Checking out me history- John Agard
- Created by: lucyaa
- Created on: 22-04-17 21:28
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- Checking Out Me History- John Agard
- Structure
- alternates from two structures.
- one uses "Dem tell me" to show the white version of history.
- the lack of structure represent how he's ignoring english education like black history is ignored.
- mostly written in rhyming couplets, triplets or quatrains.
- between are the stories of historical figures
- uses abbrievated syntax with words missed, shorted lines + irregular rhyme scheme.
- one uses "Dem tell me" to show the white version of history.
- alternates from two structures.
- Background
- Born in the Caribbean in 1949 and moved to the UK in 1970s.
- he discusses how he feels as though black history is ignored but shouldn't be.
- Identity
- suggests his caribbean dialect by replacing "th" with "D"
- "Dem tell me"
- repetition creates a rhythm which emphasises his point.
- this stresses how he is proving his identity.
- "Dem tell me"
- "I carving out me identity"
- he is going to find out for himself his history and make a change.
- "Bandage up me eye...Blind me to me own identity"
- white history has blinded him from his true roots.
- suggests his caribbean dialect by replacing "th" with "D"
- Black history
- more powerful imagery is used (esp nature)
- all 3 are linked with light- metaphorically illuminate his true identity.
- Toussaint
- "thorn" "beacon"
- led black slaves to independence.
- Nanny de Maroon
- "fire woman" "mountain dream" "hopeful stream" "freedom river"
- leader of jamaican maroons (runaway slaves).
- Mary Seacole
- "healing star" "yellow sunrise"
- jamaican nurse in Crimean war
- was turned away but still went, and even went into the battlefield.
- more powerful imagery is used (esp nature)
- White history
- he mocks parts of what has been taught to him.
- "ole king cole was a merry ole soul"
- "Dem tell me bout 1066 and all dat"
- makes it sound repetitive and boring.
- sounds simplistic next to the seriousness of black history.
- "de cow who jump over de moon" - "dish ran away with de spoon"
- "never tell me bout Nanny de Maroon"
- "de cow who jump over de moon" - "dish ran away with de spoon"
- he mocks parts of what has been taught to him.
- Structure
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