events are still ongoing—poverty is not past but present.
8. “cries of the ice cream seller”
Auditory imagery – Adds to the sensory overload of the bazaar. The “cries” could also
hint at a longing or sadness beneath the surface joy.
9. “dummies in shop-fronts / tilt and stare”
Personification – The mannequins are eerie, almost lifelike. This could symbolize the
artificiality of commercialism, contrasting the organic henna moment.
10. “she is icing my hand, / painting my skin”
Metaphor, parallelism – “Icing” evokes sweetness and celebration, like decorating a
cake. The use of art-based verbs elevates the act into something sacred and expressive.
11.  “brown lines … a peacock spreads its lines across my palm”
Symbolism, cultural imagery – The peacock is a symbol of beauty and tradition in Indian
culture. The henna design transforms the speaker’s body into art.
12.  “for a few rupees”
Contrast, irony – Something so beautiful and meaningful is done for very little money.
Highlights the undervaluing of cultural craft and the poverty of the henna girl.
13.  “brushed with the sizzle / of butter-ghee”
Sensory imagery (smell/sound) – Multi-sensory language immerses us in the setting.
“Sizzle” has a musical quality, reflecting the richness of the experience.
14.  “a sari-clad girl / on the girl’s satin-peach knee”
Alliteration + visual detail – The colours and textures evoke femininity and cultural
pride. This mirrors the soft, intricate nature of the henna art.
15.  “I’ll lean across a country / with my hands outstretched”
Metaphor, emotive language – The speaker expresses a deep yearning to remain
connected. “Leaning across a country” suggests a physical and emotional bridge between
cultures.
16.  “longing for the unknown girl”
Repetition of title, emotional resonance – The anonymity of the girl becomes a metaphor
for longing, identity, and loss. The speaker craves not the person, but the feeling.
17.  “I am clinging / to these firm peacock lines”
Metaphor, emotional attachment – She tries to preserve the memory by holding onto the
fading henna. Symbolises the temporary yet profound nature of cultural encounters.
18.  “a people / who have never spoken English”
Cultural contrast, identity – Suggests alienation and admiration. The speaker reflects on
the linguistic divide, yet feels deeply connected.
19.  “clinging” / “I’ll lean” / “longing”
Repetition of verbs of desire and attachment – Reflects emotional vulnerability. She
doesn’t want to forget the experience, fearing it’ll slip away.
20. “with my hands outstretched” (ending)
Symbolism – Open hands represent openness to the world, acceptance, and connection.
The image is peaceful but also full of yearning—a desire to hold on to fleeting beauty.
21. “clinging to these firm peacock lines”
Symbolism + tactile language – The peacock, now firm, shows the speaker’s desire to
hold onto identity and memory. “Clinging” is physical and emotional—she’s desperate
not to lose her cultural moment.
22. “in the evening bazaar”
Setting, sensory atmosphere – The repeated setting anchors the reader in place and time.
It’s not just any bazaar—it’s a glowing, lively embodiment of tradition.
23. “a whisper / stirs the shadow-dusted lane”
Personification + auditory imagery – A whisper can’t stir anything literally, but here it
animates the space. The line gives the alley a mysterious, almost sacred quality.
24. “shadows / dusted”
Visual imagery + soft consonance – “Dusted” softens the darkness of “shadows,” adding
a kind of delicate beauty to the setting. It evokes twilight, transition, and memory.
25. “evening” vs. “bazaar”
Contrast in pace and tone – “Evening” suggests quiet, winding down. “Bazaar” is
buzzing, loud, alive. This push and pull mirrors the speaker’s inner state—torn between
calm reflection and vibrant energy.
26. “whisper” + “clinging” + “shadow”
Semantic field of fading/transience – All these words suggest that the moment is slipping
away. She’s caught in a temporary experience but doesn’t want to let it vanish.
27. Tone shift in final stanza
Reflective, nostalgic – The earlier vibrancy gives way to softness and introspection. The
tone mirrors the speaker’s inner journey from experience to memory.
28. Final lines form a loop with the opening
Circular structure – The poem opens in the bazaar and ends with its echo. This structural
choice reinforces the lasting emotional impact the unknown girl had on the narrator.
29. Absence of the girl’s name throughout
Theme of anonymity and universality – By never naming the girl, the poet makes her a
symbol—of culture, memory, connection. She is everyone and no one.
30. Free verse form (no rhyme, flowing enjambment)
Structural analysis – Mimics the fluidity of memory and the winding paths of thought. It
feels organic, like a real experience being relived.
31. “I have been marking the shadow of a hand”
Metaphor for lingering memory – This powerful image evokes a ghostly presence; she’s
literally and emotionally tracing the imprint this encounter left on her.
32. “against a wall”
Symbol of permanence vs. impermanence – Walls suggest solid memory, but shadows
fade. This tension captures her struggle to preserve the fleeting moment.
33. “not the whole of the hand”
Incompleteness motif – She doesn’t have the full experience—only a fragment. This
suggests a yearning for something lost or unattainable.
34. “but the firm peacock lines” (repetition)
Symbol of cultural identity revisited – The peacock is a national symbol of India. “Firm”
repeats from earlier, reinforcing the speaker’s attempt to cling to cultural memory.
35. “the brow of a building”
Personification – The building is given a human trait, making the surroundings feel alive.
It also mirrors the henna on a forehead—linking person and place.
36. “tracing / a tradition”
Alliteration + metaphor – The speaker is not just recalling a girl but engaging with
something larger—an entire cultural legacy. This elevates the henna to a sacred act.
37. “in the evening bazaar” (final repetition)
Framing device + structure – This line bookends the poem, suggesting circularity. The
moment is gone but also eternal in memory.
38. Tone: elegiac and reverent
Tone analysis – There’s deep admiration and gentle mourning here. It’s not just memory
—it’s tribute.
39. Theme: Identity and Belonging
Abstract analysis – The girl has left a mark not only on skin but on soul. The speaker’s
exploration of self through another culture is quiet but profound.
40. Structure: poem closes with imagery, not conclusion
Deliberate openness – No hard ending. The final image leaves the reader with lingering
emotion, just as the speaker is left with lingering memory.
41. Title: “An Unknown Girl”
Mystery and anonymity – The girl isn’t named, suggesting the universal and symbolic
nature of the encounter. She represents more than just a person—perhaps a culture, a
memory, or a part of the speaker’s own identity.
42. Use of Present Tense Throughout
Creates immediacy – Although it’s a past experience, the use of present tense (“I am…”)
keeps the moment alive, showing how fresh and vivid this memory remains for the
speaker.
43. Free Verse Structure
Fluidity of thought and memory – No strict rhyme or rhythm mirrors the way memories
 flow, sometimes disjointed, sometimes vivid. The lack of punctuation in places reinforces
this.
44. Cultural Blending
Hybridity – The speaker is clearly an outsider, but there's deep appreciation and
connection. Her immersion in the henna tradition speaks to themes of cultural respect and
exploration.
45. Symbolism of Henna/Mehndi
Memory, impermanence, identity – Henna is temporary, like the memory. Yet, it leaves a
deep impression. It symbolizes the imprint of moments, people, and culture.
46. Contrast: Urban and Traditional
Juxtaposition – The neon and electricity of the bazaar clash and harmonize with the
ancient tradition of henna. This reflects a world where the old and new coexist.
47. Sensory Imagery
Immersion – The poem is bursting with sensory detail: “brown veins,” “whispering,”
“neon,” “highlighting.” It fully transports the reader, mirroring how the speaker was
transported emotionally and spiritually.
48. The Girl as a Mirror
Projection of self – The unknown girl becomes a mirror through which the speaker
explores her own identity. The act of being marked connects them briefly but powerfully.
49. Repetition of “evening bazaar” and “unknown girl”
Structural anchor – This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and emphasizes the
significance of these two core images—the place and the person.
50. Open Ending
Lingering impact – No resolution, no goodbye. Just a final image—marking a shadow.
This suggests how some moments stay with us, haunting and beautiful, even if they’re
over.
51.  Autobiographical Tone
The poem reads like a personal travel memoir in verse. This intimacy draws the reader
into the speaker’s reflective state and suggests emotional authenticity.
52.  Identity as Fluid and Fragmented
The henna is temporary, but its memory is permanent. The speaker’s identity is shaped by
fleeting encounters, implying that identity can be influenced by even brief cultural
interactions.
53.  Post-Colonial Undertones
The speaker is likely from a Western background, visiting a South Asian country. There's
no exoticisation, though—instead, there's respectful curiosity, reversing colonial
stereotypes.
54.  Henna as Language
The girl is “writing” on the speaker's hand—implies that henna is a form of nonverbal
communication between cultures, shared through gesture, tradition, and care.
55.  Feminine Solidarity
The relationship between the speaker and the girl is gentle, respectful, and intimate—no
words are exchanged, but there's a quiet bond formed through an ancient, female-centred
art.
56.  Spiritual and Sensual Imagery
The mingling of lights, scents, and skin evokes a dreamlike quality. This suggests not just
an aesthetic experience, but something soulful—a spiritual awakening or longing.
57.  The Market as a Living Organism
With its “highlighting” and “neon,” the evening bazaar is personified and pulsing with
life. It feels like a character in the poem—part of the memory, not just a setting.
58.  Memory vs. Reality
The speaker admits the henna will fade, but the memory won’t. This sets up a contrast
between physical impermanence and emotional permanence—key for high-level analysis.
59.  Cultural Inscription
The speaker is being “written” on, not just physically but metaphorically. This suggests
that travel—and genuine cultural connection—leaves a mark deeper than skin.
60.  Poem as a Cultural Snapshot
This isn’t a narrative with plot; it’s a freeze-frame moment full of texture. The poem
functions almost like a Polaroid: one brief click of life, rich with unseen backstories and
resonance.

📝 Model Answer: How does the writer present the narrator’s feelings about
identity and belonging in An Unknown Girl?

In An Unknown Girl, Moniza Alvi explores the speaker’s yearning for cultural connection
and self-identity through a poignant and symbolic encounter with a henna artist. The poem is
rich with sensory detail and metaphor, capturing the complex emotions of the speaker as she
grapples with belonging, memory, and the lasting imprint of experience. Through evocative
language and reflective structure, Alvi presents the speaker’s deep emotional engagement
with a moment that transcends time and place.

From the outset, Alvi uses symbolic imagery to present the narrator’s longing for identity.
The act of getting a henna tattoo in a “evening bazaar” becomes a ritual of cultural
engagement. The phrase “an unknown girl is hennaing my hand” suggests both intimacy and
distance—the speaker desires connection, yet the girl remains nameless, unknowable. This
encapsulates the speaker’s broader feeling of being both within and outside of the culture
she’s engaging with. The tactile, present-tense action immerses us in the experience and
heightens the emotional immediacy.

Alvi extends this feeling of longing by portraying the henna not just as body art but as a
symbolic “purse” she will carry “through the airport.” This metaphor represents the speaker’s
attempt to hold onto identity and experience, even as she prepares to leave. The use of future
tense—“I’ll lean across a country”—emphasises the enduring emotional impact of this
moment. The henna, although temporary in appearance, becomes a permanent emotional
inscription. This contrast between fading physical marks and lasting psychological ones
reflects the speaker’s conflicted feelings about cultural belonging.

The theme of impermanence is also powerfully explored. The speaker knows the henna will
fade, describing it as “fading fast,” yet she asserts “it will never be gone.” This contradiction
presents the henna as both ephemeral and eternal. The use of soft alliteration in “fading fast”
 mirrors the gentle disappearance of the physical tattoo, while the certainty of “never be gone”
reinforces the strength of emotional memory. This tension mirrors the speaker’s own
struggle: she is not fully part of the culture, but she is deeply affected by it.

The poem’s structure reflects the speaker’s internal journey. It is free verse, without rhyme or
a rigid form, which mirrors the speaker’s fluid and searching state of mind. The lack of
punctuation in some places creates a flowing, almost meditative rhythm, as if the speaker is
reliving the memory in a continuous stream of thought. This structure supports the idea that
the experience has embedded itself in her consciousness in a way that traditional chronology
cannot contain.

Language of sensuality and detail enhances the emotional impact. Descriptions such as
“liquid sun,” “amber perfume,” and “the peach-coloured sari” engage the senses and evoke
richness, warmth, and vibrancy. This sensory overload reflects the speaker’s deep immersion
in the environment and her desire to internalise it. The aesthetic beauty of the setting
becomes symbolic of the speaker’s emotional pull towards the culture, a place where she
feels more vividly alive and more connected.

By the end of the poem, Alvi presents a speaker who is marked—not just by henna, but by a
newfound understanding of self. The phrase “It will fade in a week” is almost mournful, as
the speaker anticipates the loss of the visual reminder of this identity. Yet, her statement
“This is a little bit of India” shows that even if the image fades, the emotional and cultural
significance remains. The speaker finds identity not in permanence, but in memory and
emotion.

In conclusion, Alvi masterfully conveys the narrator’s feelings of cultural yearning,

emotional attachment, and the search for belonging through rich symbolism, sensory
language, and fluid structure. The poem suggests that identity is not fixed or easily defined,
but formed through meaningful encounters—like the delicate lines of a henna tattoo that may
fade from the skin, but remain etched on the heart.

In An Unknown Girl, Moniza Alvi explores the narrator’s profound yearning for cultural identity
and a deeper sense of belonging. Through evocative imagery, symbolism, and structural choices,
Alvi presents a speaker who feels emotionally tied to a cultural experience that is both fleeting
and deeply affecting. The encounter with the henna artist becomes more than a moment—it
becomes a metaphor for the complexities of diasporic identity, self-discovery, and the emotional
imprint of cultural roots.

From the opening line, “in the evening bazaar,” Alvi places the reader in a bustling, evocative
setting. This immediate immersion into a culturally rich environment serves as a symbolic space
—lively, sensual, and reflective of the culture the narrator feels drawn toward. The line “an
unknown girl is hennaing my hand” presents the act of body art as deeply intimate, yet
paradoxically anonymous. The girl remains unnamed and unknowable, highlighting the
speaker’s simultaneous connection to and detachment from the culture. This ambiguity reflects
the speaker’s own internal conflict: she is seeking closeness with her heritage but feels like an
outsider looking in.
The henna becomes a central symbol of identity, memory, and impermanence. Alvi describes the
henna as a “brown line,” “fine needle,” and later, a “little bit of India.” These images transform
the henna into a metaphor for heritage—the “fine needle” suggests delicacy and precision,
perhaps the fragile nature of cultural connection for someone raised outside her country of
origin. When the speaker declares she will carry it “through customs and the airport,” it reflects a
desperate attempt to hold on to the identity she’s found, even as she physically moves away. The
henna becomes more than decoration; it becomes emotional luggage—a symbolic passport of
sorts.

Alvi reinforces this emotional resonance through the repeated imagery of fading. “It will fade in
a week” is stated matter-of-factly, but its emotional impact is devastating. The narrator is aware
that this cultural imprint is temporary—yet she clings to it as though it were eternal. The
juxtaposition between the transient nature of henna and the permanence of the emotional
experience creates a powerful tension. The speaker insists, “it will never be gone,” suggesting
that while the physical marks will vanish, the memory and emotional transformation will remain
indelible.

Language throughout the poem is saturated with sensual detail, immersing the reader in the
richness of the cultural environment. Phrases like “liquid sun,” “amber perfume,” and “peach-
coloured sari” evoke vibrancy and beauty. These sensory details not only reflect the physical
experience but also mirror the speaker’s emotional state—she is alive, aware, and deeply
connected in this moment. The lush imagery heightens the sense of cultural immersion and
highlights what the speaker feels she lacks in her daily life elsewhere.

The structure of the poem—free verse, enjambment, and lack of rigid form—mirrors the
emotional fluidity of the speaker. There’s a dreamlike rhythm to the poem, as though the speaker
is caught in a memory or a longing that loops in her mind. This lack of structure may also reflect
the speaker’s search for identity; her thoughts spill freely, like the henna designs, unsure of
where they will end. The use of first-person narrative creates intimacy, allowing us to experience
the emotional depth of the narrator’s longing firsthand.

Moreover, the tone of the poem gradually shifts from wonder to melancholy. Initially, the
speaker is enchanted, absorbed in the sensory pleasures and symbolic weight of the henna. But
by the end, as she prepares to leave and acknowledges the fading of the design, there’s a sense of
quiet sorrow. The phrase “clinging to the side of my hand” could be read as a metaphor for her
desperate attempt to hold on to something that’s slipping away—not just the henna, but the sense
of belonging she momentarily felt.

Ultimately, An Unknown Girl presents a powerful meditation on identity in the context of

cultural displacement. The narrator's encounter with the unknown girl is brief, yet it reveals a
deep emotional need for connection, for understanding her heritage, and for holding on to
something meaningful. Alvi suggests that identity is not fixed or singular but composed of
fleeting moments, imprints, and emotional truths. Though the henna fades, its symbolic impact
does not—leaving the speaker forever marked by memory and longing.