25th Annual Student Research Conference
Ten Thousand Miles Away: Inspiration and Memory in Agha Shahid Alis The "Tiger at 4:00 A.M"
Joshua J. Burton
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
In the poem "The Tiger at 4:00 A.M." Agha Shahid Ali references his own process of writing, the poet's imagination feeding on the news of the man-eating tiger which is now becoming a poem. Ali, a Kasmiri-American poet, finding in a moment the impulse to creativity from ten thousand miles away, discovers the synthesis of product and creation. Although ephemeral, his memories and emotional ties to India are birthed in the lines of his poetry. I will look at how this poem illustrates the narrators relationship to his memories of India and how they act as a source for his inspiration.
Keywords: English, Tiger, Cullture, Poetry
Topic(s):History
Geography
Asian-American Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 408-4
Location: VH 1408
Time: 3:15