Analysis and Write-Alike of a Story of Self
"Self-Portrait" by Shirley Geok-lin Lim
Story of Self: "Self-Portrait" by Shirley Geok-lin Lim
What is this? The last poem in Lim’s poetry collection What the Fortune Teller Didn’t Say (1998)
Text:
I want to write a self-portrait
like Rosario Castellanos
who knew herself so well
she could knife herself in the back
and laugh. She knew how she
appeared to the world, her desire
awry like a misplaced wig.
But I cannot see myself.
My eye is mercurial.
I flake, the particulars
drizzling with deformations.
I know how to be happy
but lack the means.
Unlike my friend Rosario
my skin is thin. Inside its bag
are late-night monsters
impossible to describe.
They watch even as my green-
stem son eats noodle soup.
I have more desires than
there are wigs in the world:
to be what I am not.
Also to be myself. To speak
many languages, each
as useful as this one
I wipe my tears with.
I want to be good and better
than I am. I want to sway
like the swaying palms
and hold heavy books in my hands.
Part 1: Analysis
Read through the story of self above and then answer the questions below.
Example: If you’re having trouble, here’s an example of how to analyze a story of self:
Your turn:
- What aspect of selfhood is this writer focusing on?
- What are the moments or events they focus on in relation to that aspect of selfhood?
- What is the tone of this piece? Or, how does this writer feel about the aspect of selfhood they are writing about?
- What details and images do they use to communicate that tone/feeling?
- What are three words you would use to describe this writer, based on this piece of writing? What can you tell about their personality, values, or passions?
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SAMPLE
Part 2: Write-alike
A write-alike is an exercise in which you take inspiration from the format, structure, and themes of a piece of writing, but replace the original content with your own.
The Original: “Self-Portrait” is a free-verse poem that describes some of the speaker’s core desires for herself and the kind of person she wishes to be.
Questions to think about for your Write-alike:
- What do you want for yourself? What kind of person would you love to become?
- What specific images, symbols, or behaviors represent that kind of person to you?
Starters for your Write-alike:
One way you might begin is by imitating Lim’s line, “I have more desires than
there are wigs in the world.”
You could start by writing, “I have more desires than there are _________________ in the world,” replacing Lim’s reference to wigs with something more relevant to your own life (or keep it as wigs, if you like).
Then continue your poem by detailing the things you want for yourself.
Example:
Your Turn:
Set a timer for 15 minutes and go!