Checking Out Me History

Checking Out Me History

1. SUBJECT

   • Agard was born in a british- Carribean island in 1949
     • He learnt about british history rather than his own
       • Challenges this by highlighting key Black people in the past

2. STRUCTURE

   • Uses 2 structures identified by italics
     • 'Dem tell me' repetition shows when he is referring to white history
       • written in rhyming couplets, triplets or quatrains
     • Black history is shown when using abbrievated syntax by missing out words
       • Uses irregualr rhyme scheme

3. LANGUAGE

   • SOUND
     • Variation in spelling
       • highlighting Carribean dialect and Agard 'carving out me identity'
     • Repition especially on 'Dem tell me' gibig a sense of rhythm
     • End Rhyme- Used to highlight adapted nursery rhymes
       • 'Old King Cole'
   • IMAGERY
     • 'Dem Tell me' sections make the reader image the historical events
     • Black-history sections use nature metaphors to powerful effect
       • 'Thorn' & 'Beacon'
       • 'Healing star' 'Yellow Sunrise'
       • All three are associated with light
         • 'Beacon'
         • 'Fire-woman'
         • 'Star'

4. ATTITUDES, THEMES AND IDEAS

   • 'Dem tell me' section has an accusatory and rebellious tone
     • created by repetition
   • Black history section has a celebratory tone
     • Created by 'epic' vocab and nature metaphors
       • 'vision'
       • 'see-far'
       • 'Star'
   • Betrayal

5. COMPARISON POEMS

   • GIVE
     • Challenging status qou
     • Strong and direct to the reader
   • Les Grands Seigneurs
     • Historical imagery
     • Doesnt manage to 'carve' her own identity