Assignment 13

Who is Numanah?

Numanah is an Indian who wants to run away from the Indian land and their habits. When he ran away, he didn’t feel any better than before. So he decided to run back to the Indian land. Later in the poem he decided that he maybe wants to run away from the Indian land again.

 What is the significance of the title?
The title of the poem is “Sacred Circle”. The title refers to Numanah because he wants to run away all the time, so it is like a circle that never stops. He keeps running in circles because he isn’t feeling right everywhere he goes. Numanah wrote this poem to God for some sort of forgiveness and advice.

What does the opening line remind you of in regard to religion?
Numanah asks for forgiveness, so we think that the opening line refers to god. He asks his grandfather to grant him the grace. His grandfather could refer to God in this line.

Look at the list of themes in assignment 12, once again, and decide which of these relate to the poem and why. Give examples from the poem to explain your answers.
We think that the themes “home” and “hopes and dreams” are the most relatable to this poem. Numanah is looking for his “home”, because he wants to be free so he keeps running away from the places he has been. That’s why he doesn’t have a home.
The other theme is also relatable, because he has hopes and dreams. He wants to be free, but he doesn’t have any money so he is stuck. He can’t fulfill his dreams and loses hope.

What "shame" does the poet refer to? 
The shame the poet does refers to is the shame of Numanah’s family. His family must be ashamed of him running away again and again. And the shame of Numanah not knowing who he is.

How does the idea of living in-between cultures relate to the themes mentioned in assignment 12 and use examples from the poem to explain your answer.
1. Identity: Numanah is searching for his own identity. That is why he keeps running away all the time.
2. Hopes and dreams: Numanah dreams of a place where he can finally feel free and be himself. A place where he can stay and doesn’t have to run away anymore.
3. Home: Numanah isn’t feeling home anywhere. So he keeps running and running until he finds a place where he can finally feel free and be happy.
4. Education: Numanah has no money for education. He is trying to figure everything out by himself by running away from everything he has.
5. Race: Numanah is battling with himself. He keeps running away, but it has no sense because he keeps running in circles. It’s a race he will never win.
6. Traditions and customs: Numanah is breaking an Indian tradition; every Indian lives nearby their own place of birth, but Numanah has left his town.

7. Poverty: Numanah keeps running away because he has no money for anything else. He is trying to get somewhere but he keeps running in circles, he is not getting any better.
8. Literature and writing: Numanah writes this poem to god, he is losing hope.
9. Mortality: Numanah keeps running away from the Indian land. This could be a reason for him wanting to be with another folk.