Half-caste

Question 1

Form

Answer 1

• Free verse
• This makes it seem conversational, yet in such a way that allows it to be accusatory

Question 2

Main themes

Answer 2

• Identity
• Discrimination vs open-mindedness
• Conflict

Question 3

Colloquial language and patois dialect/slang

Answer 3

• Adds authenticity to the poem
• Provides a direct linguistic challenge to those who may label him as half-caste (those who favour received pronounciation), confronting them

Question 4

Omission of verbs, with a few irregular rhymes and metrical patterns

Answer 4

Leads to an authenic tone, reinforcing his message that the non-standard and the mixed can be artisitic and have integrity

Question 5

Enjambment

Answer 5

• Is further non-conformist, proving to the reader that things which are not in line with the rules of modern society are acceptable
• It could also be indicative of his anger at whoever labelled him as half-caste
• Furthermore, the unfinished lines could be symbolic of how he is viewed as incomplete, or people do not see his whole story

Question 6

Half-caste

Answer 6

• Derogatory term implying incompleteness, but also inferiority by nature
• This is the term which Agard takes umbrage when labelled as and is confronting the people who would do such a thing

Question 7

‘Excuse me’

Answer 7

• It is a sarcastic apology, showing that he feels people expect him almost to apologise for being mixed race
• However he is, using sarcasm, affirming that it is not only acceptable to be but he is actually proud of being mixed race

Question 8

‘standing on one leg’

Answer 8

• Metaphor for how people might view a mixed race person
• The image of absolute absurdity highlights how risible it is so reduce somebody down to their ethnicities and view somebody mixed race as somebody who is incomplete and unstable

Question 9

‘Explain yuself’

Answer 9

• Imperative and direct pronoun
• Shows how this poem is accusatory and confrontational to those who may be racist

Question 10

‘yu mean when picasso mix red an green is a half-caste canvas’

Answer 10

• Comparison to things of Western sophistication which are viewed as complete and beautiful with a humorous metaphor
• Shows how absurd it would be to say that Piccasso’s work is incomplete and lacks integrity because it is a mix of colours, so therefore questions why people do it for people who are a mix of ethnicities

Question 11

Repetition of ‘explain yuself what yu mean’

Answer 11

Constantly reaffirms his argumentative and confrontational tone directed at bigots

Question 12

‘yu mean when light an shadow mix in de sky is a half-caste weather’

Answer 12

Gives another humorous metaphor of something multifaceted which we would not consider to be incomplete, raising the question for why mixed race people should be viewed this way

Question 13

‘england weather nearly always half-caste’

Answer 13

Brings up a harmless stereotype, which in turn emphasises how harmful the stereotyping of a person with multiple ethnicities is

Question 14

‘in fact some of dem cloud half-caste till dem overcast so spiteful dem dont want de sun pass’

Answer 14

• Personification of the clouds
• Satirically describes the clouds as spiteful, which points out the absurdity of assuming the clouds would have malintent by being grey and blocking out the sun
• Therefore shows that mixed race people should not be viewed as spiteful simply because they are a mix of ethnicities

Question 15

‘ah rass’

Answer 15

• Expletive
• Shows his angry and accusatory tone in this confrontation with bigots

Question 16

‘when yu say half-caste yu mean when tchaikovsky sit down at dah piano an mix a black key wid a white key is a half-caste symphony’

Answer 16

• Allusion to Tchaikovsky adds authority as nobody would question his works
• Therefore continues his question of why he is seen as incomplete lacking integrity as a mix of ethnicities, when music which has a mix of black and white keys is viewed as beautiful and harmonious

Question 17

‘Ah listening to yu wid de keen half of mih ear Ah looking at yu wid de keen half of mih eye’

Answer 17

• Sarcastically divides his body parts into half to show how absurd it is to seperate a person into two halves if they have two ethnicities
• However repetition of the word ‘keen’ shows he is willing to learn more about the reasoning behind bigots’ view points

Question 18

‘I’m sure you’ll understand why I offer yu half-a-hand an when I sleep at night I close half-a-eye consequently when I dream I dream half-a-dream’

Answer 18

• Sarcastic comments describing things that you cannot half do
• Shows the absurdity of people viewing him as half a person, reinforcing the fact that having multiple ethnicities does not detract from the completedness of an individual

Him dreaming half a dream shows that the bigots underestimate him and his ambitions

Question 19

‘an when moon begin to glow’

Answer 19

• Imagery of a moon which can appear half or whole, but is always whole
• Makes us appreciate that he is always a whole person
• The glowing of the moon represents his hope that he can move away from hate to more understanding

Question 20

‘I half-caste human-being cast half-a-shadow’

Answer 20

• Sarcastic description of something you cannot have half of further reinforces how absurd it is to view him as incomplete
• The scary imagery of ‘half-a-shadow’ suggests the bigots may be fearful of his difference

Question 21

‘wid the whole of yu eye an de whole of yu ear and de whole of yu mind’

Answer 21

• Anaphora
• Emphasises the importance of having an open mind
• These are the things the racists he is confronting need to adopt before judging him again in order to be able to see him as a whole person

Question 22

‘an I will tell yu de other half of my story’

Answer 22

• Uncapatalised to create a softer and less accusatory tone
• The fact that he is going to tell us the other half of his story represents the fact that we should view him as whole because he is a combination of all of his identities and ethnicities