Indian Children Speak by Juanita Bell -Question and Answers

 Indian children speak - Poem of Juanita Bell

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Solutions by Mala Acharya

Indian children speak - Poem of Juanita Bell

1st Stanza

Here the people refer to the white people who have lots of misunderstandings about the Red Indians. They say Indians are not knowledgeable and it is difficult to teach them but the poet- Juanita Bell highlights the imaginary creative lines of the little boy who is an Indian. The little boy describes the companionship of the Moon with him. He narrates- on the last night when he was having a walk, the moon accompanied him and followed his way to all places. This shows the creative outlook of the little boy.

 *2nd stanza* 

In the second stanza, the white people describe the Red Indians to be timid,  silent, without words, and not expressive. The poet Juanita Bell contradicts the whites and shares the jovial nature of Pancy. Pancy is a girl who is wearing an old dress but becomes very happy as at night her old faded dress wore the coloured of the moon and has the look of a new dress.

 *3rd stanza* 

In the third stanza, the Red Indians have been described as dumb who have no brain and mind to think and never respond. The poet-  Juanita Bell highlights the poetic passion of Delores. Delores describes the beauty of the sunset. He feels as if God has gifted the Sky with a bright shawl.

 *4th stanza* 

Here in the 4th stanza, the whites consider the Indians to be indifferent and have no affection and care for others. The child named - Ramon Juanita Bell reflects the affection and caring attitude of Indians. The child named  Ramon has lost his mother. His mother is buried under the ground. Being alone Ramon feels insecure and unsafe which he shares with the poet. The wild animal symbolizes-  the danger,  fear, insecurity, and unsafe feeling of a child without the touch of the mother.

 *5th Stanza* 

Here in the fifth stanza - the whites have described the Red Indians to be unsocial and unfriendly in nature. To this remark, Juanita Bell recalls the words of Joe Henry where he expressed that a tree full of fruits always remains hanging down with humbleness but the sun only keeps staring at the tree filled with fruits.

Here the sun stands for the white people who give the staring look to Red Indians and so not able to recognize the good qualities of Indians. The tree stands for the Red Indians who are filled with wisdom but never boast of it.

 *6th Stanza* 

In the sixth - last stanza,  the white considers the Red Indians as people without humanity. To this, the poet Juanita Bell recalls the days when she had landed on Indian soil and was very warmly welcomed with all affection by the Indian people. The poet has treasured the invaluable friendship of the Indians as the greatest wealth. It is her love for the Indian people which inspired her to compose this poem and highlights the contradictory attitude of white people who fail to recognise the lovable nature and rich heart of Indians. On the other hand,  Indians in any situation always have a positive attitude.

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Indian Children Speak

Question and Answer by Mala Acharya

1        1.When you read the poem you come across some names as Pansy, Delores , Ramon and Joe Henry .How can you describe them together?

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

Pansy, Delores , Ramon and Joe Henry are all Red Indian Children.

 

2          2.Throughout the poem the phrase –‘ people said’ has been repeated. Who are these people?

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

 In the poem the phrase –‘ people said’ refers to the white people.

 

3. What does moon- coloured dress refer to?

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

Pansy with her creative ideas describes that when the moonlight falls on her old dress- it takes a new colour and looks beautiful . So she describes her old dress as moon- coloured dress.

 

4. Are the Indian Children really dumb ? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

No, the Indian children are not really dumb. The poet – Juanita Bell has very nicely described the creative mindset of the Indian children. The poet says- Delores describes the sunset scene that during the dusk hours , God throws a bright shawl around the shoulders of the sky.

 

5. Who do you think are rude - the white people or the Indians? Why do you think so?

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

The white people are rude because they think themselves superior than others, also are arrogant and proud . The Red Indian Children are bright, have affection and respect for others. Just like the trees with fruits, Indians are mainly humble in nature.

 

 6. What is the speakers attitude towards the Indian children?

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

 The speaker - Juanita Bell takes stand for the Red Indian Children. The poem describes the social problems like-  racial discrimination. We find Juanita Bell is quite understanding and sympathetic towards the Indian children.

 

7. How many voices do you hear in this poem ? Whose are they ?  

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

 There are three voices - the voice of the white people,  the voice of red Indian children and the voice of the speaker taking a stand for equality in society and does not support racial discrimination of her times.

 

8. The poem begins with ‘people said’. But towards the end of the poem the speaker says- ‘ I have forgotten the ideal words that people said’. Does this suggest a transition of mood and attitude in the speaker? Explain.

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

 Yes, it suggests a transition of mood and attitude in the speaker .The poet compares the mindset of the White people and the Red Indian children and suddenly recalls her visit to the Indian lands where she had experienced the love , affection and caring nature of the Indians.

9. What does the speaker convey in the last three lines of the poem?

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

In the last three lines of the poem, the speaker conveys that she has treasured the love ,affection and caring nature of the Indian people .These feelings are missing in the white people as they consider themselves superior to others.

 

10. Do you think the Indian children’s view of the world is different from that of the white people’s? How so?

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

 Yes, the Indian children’s views of the world is different from that of the white people’s. The poet has experienced this difference in attitude during her visit to Indian lands. She was respected by Indians but white people have a sense of racial superiority.

11. Is the speaker in the poem an American, Indian or a white American how do you know?

Ans. - The question is from the poem-“ Indian Children Speak “written by Juanita Bell.

The speaker in the poem is an American but not white American. She is an outsider with American citizenship and it seems she  also suffers from racial discrimination like the Red Indian Children.

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