POETRY | No Problem Flashcards
1
Q
Language: “De” and “Yu”
A
- Spells words phonetically, like “de” and “yu”.
- Doesn’t fully adhere to grammatical rules, like “If yu give I a chance”.
- Reflects Afro Caribbeans’ unique speech habits.
- Refusal to conform to ‘proper’ rules indicates pride in his dialect.
- Reflects self-belief in “I am versatile” and “I am a born academic”.
- His language usage reflects his belief in individual freedom from conforming to white norms.
2
Q
Language & Structure: I am a born academic // But dey got me on de run // Now I am
branded athletic”
A
- Speaker references stereotypes he’s faced, highlighting how these have limited his potential.
- Teachers labeled him as unacademic, aligning with racist stereotypes about black people as superior athletes but inferior scholars.
- Encourages unpacking of words by his use of single words in “athletic”
- Encourages careful consideration of potential meanings.
- Encourages avoidance of racist stereotypes and labels
The poem’s use of irregular trimeter rhythm gives it a direct, speech-like quality, emphasizing the conversational quality. - Zephaniah aims to convey his message directly and to a wide audience.
- He rejects traditional European forms of poetry to affirm his identity as a Black man with Jamaican heritage.
3
Q
Form: 2 stanzas
A
- Poem split into two stanzas to reflect racial divide.
- Form mirrors content, reflecting the speaker’s experiences.
- First stanza: speaker expresses positivity despite experiences, expressing versatility and multitalentedness.
- Second stanza: speaker contemplates enduring effects of racist abuse.
- Ending note: humorous, playing on defense.
- The gap between the 2 stanzas may symbolise the gap between the present and the past or could represent the division between the speaker and other people, caused by racism
- the tonal shift between stanzas emphasises Zephaniah’s message: that there’s a long way to go in addressing or resolving racism in England
4
Q
Context
A
- Discusses racial abuse and discrimination experienced by speaker (Zephaniah).
- Argues problem lies with perpetrators.
- Details school-based racist behavior.
