Checking Out Me History Flashcards
In summary what is this poem about?
The poets anger at national curriculum (only white history is taught about), this portrays an inequality between black and white individuals. The poet is trying to take control of his own personal identity and celebrate it
Give an example of anaphora in this poem in the first line
Dem tell me // dem tell me
What is the significance of the anaphora?
Creole/phonetic spelling emphasises his accent which celebrates the validity of it. The words dem and me introduce a sense of separation: he feels separate from the rest of the country because his identity is not taught about in the national curriculum. The repetition of them portrays a social protest, demand for change, passionate voice. Also emphasises white control (dem always comes before me SUGGESTING HE IS LESS IMPORTANT)
How does this poem have a cyclical structure?
The beginning and end stanza contain with ‘dem tell me // wha dem want to tell me’. This portrays a vicious circle: nothing is changing because schools do not teach black history
What tone does the accent create?
A musical tone which suggests the poem is to be read aloud- protest poem. This poem rejects conventional poetry (white middle class man as writer)
How is the poem structured and why?
Black characters are separated away from the white (black history is written in italics) so the metre changes. This counterpoint differentiates the lessons he was taught which were insignificant to him and the history he wishes he was taught
What is the language like when Agard first begins describing black history?
Plosives, assonance, rhyme ‘lick back // Napoleon // battalion // and first Black // Republic born // Toussaint de Thorn’
What do plosives portray?
Portray Toussaint to be a powerful warrior
What do assonance and rhyme do in the poem?
Neatly link and cement the poem together which makes it sound powerful as it is a protest poem but also it glorifies the individual
How does the poem end and what impression does this give?
‘But now I checking out me own history / I carving out me identity’ Use of personal pronouns reveal he is proud of his identity, this gives the message that your identity belongs to you and nobody has the right to determine whether or not your identity is valid
How is Mary Seacole contrasted with Florence Nightingale near the end of the poem?
Nightingale - ‘she lamp’. 2nd last para Seacole - ‘a healing star // among the wounded // a yellow sunrise // to the dying’
What does the contrast between Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale reveal?
Lamps’ lights are selective and limited which contrasts with sunrises and stars which are universal: Seacole did not just nurse black boys. Seacole seems to be brighter and more powerful suggesting she brought more hope/joy into people’s lives. Sunrises present new beginnings and resilience and an end to the darkness which links to Agard’s persistence and desire to end inequality for black people
