Fatimah Asghar: If They Come For Us

Welcome to Your Guide on Fatimah Asghar: If They Come For Us

Hello! Welcome to these study notes for Fatimah Asghar’s powerful poetry collection. This text is part of your Component 02: The Language of Literary Texts. Specifically, we are looking at The Language of Poetry.

Asghar’s work is exciting because it doesn’t always look like "traditional" poetry. She uses crossword puzzles, bingo cards, and even floor plans to tell her story. Don’t worry if some of it feels confusing at first—poetry is like a puzzle, and these notes will give you the tools to solve it. We will focus on how Asghar uses language to explore identity, history, and belonging.

Quick Review: What are we looking for?
In this section of the OCR course, you need to show how linguistic (language) and literary (creative) techniques work together. Think of it like this: if the poem is a building, the linguistics are the bricks and mortar, and the literary features are the style and decoration.

1. Understanding the Context: The "Big Picture"

To understand Asghar’s language, we first need to understand where she is coming from. Context is the "background noise" that helps us understand the meaning of the words.

Key Contextual Factors:

The Partition of 1947: This was when India was divided into two countries (India and Pakistan). It caused massive violence and displaced millions of people. Asghar’s family was directly affected by this history.
Analogy: Imagine a line being drawn right through your house, and suddenly you are told you don't belong on one side of it anymore.

The Diaspora: This refers to people who have been scattered from their original homeland. Asghar writes as a Pakistani-Kashmiri-American. She is looking for "home" in a world where she often feels like an outsider.

The "Other": This is a pragmatic concept (the social meaning behind language). Asghar explores how society labels certain people as "different" or "dangerous" because of their religion or skin color.

Did you know? Fatimah Asghar is also a screenwriter! She co-created the web series Brown Girls. This helps explain why her poetry feels so visual and conversational.

2. Lexis and Semantics: The Power of Word Choice

Lexis simply means the words a writer chooses. Semantics is the meaning those words create.

Code-Switching

Asghar often uses code-switching—mixing English with Urdu or other languages.
Example: She might use words like nani (grandmother) or ammi (mother).
Why? This shows that her identity is a mix of cultures. It forces the English-speaking reader to step into her world, rather than her always translating for them.

The Semantic Field of the Body

Asghar uses a lot of imagery related to the human body (skin, blood, hair, scars).
The Effect: By using a semantic field of anatomy, she makes the abstract idea of "history" feel very physical. History isn't just in books; it’s "written" on her body.

Memory Aid: The "Word Filter"

When looking at a poem, ask yourself:
1. Is the language Formal or Colloquial (casual)?
2. Are there Abstract words (like "freedom") or Concrete words (like "blood")?
3. Does she use Taboo language? (Asghar often uses "bad" words to show anger or raw emotion).

Key Takeaway: Asghar’s word choices bridge the gap between her American life and her South Asian heritage.

3. Grammar and Discourse: Breaking the Rules

Grammar is how sentences are built. Discourse is the overall structure of the text.

Pattern-Breaking and Deviation

In the OCR syllabus, deviation is a key term. It means "breaking the normal rules of language." Asghar does this a lot:

• Lack of Punctuation: Many poems have no full stops or commas.
  Effect: It creates a "breathless" feeling, like a rush of thoughts or a panic attack.
• Unconventional Forms: She writes poems in the shape of a crossword puzzle or a multiple-choice test.
  Effect: This suggests that being "South Asian in America" is like being constantly tested or trying to solve a puzzle that doesn't fit.

The Use of Pronouns

Watch how she uses "We" versus "They".
- "We" often creates a sense of community and sisterhood.
- "They" often represents the government, the police, or people who don't understand her.
Pragmatics tip: This creates an "us vs. them" dynamic, which is common in literature about marginalized groups.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't just say "she doesn't use periods." Instead, say: "Asghar utilizes grammatical deviation by omitting terminal punctuation to create a sense of enjambment and urgency."

4. Phonology and Prosodics: The Sound of Poetry

Phonology is the study of sounds. Prosodics relates to the rhythm and "beat" of the poem.

Alliteration and Plosives

When Asghar writes about violence or the Partition, she often uses plosive sounds (letters like 'p', 'b', 't', 'd', 'k', 'g').
Example: Harsh, hitting sounds that mimic the sound of gunfire or slamming doors.
Analogy: Plosives are like the "percussion" in a song—they add a hard, rhythmic beat.

Sibilance

The repetition of 's' sounds. Depending on the poem, this can sound sinister (like a snake) or soothing (like a whisper). Look at the context to decide which one it is!

Oral Tradition

Asghar’s poetry is meant to be heard. It draws on the spoken word tradition. This means the rhythm is often irregular, like natural speech, rather than a strict "da-DUM da-DUM" rhythm (iambic pentameter).

Quick Review:
- Plosives = Hard/Violent sounds.
- Sibilance = Hushing/Hissing sounds.
- Assonance = Repeated vowel sounds (can create a "mood").

5. Step-by-Step: How to Analyze a Poem for the Exam

If you feel stuck during the exam, follow these steps:

Step 1: Look at the Shape. Is it a "normal" poem, or is it foregrounded (standing out) because of a weird shape like a bingo card? (This is Discourse).

Step 2: Check the "Voice." Who is speaking? Is it a child? A ghost? A modern woman? (This is Point of View).

Step 3: Find 3 Key Words. Find words that seem to belong together (a semantic field). Are they words about nature? War? Cooking?

Step 4: Connect to Context. How does this language relate to being an immigrant or the history of Partition?

Encouraging Phrase: You don't need to know every single Urdu word or historical date to get a high grade. You just need to show how the language makes the reader feel!

Summary: Key Takeaways

• Identity is Fluid: Asghar uses lexis from multiple cultures to show she belongs to many places at once.
• Form is Meaning: When she breaks the structure of a poem, she is showing how her life or her history feels "broken" or "complicated."
• The Personal is Political: A poem about a simple "Haring" (braiding hair) can actually be about generational trauma and survival.
• Repetition is Key: Asghar uses repetition to emphasize things she can't forget—like the names of family members or the feeling of fear.

Final Tip: When you write your essay, try to use the phrase "Asghar constructs a sense of...". This shows the examiner that you realize the poet is making deliberate choices with her language!