An Introduction written by Kamala Das

                         An Introduction

                                           ___ Kamala Das

1. How does Kamala Das introduce herself and her poetry in ‘An Introduction?’

= She introduces herself as “Indian,” “born in Malabar,” “very brown,” and as a speaker of three languages. Two, she says, she writes in, and one she dreams in. She also notes that the languages she speaks are “mine,” tinted by her history and ideas.

2. What is Kamala Das poetry known for?

= Her poetry is for its open exploration of women’s lives, sexuality, oppression, and contemporary Indian life and politics.

3. What did Kamala Das want to say in ‘An Introduction?’

= Kamala Das wanted to promote equal rights for women. She was concerned with the confines of marriage, societal restrictions and how they differ for men and women.

4. Why is ‘An Introduction’ a confessional poem?

= ‘An Introduction’ addresses personal emotions and experiences, trademarks of confessional poetry. Often, this type of poetry also engages with “taboo” feelings, or those that society normally doesn’t engage with.

5. How does Kamala Das speak for women in ‘An Introduction?’

= She promotes independence for women and a respect for their individual lives. She spends parts of the poem talking about herself but does so in a way that advocates for equal rights between the sexes.