Who is the speaker in Stanzas 2, 4 and 6? Do you think this speaker is listening to the speaker in Stanzas 1, 3, 5, and 7?
The speaker in Stanzas 2, 4, and 6 is Amanda herself. These stanzas are given in parenthesis to represent her imagination and inner thoughts, where she envisions herself as a mermaid, an orphan, and Rapunzel to escape reality.
No, this speaker is not listening to the speaker in Stanzas 1, 3, 5, and 7. Amanda is completely lost in her dream world and pays no attention to the constant nagging and instructions of the other speaker. Her lack of attention is also highlighted when the other speaker asks her to look at them while being spoken to.
Explanation
The poem 'Amanda' by Robin Klein features two distinct voices: one of a nagging parent/elder and the other of Amanda's inner thoughts. Stanzas 2, 4, and 6 are placed in parenthesis specifically to indicate Amanda's imaginative escape from the harsh reality of constant instructions. Because she is deeply immersed in her fantasies of freedom (as a mermaid, orphan, or Rapunzel), she mentally blocks out the speaker in the odd-numbered stanzas, proving she is not listening to them.