Checking Out Me History

Question 1

Who wrote Checking out me History

Answer 1

John Agard

Question 2

John agard Context

Answer 2

Explores cultural identity
Talks about what it is like to be black, to combat racist attitudes

Born in Guyana

Question 3

Checking out me History summary

Answer 3

He is talking about his identity and how it links to knowledge and history

He questions why he wasn’t taught about his own history

Question 4

Checking out me History tones

Answer 4

Mocking
Pride
Celebration
Awe

Question 5

Checking out me History quotes

Answer 5

‘Wha dem want to tell me’ - power and control → hidden stories / eradication of culture

‘Bandage up me eye with me own history’ → further idea of being blinded / culture is hidden

‘Toussaint de beacon’ - pride / hope / positivity (love of culture)

‘de dish ran away with de spoon but dem never tell me about Nanny de maroon’ → ridiculous nursery rhymes, suggests what the have been taught is stupid

Rhyme here emphasises the name

‘I carving out me identity’ → hes finally taking control / reconnecting with past

Question 6

Checking out me history structure

Answer 6

Repition of ‘Dem tell me’ shows how ‘they’ have authority over him and prevent him from learning about his culture
(Reinforces power + control)

He writes in phonetic spelling, showing how proud he is of his culture + language
He refuses to hide his identity