1. Thirteen

Question 1

What is the poem thirteen about?

Answer 1

Thirteen is about the experience as a black teenage boy in London who is false arrested.

Question 2

What are the key feelings and attitudes in the poem

Answer 2

fear and prejudice

Question 3

What are the 3 key themes?

Answer 3

prejudice, power and authority and education

Question 4

what is Femi’s (the author) mission with the poem?

Answer 4

As an immigrant to London when he was 7, he is writing about his real life experience of being falsely arrested when he was 13. He wants to highlight experience of black men in London and the racism they experience.

Question 5

Quote that highlights that Femi has been falsely arrested

Answer 5

‘You fit the description of a man’- key word man

Question 6

Quote that includes the poem title that is repeated to show disbelief that the arrest is happening

Answer 6

‘Thirteen, you’ll tell him you’re thirteen’- key word thirteen

Question 7

Quote that includes alliteration and a metaphor that highlights the policeman’s insincerity

Answer 7

‘the biggest and brightest stars’ key words biggest and brightest

Question 8

Quote that shows a bleak image and symbolises lack of hope and education for black young boys

Answer 8

‘on the verge of becoming black holes’- key words becoming and black holes.