#dictiondetective

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Diction Detective: Quynh

1. Page #    201

   Word/Phrase/Passage     "Every morning Mama and I massage jasmine oil sparkling with golden powders ... into Phulan's skin ... At night she weeps when we massage her hair with sandwood paste and mustard oil ... Every morning she lines her eyes with black kohl and massages the soft gold powder into the creases of her lids. "

   Reason for selection    I chose this passage because the wedding preparations serve to turn Phulan into a more beautiful object for Murad's consumption. 

   Questions    The author uses imagery to portray the scene of Phulan getting pampered in preparation for her wedding

2. Page #       208

      Word/Phrase/Passage       " With long, merciless strokes, she untangles the hair ... She outlines my eyes ... she puts rouge on my lips ... You do have a choice, my little quail, she says softly."

       Reason for selection        Sharma counsels Shabanu to use her good looks to    control her future husband, Rahim-sahib, because she offers the possibility that beauty can be used as a tool for a woman to get what she wants. 

       Questions        The author uses imagery to describe the scene when Sharma gives advice to Shabanu about her worries with Rahim-sahib

3. Page #     240

   Word/Phrase/Passage    "The secret is keeping your innermost beauty, the secrets of your soul, locked in your heart, Sharma's voice whispers in my ear."

   Reason for selection    Sharma's words gave Shabanu great wisdom about power and resisting power because when society attempts to force someone to do something against his or her will, they could always resist and great power resides in this kind of resistance.

   Questions    Staples quotes Sharma's words in the passage to demonstrate the importance behind it.

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Diction Detective: Sana

1. "My heart quickens with the realization  I've been disobeyed and left Phulan alone" (pg 153)

This phrase tells that Shabanu cares for her sister and when the author states that Shabanu's heart quickens says that she gets into reality and thinks deeper into the situations she comes across

2. "Immobilized with fear" (pg 155)

This states that Phulan is afraid and the author is stating that to a higher degree to make the reader see that it is to another level. 

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Diction Detective: Eailya

Pg 104 "How I long to be like  her - never to marry, to stay in the warm, safe circle of women." Why? the stories she has heard of women suffering in the hands of men has influenced shabanus perspective of the brutality of men. Women are influenced to endure and attempt to survive the harshness of men, which shapes shabanu to believe that shed rather live amongst her self just like sharma. Purpose of diction: the author is contemplating a general thought of issues women have to face in society. in harsher societies, women are burdened with certian expectations from others and their expected to tolerate those issues. Shabanu represents the class that wants to break free from those issues and rely on themselves.

Pg 108 "i sympathize, for i too feel like a child struggling to know what it is to be grown." Why? Shabanu thinks about this to her self once mithoo expresses hes " too grown" for such childish things as shabunu hugs him tightly. From seeing her sister about to get married and the expectations laid out for her as well in the future, it makes her more reluctant to realize she too will eventually have to grow up but doesn't know exactly how to since she cherishes her childhood so much. Purpose of diction : While Shabanu compares herself to a child, the author may be trying to identify the idea of children in general struggling to know what adulthood is like. Grasping the idea of " growing up " is difficult especially when that child doesn't want to have to face the responsibility and choices of adulthood. In a sense its a wake up call for children not being able to understand the harsh reality that we untimely will have to face.

Pg 139 " Grandfather's body lies out under the stars, alone for the first time since the sandstorm. I wonder whether his soul is near enough to hear the flute or, now that it is free, whether he can see inside my heart and know i am thinking of him. Why? Grandfather's death marks an important turning point for shabanu. she has lost the one person she was able to express her sorrows with. he was there with her  understanding and resisting the adult world. its taking her one step at a time to slip away from her childhood life Purpose of diction: the author is emphasizing the the strong bond between Shabanu and grandfather and that within the heavens and down on earth isnt something that blocks that specialty away

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Diction Detective: Quynh

1) Page #

     61

     Word/Phrase/Passage

     "Dadi sets me down, and I try to break away from him. He holds me firmly by the arm. I bite at him like a wild animal ... "Guluband!" I shout. My voice is like glass shattering and falling to the ground in splinters."

      Reason for Selection

      I chose this passage because it powerfully describes the event when Shabanu loses Guluband to Wardak. It felt like I was at the event it took place.

      Questions

       The author uses simile and imagery to portray an image of Guluband walking off with Wardak.  

2) Page #

      92

      Word/Phrase/Passage

       "Auntie wears an emerald silk tunic and skirt. It is plain, and I pity her that nothing she wears can show her good points, which sometimes are hidden even from our hearts."

       Reason for Selection

       This phrase characterizes Auntie, dadi's sister-in-law, who is a bitter woman but feels lonely among her relatives.

        Questions

         Staples uses imagery to compare Auntie's plain tunic and skirt to her personality

3) Page #

      92

      Word/Phrase/Selection

       "She looks like a flower blooming in the desert sunset ... and I wish I were half as graceful as she and Phulan are."

       Reason for Selection

       Shabanu often contrasts herself to her sister, Phulan, who is beautiful and graceful. She envies her and feels tomboyish in comparison, which represents an internal conflict within herself.

       Questions

       The author uses imagery and simile to display Shabanu's internal conflict when she contrasts herself to Phulan.

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Diction Detective: Sana

Page 5- “They used to be blue as the winter sky, with red flowers and ribbons”

There is imagery present, the author mentions these colors to give the reader an idea of what the skirt looked like that Shabanu has worn. 

Page 10- “His knees lift against his chest, his back legs striding twice for every step of a foreleg.”

The author mentions what Guluband is doing while Shabanu sings to him, which tells that Guluband is close to her and their bond is like no others

Page 34- “Waves of heat shimmer upward, and mirage lakes glisten among the dunes ahead.”

The author gives the reader an idea of what it would be like traveling on a hot sunny day.