Half caste

Question 1

What is the form of half-caste

Answer 1

-free verse

Question 2

What is the structure of half caste

Answer 2

-written for performance
-phonetic spelling shows his dialect and celebrates his identity
-no punctuation breaks away from convention
-internal rhyme creates musicality of the creole dialect

Question 3

What is the tone of half caste

Answer 3

-sarcastic, angry, playful
-attacks those who use derogatory epithets

Question 4

What are the key themes of half caste

Answer 4

Racism, stereotypes, prejudice, identity, pride of culture, conflict

Question 5

‘Excuse me standing on one leg I’m half caste’

Answer 5

-confrontational and accusatory tone which is repeated throughout the poem
-sarcasm in apology
-ridiculing reader with absurd image as racism is absurd
-begins with a tercet which is short and the only one representing him as a minority

Question 6

‘Picasso Mix red an green is a half-caste canvas’

Answer 6

-form of art and Picasso is a famous painter
-red and green make brown
-mixes two different colours to create a beautiful painting
-beautiful artistic images which are celebrated yet he is not
-we could not obtain beauty without mixing

Question 7

‘An mix a black key wid a white key is a half caste symphony/‘

Answer 7

Parallel structure- both keys are given equal importance
-music is another art form which is celebrated
-symphony is complex, beautiful and pleasing to the ear

Question 8

‘Why i offer you half- a - hand’

Answer 8

-only giving half a hand as they dont deserve his respect
-despite his experience with racism he is still capable of respect, helpfulness and greeting

Question 9

‘I dream half-a-dream a when moon begin to glow.’

Answer 9

-diacope of dream
-nighttime shows light and dark imagery
-gothic tropes as he is something to be feared by reflected by sinister imagery
-epithets deny his humanity presenting him as other/subhuman

Question 10

‘Whole of yu eye’
‘Whole of yu ear’
‘Whole of yu mind’

Answer 10

-he shows that the listener is only half as they are narrow minded
-he wants them to evolve and change and then he will respect them as they shall respect him

Question 11

‘De other half of my story’

Answer 11

-first person-he will voice the story
-he will become a whole after his story is told removing prejudice
-there is more to his identity than race or heritage
-my- he is possible of his story
-if you only know half of the story how can you judge