1. How does the poet use language and imagery to convey the struggle between mother tongue and the adopted language in 'Search for My Tongue'? Provide one example from the poem.

In the poem 'Search for My Tongue', the poet Sujata Bhatt uses language and imagery to convey the struggle between her mother tongue (Gujarati) and the adopted language (English).

Step 1: Identify the use of language The poet uses both English and Gujarati in the poem to highlight the struggle between the two languages. She starts the poem in English, which represents the adopted language. Halfway through, she switches to Gujarati, representing her mother tongue. This switch in language helps to illustrate the internal conflict she is experiencing.

Step 2: Identify the use of imagery The poet uses the metaphor of the tongue to represent language. She describes her mother tongue as if it were a living thing that can be lost and then grow back. For example, she says, "It grows back, a stump of a shoot grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins". This imagery conveys the idea that her mother tongue, although seemingly forgotten, is still a part of her that can regenerate.

Step 3: Provide an example An example of how the poet uses language and imagery to convey this struggle is the line "It grows back, a stump of a shoot grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins". This line is a metaphor for the resurgence of her mother tongue. The use of the word "grows" repeatedly emphasizes the idea of regeneration and survival, suggesting that her mother tongue is not easily lost or replaced.