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Quiz Question: "Tissue" by Imtiaz Dharker
Question: In Imtiaz Dharker's poem "Tissue," what does paper mainly represent throughout the poem?
A) The fragility and impermanence of human life and the structures humans create
B) The strength and permanence of written records and historical documents
C) The power of governments to control their citizens through bureaucracy
D) The importance of religious texts in shaping cultural identity
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In "Tissue," Dharker employs paper — from Qur'anic pages that have become thin from use, to receipts, maps, and birth certificates — as a metaphor for the fragility and impermanence of human life and the various constructs (like buildings, borders, and identities) that people impose on the world. The poem ultimately conveys that, much like tissue paper, human life is delicate, translucent, and shaped by light rather than rigid structures.
What central metaphor does Imtiaz Dharker use throughout the poem "Tissue" to explore themes of human fragility, impermanence, and the power of light?
Rationale
In "Tissue," Dharker employs paper — including the pages of the Qur'an, maps, receipts, and architectural plans — as a central metaphor. This suggests that human creations (like identity, borders, records, and buildings) are as delicate as tissue paper. The poem conveys that if our lives were constructed from such transparent material, light could pass through, uncovering a more genuine and modest existence.
Quiz Question: "Tissue" by Imtiaz Dharker
Question: In Imtiaz Dharker's poem "Tissue," what does the speaker suggest about paper — especially the thin paper of the Qur'an — regarding its capabilities?
A) Permanently record historical battles and political conquests B) Allow light to pass through, highlighting the fragility and temporary nature of human creations C) Forever preserve the identities of nations and governments D) Reinforce the divisions between cultures and religions
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Dharker employs the image of delicate Qur'anic paper to convey that paper, in its most fragile form, can "let the light shine through" — serving as a metaphor for the vulnerability and fleeting nature of human-made structures (maps, borders, records, buildings). The poem suggests that life, much like tissue paper, is valuable because of its impermanence, rather than despite it.