Poem - Checking Out Me History Flashcards

1
Q

Why does John Agard use non-phonetic spelling?

A

To represent his Caribbean accent

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2
Q

Including Checking Out Me History , what are many of John Agard’s poems about?

A

Life from the perspective of a black man

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3
Q

What is the purpose of Checking Out Me History?

A

John Agard is criticising the way history is taught in schools

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4
Q

The persona of the poem describes the teaching of history as a didactic experience which celebrates powerful white men. Why?

A

He thinks it wrong that mythical people (robin hood) are taught more regularly than real and important black people from history

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5
Q

This quote shows the questioning of traditional teaching in British Schools

A

1066 and all dat

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6
Q

How is Toussaint L’Overture described?

A

Beacon

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7
Q

What is Nanny De Maroon compared to?

A

Mountains and rivers

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8
Q

How is Mary Seacole described?

A

“Healing star” and “yellow sunrise”

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9
Q

All three women are linked to light. Why?

A

They are figures who have illuminated the poet’s life and have helped him discover his real historical identity.

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10
Q

The poem is split. In the first half this is repeated to show how white history is pressed onto people

A

Dem tell me

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11
Q

The poem is split. In the second half he talks about the three woman. What’s the structure like here?

A

It’s told using shorter lines and an irregular rhyme scheme. Standard English is rejected – connectives are omitted.

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12
Q

Check Out Me History uses lots of rhyme?

A

So it has more impact when read aloud

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13
Q

Here the poet accuses the West’s interpretation of history as covering up the truth and failing to acknowledge great historical figures from non-white and non-western countries.

A

Blind me to my own identity

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14
Q

The repetition of this quote creates an effective and powerful voice. The words suggest an assertive, even aggressive voice as the poet rebels against the teachings of western history

A

Dem tell me….

dem tell me bout Dick Whittington and he cat

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15
Q

At the beginning the narrator (a child) is passive as he accepts what he is told but by the end of the poem (as a man) he…

A

challenges the things he is told and is on a mission to discover his history. By the end the speaker feels empowered.

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16
Q

The final line conveys his determination and a new found confidence.

A

But now I checking out me own history

17
Q

Agard describes the speaker as this to show he was not being given all the information about his history

A

“Bandage” “blind”

18
Q

This quote clearly shows the speakers determination

A

I carving out me identity