Power And Conflict Poetry - Checking Out Me History

Question 1

Who wrote Checking Out Me History?

Answer 1

John Agard

Question 2

What is the structure?

Answer 2

Monosyllabic
Drumbeat - oral history
WI dialect

Question 3

What is the big idea?

Answer 3

Racial identity and history are important and conflict occurs when we see the contrast with what we are taught and not

Question 4

Dem tell me

Answer 4

Repetition
Constant barrage of learning

Question 5

Bandage up me eye with my own history

Answer 5

Restrictive verbs
Idea that this version of history is harmful

Question 6

Dick Whittington and he cat

Answer 6

Mixing up fact and fiction creating a sense of confusion
Nursery rhyme - childlike rhythm
He is teaching us collective history

Question 7

But Touissant L’Ouverture
no dem never tell me bout dat

Answer 7

Historical figures not taught about

Question 8

Toussaint de beacon
of de Haitian Revolution

Answer 8

Italics
Short verse
Irregular rhyme reflects the Caribbean tradition of music and sharing oral history

Question 9

de cow who jump over de moon

Answer 9

Juxtaposes fiction and fact

Question 10

but dem never tell me bout Nanny de maroon

Answer 10

So much of what we learn is not a reflection of our cultural history

Question 11

mountain dream
hopeful stream
freedom river

Answer 11

Natural imagery
Power of Nanny de Maroon of her environment

Question 12

Lord Nelson and Waterloo
Columbus and 1492
Shaka de great Zulu
Caribs and the Arawaks too

Answer 12

Contrast famous white figures with other ethnic minority groups and emphasises one sided history

Question 13

Florence Nightingale and she lamp

Answer 13

Emphasise the lack of interest in our collective history

Question 14

Mary Seacole
a healing star

Answer 14

Metaphor
Natural imagery
Reinforces passing of oral history
Mythical healing power

Question 15

But now I checking out me own history
I carving out me identity

Answer 15

Violent metaphor illustrates resistance and the need to create something new