Page 2 - NCERT Questions and Answers

Amanda wishes to be like Rapunzel. However, she also makes a point that in order to avoid
being disturbed she would never let her hair down for anyone to climb to her. She needs no
one to make her life happy.
Question 8.What does the girl yearn for? What does this poem tell you about Amanda?
Answer: A girl like Amanda yearns for freedom and space for herself. She is incapable to fulfill
the expectations of her parents. Amanda is no less than a symbol for all the children who face
similar fate irrespective of class, colour or nationality. Traditional societies demand a certain
type of behaviour from the individuals and the training begins at a very young age. Parents
ignore the innocence and understanding level of their children and thereby the young children
end up killing their imagination and thoughts.

Question 9.Read the last stanza. Do you think Amanda is sulking and is moody?
Answer: No, Amanda is neither sulking nor moody. She is simply not interested enough in the
nagging business of her parents. Amanda cares more about her imagination and thought
process over the manners her parents are trying to inculcate into her.