Checking out me history

Question 1

Dem tell me Dem tell me Wha dem want to tell me

Answer 1

Creole
Sense of other
Sense censorship of truth

Repetition - angry refrain of protest in this protest poem

Question 2

Bandage up me own eye with me own history
Blind me to me own identity

Answer 2

B fricative - violent
Healing history - by denying it

Question 3

AABA rhyme childish content
de cow who jump over de moon

Question 4

But now I checking out me own history
I carving out me history

Answer 4

I - no longer dem to me - taking ownership

Carving - block of wood and make history himself. Hard tools like chisels.

Active verb - ongoing process
Panful connotations - sense of restriction

Wood - fixed vs childhood plasticity

Produces pieces of art that is lasting and can be admired/beautiful.

Question 5

Structure

Answer 5

Dual structure - 2 types of stanza reflecting divisions in history

Each ‘european’ stanza ends with reference to balck historical figure - blends white and black references to end segregation

Indented italicised stanzas - more serious with some rhyme - seem more like a song. Oral tradition of passing down through. Easier for childrent to understand the serious topic they’re not taught.

Question 6

Form

Answer 6

Free verse and irregular stanza length no punctuation - rejecting poetic traditions of dominant white culture.

Question 7

Robin Hood

Answer 7

Ironic - steals from rich to give to poor
Colonialism - has stolen from poor to make rich richer; and have stolen his history.

Question 8

Semantic field of light used to refer to black historical figures

Answer 8

Beacon
Firewoman
Yellow sun