Half-Caste- by John Agard

Question 1

Half-Caste:
Who is this poem written by?

Answer 1

John Agard

Question 2

Half-Caste:
How is this poem written?

Answer 2

-written to be performed.
-written in free-verse.
-No use of standard punctuation- not conforming to social constrictions of western society.

Question 3

Half-Caste:
What is the tone here?

Answer 3

-Confrontational
-Anger (confrontational tone)
-Sarcasm (provides intelligence and wit to arguments and absurdity of term)

Question 4

Half-Caste:
What is the context of this poem?

Answer 4

-Agard moved from Guyana to England in 1977, his father is from Guyana and his mother is Portuguese
-The poem is a reflection of the feelings evoked in Agard as a result of being labelled “half-caste” upon moving to the UK.

Question 5

Half-Caste:
“wid a white key is a half-caste symphony”
What is analysis of this quote?

Answer 5

-Auditory imagery is used here to create a greater impression of the beauty of being part of two cultures.
-Use of patois as well as an intellectual motif shows that if doesn’t define their intellect.

Question 6

Half-Caste:
“Ah listening to yu wid de keen half of mih ear”
What is analysis of this quote?

Answer 6

Volta- more serious tone, more accusative of audience, and futility of what they are saying.

Question 7

Half-Caste:
“yu mean when Picasso mix red an green”
What is analysis of this quote?

Answer 7

-visual, colour imagery creates a disjunct image and adds to the uncomfortable tone. It could also be interpreted that beauty is created by the mixing of races.
It is satirical and mocks the usage of the word.