Girl Group

Question:

mrosario34
mrosario34
Student
College - Freshman

I need to know if anyone found any playfulness in the exchange in "Girl" or did it just sound harsh?

If you did find playfulness what was it?

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Posted by mrosario34 on Friday September 12, 2008 at 5:07 PM and tagged with girl, playfulness, style, tone.

Answers:


  1. sullymonster Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    The dictations of the mother towards the daughter waver between being didactic and critical in this short narrative poem.  She tells her adolescent daughter how to take care of everything from the household to a man, but she also criticizes her daughter's behavior, accusing her of singing benna, playing with boys, and - overall - behaving in a way that will lead her to become a slut.  If we place the narrative in the mouth of the mother, than the word choice and rhythm are too forceful to be playful.

    However, if we turn the story around and assume - as some critics have done - that this is an internal monologue, then the entire piece could take on a facetious or playful tone.  I can imagine the title "Girl" chanting to herself in a false, catty voice as if she is imitating her mother.  In this case, the relentless continuity of the instructions become more ridiculous than critical.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/girl/
    http://www.enotes.com/girl/rhythm-reality-works-jamaica-k...

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    Posted by sullymonster on Saturday September 13, 2008 at 8:02 PM