Checking out me history Flashcards
1
Q
what is the context for Checking out me history?
A
- born in Guyana, received British education due to Guyana being colonized
- Eurocentric view of history whilst being denied his own cultural identity
- Agards formative years were lived under British rule, and eventually saw his country become independant and realized how much culture he had been deprived from
- poems intended to be universal for anyone living under oppression and being denied of cultural identity
2
Q
‘Dem tell me
Dem tell me’ - Checking out me history
A
- repetition - creates an accusatory tone, reflects speakers anger
- oppressive tone as to what he was taught
- lack of personal relevance
- each stanza begins with ‘Dem tell me’ shows it even oppresses the stanzas
3
Q
‘bandage up me eye’ - checking out me history
A
- injury like connotations, speaker feels like he has been hurt by being brought up sheltered
4
Q
‘De cow who jump over de moon’ - checking out me history
A
- implies speaker feels like he has been deprived of his childhood and is stuck in the past
5
Q
who was Toussaint L’ouverture ? -checking out me history
A
- led revolution of black slaves against french colony in Haiti and led them to freedom
6
Q
who was Nanny De Maroon ? - checking out me history
A
- female leader of Jamaica maroons who escaped slavery in Jamaica
- renowned military leader
7
Q
how is dual italics used in checking out me history for effect ?
A
- division between stanzas through Agards use of italics shows separation between what he was taught and black history
8
Q
how is rhyme scheme used for effect in checking out me history ?
A
- ties together sections concerning white & black history, end to segregation through literary unification
9
Q
how is stanza organisation used for effect in checking out me history ?
A
- each stanza each with a historical black figure shows how they are the last for their story to be told, given less prominence
10
Q
how is the Volta in checking out me history used for effect ?
A
- The Volta “but now” marks a turning point in the poem as the speaker switches from referring to “Dem” to “I”.
- This shows him taking ownership of his own identity and making the poem about himself rather than them.
