Poem - Checking Out Me History Flashcards
Why does John Agard use non-phonetic spelling?
To represent his Caribbean accent
Including Checking Out Me History , what are many of John Agard’s poems about?
Life from the perspective of a black man
What is the purpose of Checking Out Me History?
John Agard is criticising the way history is taught in schools
The persona of the poem describes the teaching of history as a didactic experience which celebrates powerful white men. Why?
He thinks it wrong that mythical people (robin hood) are taught more regularly than real and important black people from history
This quote shows the questioning of traditional teaching in British Schools
1066 and all dat
How is Toussaint L’Overture described?
Beacon
What is Nanny De Maroon compared to?
Mountains and rivers
How is Mary Seacole described?
“Healing star” and “yellow sunrise”
All three women are linked to light. Why?
They are figures who have illuminated the poet’s life and have helped him discover his real historical identity.
The poem is split. In the first half this is repeated to show how white history is pressed onto people
Dem tell me
The poem is split. In the second half he talks about the three woman. What’s the structure like here?
It’s told using shorter lines and an irregular rhyme scheme. Standard English is rejected – connectives are omitted.
Check Out Me History uses lots of rhyme?
So it has more impact when read aloud
Here the poet accuses the West’s interpretation of history as covering up the truth and failing to acknowledge great historical figures from non-white and non-western countries.
Blind me to my own identity
The repetition of this quote creates an effective and powerful voice. The words suggest an assertive, even aggressive voice as the poet rebels against the teachings of western history
Dem tell me….
dem tell me bout Dick Whittington and he cat
At the beginning the narrator (a child) is passive as he accepts what he is told but by the end of the poem (as a man) he…
challenges the things he is told and is on a mission to discover his history. By the end the speaker feels empowered.
