Half-caste, John Agard Flashcards

1
Q

Meaning

A
  • Man protests against demeaning manner in which his racial heritage is described
  • Asserting your identity against others who would ‘bring you down’
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2
Q

Imagery #1

A

“keen half of mih ear”

  • Half formed man = shows how ludicrous term is
  • “keen”
    • Sharp
      • Poet scrutinising ignorant sharply
    • Eager/enthusiastic
      • Listening/watching ignorant with enthusiasm - wants to find out about him
    • While ignorant made snap judgment, poet did opposite
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3
Q

Imagery #2

A

“when picasso / mix red an green”

  • Shows mixed things are good - better
  • Mixture as an essential part of great art
  • Art connote beauty, depth and interest
    • Sees his mixed race identity in this way
  • Flaunts poet’s knowledge
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4
Q

Tone #1

A

Satirical

“Excuse me”

  • Responding to encounter
    • Makes dramatic & exciting
    • Grabs reader’s attention = shows has something important to say
  • Polite term + stereotypically British comment
    • Conceals caustic humour and irony that is present
    • Foreshadows tone is angry + outraged
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5
Q

Tone #2

A

Agressive, bitter, confrontational: Asserts identity as a whole
& demands that readers change their attitudes

“Explain yuself”

  • Poem written phonetically
    • Confrontational/direct instruction = challenges reader + makes them uncomfortable
      • Ignorant can’t reply = poet silences them
      • Instead supplies answers = dominating poem & shows superior intellect/wit
    • Poet not ashamed of who he is & what he sounds like
    • Forces reader to speak with his voice
      • Places us in his shoes = cannot help but empathise with him
  • Repeated 4 times
    • Keeps reminding reader = poet not going give up questioning ignorant
    • Undermines ignorant authority?
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6
Q

Structure #1

A

Lots of enjambment

  • Breaking rules of modern society
    • Doing something different by standing up for himself
  • His anger made him speak without pause
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7
Q

Structure #2

A

Free verse with no fixed rhyme scheme or rhythm

  • Expresses speaker’s anger = confront racist
    • Pouring out his feelings
  • Repetition, occasional rhyme & lack of punctuation
    • Give an emphatic rhythm and fast pace
    • Caribbean rhythm
      • Asserting his Caribbean heritage
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8
Q

Comparisons 2x

A
  • ‘Search for my Tongue’
  • ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’
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9
Q

‘Search for my Tongue’

A

Comparisons with individual who feels conflicted because their identity = mixture of 2 languages

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10
Q

‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’

A

Juxtaposition with another poet who speaks defiantly and proudly about her identity

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