Checking Out Me History- John Agaard

Question 1

What could the cyclical structure of “dem tell me”

Answer 1

It could highlight that the speaker is trapped in the oppression of his own identity

Question 2

“Dem tell me…

Answer 2

Dem tell me”
> dem- written phonetically - mimics his dialect - proud of his identity and culture and refuses to conform with the British curriculum
> repetition of dem tell me emphasises anger and wants to ensure he’s heard

Question 3

“Bandage up me eye with me own history…

Answer 3

Blind me to my own identify”
> “bandage” > forced to facade his identity OR physically hurt by the way his people are being treated
> “blind” hyperbolic metaphor suggests he is being physically oppressed

Question 4

“They tell me bout 1066 and…

Answer 4

All dat”
> dismissive tone implies that he is sick and tired of the same things being repeated and what he was being taught as a child

Question 5

“Dem tell me bout de dish run away with de spoon…

Answer 5

But them never tell me bout Nanny de maroon “
> comparing her through the rhyme with spoon emphasises the ridiculous British schooling system
> juxtaposition mimics fairytales and contradicts this with an important black figure, essentially belittling the ethics in society

Question 6

“Dem tell me wha dem..

Answer 6

Want to tell me”
> acceptance that he cannot stop others thoughts and opinions but he can create his own impression and spread awareness

Question 7

“But now i checking out me own history…

Answer 7

I carving out me own identity”
> conjunctive ‘but’ suggests he is taking a stand and is persistent to physically and metaphorically ‘carve out’ his own identity himself

Question 8

What could the longer stanzas represent ?

Answer 8

Important figures in black history are longer stanzas, emphasising the importance of them and their contrasting relation to nursery rhymes which are futile