Checking Out Me History Flashcards
Who wrote the poem?
John Agard
Where was the poet born?
Guyana but moved to the UK in 1977
Describe the poet
(Born in Guyana but moved to the UK in 1977)
Hos poetry often speaks about idenity and culture
He often writes to represent his own acent and dialect
Form and Structure
Uses a mixture of stanza forms suggetsing that he is breaking the rules that he has been taught
The carabian/black history has shorter lines and a brocken sin tax () which makes them seem more important then english history which has lots of rhymes which make it seem childish and unimportance
Black history is also given a lot more detail highlighting it’s importance.
There is a lot of repetition, a strong rhythm, rhymes and phenetic spelling which links to oral poetry
Feelings and Attitudes
Anger - at the education system who doesn’t teach him who he is
Admiration - at historical chariters
Celebration - of historical chariters and the idea that he is going to embrase his own history
Start of the poem
Explain
“Dem tell me
Dem tell me”
Repetition of dem creates a gap between him and “dem” the harsh “d” emphasises this further
The whole line emphaisses the difference between the british education system and himself
Showing how his history is being deleted
“Bandage up me eye with me own history”
Bandages normally heal but this is causing harm
Dismissing English history
“Dem tell me about 1066 and all dat”
Who was Toussaint L’Ouverture?
First black leader of the Hatian republic
How is the 4rd 6th and 9th stanzas different?
They are 1 or 2 word lines this slows the pace and suggests he is recalling an memory
Where does repetition of what creating a chanting effect?
Lines 10-20 repetition of the name “Toussaint”
What stanza is this in?
A simple rhyme scheem showing the sillyness of what he has been taught?
5th stanza
“balloon
moon
spoon
maroon”
Who was Nanny de maroon?
She was a ancient triabal leader who was thought to have magical healing powers
Who was “Shaka de great Zulu”?
Founder of the Zulu empire in Southern Africa
Who were the “Caribs and de Arawaks”
Carribean tribes. Many of them (like most of them) died from new world diseases
