This document provides an introduction and analysis of the poem "An Introduction" by Kamala Das. It discusses Das' biography and background as an Indian poet who wrote in both English and Malayalam. It then analyzes the themes of finding oneself, women's struggles, sexuality and alienation in the poem. The structure and literary devices used in the poem are also summarized, including its free form style and use of imagery, symbolism and alliteration. Context and citations from Das' works are also provided.

1. An
Introduction
By Kamala
Das

2. ● Presented by -Nehalba Gohil
● Class -M.A
● Roll no -15
● Semester- 3
● Enrollment no - 4069206420210009
● Paper no - 202
● Batch year -2021- 23
● Submitted to - Smt S.B Gardi Department of English M.K.
Bhavnagar University

3. Kamala Das
● Kamala Das was born 31 March 1934 and died 31
May 2009 she was a famous Indian poet and novelist
who wrote in both English and Malayalam, her mother
tongue. While writing in Malayalam, she used the pen
name Madhavikutty. She was born in Thrissur, Kerala
into a fairly privileged family. Her mother, Nalapat
Balamani Amma was a well-known Malayali poet who
had published around 20 collections of poems; and
her father V.M. Nair was a senior executive in an
automobile company and editor of the journal
matribhumi.

4. works
● Summer in Calcutta
● The Descendant
● The old playhouse
● Alphabet of Lust
● A Doll for the child prostitute
● Padmavati the Harlot
● Memories of childhood

5. About poem
Kamala Das’ poem “An Introduction” was first published almost
more than half a century ago in 1965 in one of her notable
books of poetry, Summer in Calcutta. Being one of her earliest
works, it strongly addressed some of Das’ most prominent
ideas in the rawest form possible. This purely confessional
poem clearly portrays her cry to achieve a sense of freedom in
life. The voice that narrates the poem is clear, direct, sharp,
and unhesitant. In spite of being highly personal and revolving
around the poet’s own experiences.

6. Themes
● Finding the self
● Women’s Struggle
● Female body
● Sexuality
● Sense of Alienation

7. Structure and Form
● “An Introduction” is a fifty-nine-line poem that consists of
two stanzas. The first 37 lines comprise the first stanza
and the remaining 22 lines form the second. The poem
does not follow any particular metrical pattern. Das also
refrains from using a set rhyming pattern. The length and
number of syllables in the lines also vary widely, making it
a poem in free verse. Employing such a structure makes it
simpler for the poet to experiment with different
frameworks and more erratic rhymes.

8. Literary Devices and Poetic Techniques
● Enjambment
● Allusion
● Imagery
● Symbolism
● Alliteration

9. Symbolism
● The use of an object to represent something
other than its literal meaning is known as
symbolism. It’s an impactful poetic technique
created by the vivid and creative articulation
of reality. This poem brims with the mention of
such symbols representing the struggles of
women, their suppressed desires, and their
innumerable efforts to escape from the
clutches of the patriarchal society.

10. Alliteration
● Das uses alliteration from the very
beginning of the poem, such as in “them
like/ Days” and “very brown, born.” Here
the “d” and “b” sounds are repeated in
neighboring words. It also occurs in the
following instances:

11. Citation
● Das , Kamala . “An Introduction .”
https://poemotopia.com/kamala-das/an-introduction/#themes.
● Das , Kamala . “Works.”
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kamala-Das.
● Das, Kamala . “Biography .”
https://englisheclasses.com/2022/04/10/kamala-das-
biography-and-works/.
● Das, Kamala . “Introduction of Kamla das.”
https://englishsummary.com/lesson/introduction-kamala-das/.

12. Thank you