Poetry- Nothing's Changed

Question 1

Context for Nothing’s Changed

Answer 1

-1994.
-Autobiographical poem looking for change. Afrika returning to District Six after Apartheid had been abolished, but he realises that racism, segregation is still present
-Apartheid was a system of racial segregation 1948- 1990s
-District Six in Cape Town was a whites only place and ‘coloured’ people were removed from homes
-Afrika joined ANC to fight against Apartheid

Question 2

Form for Nothing’s Changed

Answer 2

-Free verse
-7 stanzas of unequal length, enjambment
-Shows he’s not conforming to set boundaries and is freely expressing himself
-Cyclical structure shows how racism and discrimination is not changing

Question 3

Small round hard…

Answer 3

“Small round hard stones click/ under my heels, seeding grasses thrust bearded seeds”
-Monosyllabic words (reflecting sound of footsteps) and auditory imagery created vivid image of his experience during his return to D6
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Question 3

Small round hard…

Answer 3

“Small round hard stones click/ under my heels, seeding grasses thrust bearded seeds”
-Monosyllabic words (reflecting sound of footsteps) and auditory imagery created vivid image of his experience during his return to D6
-Sibilance reflects sound of grass and seeds in wind, followed by plosives shows juxtaposing ideas in the district, from soft sound to harsh sound
-Dynamic verb thrust sounds violent, suggesting that there is conflict in the district

Question 4

and the soft labouring…

Answer 4

“and the soft labouring of my lungs, and the hot, white, inwards turning/ anger of my eyes.”
-Anaphora and use of semantic field of the body shows how the return causes a visceral reaction in Afrika due to memories associated, anger?, fear?
-Consonance in repeated ‘t’s creates a harsh and angry tone
-Enjambment places emphasis on “anger” showing that he is angered by what he sees.

Question 5

Brash with glass…

Answer 5

“Brash with glass, name flaring like a flag, it squats”
-Adjective brash suggests that the restaurant is unapologetic
-Simile also shows the white people are arrogant/ proud and unapologetic of identity
-Fricatives create angry tone, demonstrates anger
-Personification

Question 6

Brash with glass…

Answer 6

“Brash with glass, name flaring like a flag, it squats”
-Adjective brash suggests that the restaurant is unapologetic
-Simile also shows the white people are arrogant/ proud and unapologetic of identity
-Fricatives create angry tone, demonstrates anger
-Personification of restaurant as an illegal occupant, shows their presence is unjust and unwelcome, shouldn’t be there

Question 7

Hands burn…

Answer 7

“Hands burn/ for a stone, a bomb, to shiver down the glass. Nothing’s changed.”
-Metaphor shows how his hands are desperate to get a weapon and take action due to his anger
-Impact of verb, “shiver” suggests no violence but enough impact to create change, the glass being a symbol of segregation
-Declarative final statement, repeated title, cyclical structure shows lack of change in racism and segregation