Checking out me history Flashcards
Who is Checking out me history written by
John Agard
What is the poem literally about
About a black man recalling all the white historical figures he learnt about in school and frustrated that important figures from black history weren’t mentioned
What do the ideas of those in power show throughout the poem
How those in power shape our understanding of ourselves and our identity as they selectively choose what we’re taught
What collection of poems was this in and what are they about
collection named ‘half-caste and other poems’ which explore the issue of race and identity
What does the rhyme scheme of the poem show
It forces black and white historical figures together to show the importance of children being taught all aspects of history
What do stanzas end in to emphasise their importance
A black historical figure (shows how they are less prioritised than white historical figures)
The poem is structured in _____ verse and in longer or shorter stanzas
Free verse, longer stanzas
What two form techniques are used throughout
Enjambment, repetition
The poem is written in the form of ____ poetry with the intention of it being read aloud
oral poetry
‘_______ up me eye… blind me to __ ____ _______’
‘bandage up me eye… blind me to me own identity’
- Metaphor = prevented from learning about his own history
- Plosive = aggressive sound to show how black history was covered up
- Bandage has connotations of injury and harm
‘___ tell me ___ ___ want to ____ me’
‘dem tell me wha dem want to tell me’
- Showing how he was metaphorically blinded to his own identity through only being taught Eurocentric history
- Critiquing the bias teaching of history
- It was oppressive to his identity
‘I _______ out __ identity’
‘I carving out me identity’
- Verb ‘carving’ shows a strenuous (effort filled) process = he had to work hard to find out about his identity and for it to be acknowledged
- He is now empowered through learning about his own identity = hopeful tone
- Freed from the oppression
’ _ healing ____’
‘a healing star’
- Description of Mary Seacole (Critiscising again the Eurocentric way of teaching as she doesn’t get as much recognition as Florence nightingale)
- Motif of light throughout = light is a source of guidance and hope
- ‘star’ provides a source of direction
- These historical figures carved out a passage to freedom and a route out of colonialism (he is bringing them out of the shadows)
