In Answer To Their Questions Poem Analysis

Have you ever had a struggle with your identity? Did you ever think that you’ve never belonged? In this essay, I will discuss the topic of identity and sense of belonging from three poems. “Are You the Good Kind of Muslim?” made by Samira Ahmed talks about her struggle with identity and her sense of belonging. By Giovanna Capone, “In Answer to Their Questions” is a poem about her struggle with her sense of belonging. Finally, “Identity” by Julio Noboa explains his take on fitting in and refusing to be in society’s image. Many authors use negative word choices and connotations to show identity and a sense of belonging over time. In the poem “Are You the Good Kind of Muslim?”, Samira Ahmed uses word choice to show the impact on her identity by other people. In the poem, it states, “You pause,/wide-eyed/uncertain/a little confused…” (Ahmed 16-19). Ahmed says this with the intention of showing a negative reaction to the question “Are you the god kind of Muslim?”. These second-person POVs that she writes represent her own personal experiences and others. They represent all Muslims that have experienced this, using her own style to show that. She first shows her own struggling sense of belonging and identity. Then at the end of the poem, she switches and is confident.

Capone states, “Ginzos straight off the boat/Slick-haired, like vermin they bring disease” (26-27). This shows how she struggles with her sense of belonging, believing she isn’t like the Americans. She uses the words ginzos, vermin, and slick-haired and utilizes them as a build-up to her confidence later at the end of the poem. These statements are leverage for her self-esteem and confidence rising. Overall, she uses connotations to portray her and her ancestor’s struggle in