half caste Flashcards
‘I’m half-caste’
Agard uses repetition of this phrase through the poem.
It is a derogatory term that was used to label people of mixed race, it denoted racial hierarchy and a scale of purity.
The repetition highlights the view that he is incomplete and lacks personal value, a belief held by bigots against him.
The use of the first person pronoun highlights that this was a personal experience for him and evokes sympathy towards him.
It is a short and emphatic sentence that has a profound effect on the reader, as the issue has affected him throughout his life.
‘explain yuself what yu mean’
The use of a direct address is repeated throughout the poem.
It takes on an argumentative tone towards bigotry to highlight the issue at hand and that it is their fault completely.
Lines are incomplete and Agard uses enjambment, the incomplete lines reflect the perception that people have of him as incomplete also.
Enjambment creates a rant-like tone, and the acceleration of the rhythm reflects his strong emotions behind it.
The poem, on the whole, is free verse, it creates a conversational tone that engages the reader well, and it natural so it highlights his personal emotions to the matter.
Ah rass?’
This is a short and dismissive phrase, which is expletive to highlight his anger towards the bigots.
He uses his accent and natural guyanese creole dialect through the poem.
This shows that he is unapologetic of his own identity and holds it with great pride.
More so the constancy of its use highlights that he will not change for anyone as he does not feel the need to.
picasso mix red and green is a half-caste canvas’
This is a humorous metaphor which acts as an analogy to clarify what it means to be ‘half caste’.
The use of humor mocks the bigots and their unintelligent views on his identity
The analogy assimilates his identity to a work of art, this highlights his belief that mixing races is beautiful and should be admired.
More so, that he is unapologetic and proud of his identity.
‘tchaikovsky mixes a black key with a white key to create a half-caste symphony
In both metaphors, the name of the creator is uncapitalized, which juxtaposes the hierarchy associated with the term ‘half-caste’ it is done to highlight his personal value of equality.
assimilating his identity through music highlights his belief that this message of equality should be hard by and broadcasted to everyone.
half a dream’
This is a metaphor used to describe Agard due to his mixed race
the dream is often used in literature as a symbol of the future and of hope, showing that he is incapable of having a full dream, shows that he is often underestimated by others.
This could also be a reference to the Martin Luther king speech, which also combatted the same issues of prejudice and promoted equality just as Agard does too,
whole of yu mind
The use of direct address urges the reader to consider the issue.
The use of the metaphor takes on a sarcastic tone to mock the narrow viewpoint of the bigot
The metaphor highlights that is the bigot that lacks value due to their lack of humanity, so they are the ones who are incomplete, as this juxtaposes the description of Agard himself who is considered to be ‘half’
de other half of mih story’
This is a poignant and brief metaphor that Agard chooses to end his poem on.
It once again mocks the bigots and their tendency to use a single narrative to develop their views, Agard sees this as wrong.
Excuse me, standing on one leg’
The direct address takes on a confrontational tone towards the bigots
This creates a strange image of a man standing on one leg, similar to a circus act, used to highlight that Agard was ridiculed and discriminated against due to his race.
The description of one leg only, is used to denote the idea that he is viewed as incomplete and lacking value.
so spiteful dem dont want de sun pass’
spite is an emotive phrase to highlight the lack of joy and anger that the bigots possess.
The use of sibilance paired with dark imagery is used to describe the evil nature of prejudice.
It is a metaphor which highlights the miserable bigots who do not allow humanity to penetrate their ignorant ideas.
moon…cast a half caste shadow’
This is another use of dark imagery
It reflects the evil nature of prejudice, but also that there is a negative portrayal of him too due to his identity, which is unfair.
The half shadow is left incomplete just has he is perceived to be without complete value.
‘light and shadow mix in de sky’ ‘England weather is always half-caste’
This is beautiful imagery used to highlight the beauty of his identity.
Describing his identity as the weather, a very natural concept, highlights that it is not abnormal to be mixed race and that it should be accepted.
desribing his identity as British weather is a strange image which emphasizes the absurdity and superficiality of relying on simplistic labels to characterize music, art, or the natural world.
By identifying a shared trait (a mixing) with the English sky, the speaker emphasizes the speaker’s own Englishness. This counters any attempt to classify the speaker as something other or foreign
