Tissue (AQA GCSE English Literature): Revision Notes

Tissue

"Tissue" by Imtiaz Dharker

Context

Imtiaz Dharker is a contemporary poet who often explores themes of identity, culture, and the fragility of human life. In "Tissue," Dharker uses the metaphor of paper to explore ideas about the impermanence of human constructions—both physical and societal—and the delicate, yet powerful, nature of life.

The Poem

Paper that lets the light

← Metaphor

shine through, this

is what could alter things.

Paper thinned by age or touching,

The kind you find in well-used books,

the back of the Koran, where a hand

has written in the names and histories,

who was born to whom,

The height and weight, who

died where and how, on which sepia date,

pages smoothed and stroked and turned

← Imagery

transparent with attention.

If buildings were paper, I might

← Juxtaposition

feel their drift, see how easily

they fall away on a sigh, a shift

in the direction of the wind.

Maps too. The sun shines through

their borderlines, the marks

that rivers make, roads,

railtracks, mountainfolds,

Fine slips from grocery shops

that say how much was soldand what was paid by credit card

might fly our lives like paper kites.

← Simile

An architect could use all this,

place layer over layer, luminous

script over numbers over line,

and never wish to build again with brick

or block, but let the daylight break

through capitals and monoliths,

through the shapes that pride can make,

find a way to trace a grand design

with living tissue, raise a structure

never meant to last,

of paper smoothed and stroked

and thinned to be transparent,

turned into your skin.

← Symbolism

5 quotes + analysis to achieve a grade 9

1. Metaphor: "Paper that lets the light / shine through"

• Analysis: This metaphor suggests transparency and clarity, symbolising how knowledge and truth can illuminate and transform society. The "light" represents insight and understanding, which can "alter things," showing the power of ideas.

2. Imagery: "pages smoothed and stroked and turned / transparent with attention"

• Analysis: The delicate imagery of pages becoming "transparent with attention" reflects the care and reverence given to sacred texts. It emphasises the fragility of human knowledge and memory, as well as the lasting impact of careful preservation.

3. Simile: "might fly our lives like paper kites"

• Analysis: This simile compares the fragility of our lives to paper kites, which are easily controlled by the wind. It highlights how our lives are governed by external forces, suggesting the transient and delicate nature of human existence.

4. Juxtaposition: "If buildings were paper, I might / feel their drift"

• Analysis: The juxtaposition of solid buildings with the fragile nature of paper emphasises the impermanence of human constructs. It suggests that even the most enduring structures are vulnerable to change and decay.

5. Symbolism: "turned into your skin"

• Analysis: The final metaphor of paper being "turned into your skin" symbolises the deep connection between human identity and the physical world. It reflects the idea that our lives are imprinted with experiences and memories, making us as fragile and temporary as the paper we create.

Form & Structure Points

• Free Verse: The poem's lack of a strict structure reflects the fluidity and fragility of life, mirroring the delicate nature of paper.
• Extended Metaphor: The consistent comparison of paper to human life and structures creates a powerful metaphor that ties together the poem's themes of fragility and impermanence.
• Enjambment: The use of enjambment throughout the poem reflects the continuous flow of ideas and the interconnectedness of the themes.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "Tissue," Dharker explores the fragility of life through metaphor and imagery. The metaphor "Paper that lets the light / shine through" suggests the transformative power of knowledge, with "light" representing insight. Imagery like "pages smoothed and stroked and turned / transparent with attention" emphasises the delicate preservation of human history and memory. The simile "might fly our lives like paper kites" highlights the fragility of human existence, easily influenced by external forces. Juxtaposition in "If buildings were paper, I might / feel their drift" contrasts solid structures with the delicate nature of paper, emphasising impermanence. Finally, the symbolism in "turned into your skin" connects the physical world with human identity, suggesting that both are temporary and fragile. Through these devices, Dharker conveys the delicate and ephemeral nature of life...