Q1. [3]
Explain why Amanda wants to be an orphan. Refer to the given lines, from the text – I am an orphan, roaming the street. I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet. The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet. (Amanda)
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2024 2/2/1 Q8 (iii)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:16 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Amanda imagines herself as an orphan to escape the constant nagging and instructions she receives at home. As an orphan, she would have no one to scold or control her — she could roam the streets freely, walk with bare feet on soft dust, and enjoy peaceful silence. The words "silence is golden, freedom is sweet" show that what she truly craves is the absence of adult interference. Her home feels restrictive, so the imagined loneliness of an orphan's life seems more appealing than the supervised life she actually lives.
Source: Amanda! (Poem), Class 10 First Flight
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Explanation
- The question asks you to refer to the given lines — so directly quote or closely paraphrase "silence is golden, freedom is sweet" and the image of roaming barefoot.
- The key contrast to highlight: parental control at home vs. imagined freedom as an orphan. Amanda doesn't actually want to be parentless out of sadness — she wants the silence and freedom that come with it.
- Examiners look for: (1) reason for the wish, (2) what the lines reveal about Amanda's state of mind, (3) reference to the specific imagery in the quoted lines.
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