checking out me history

• Who is the author of "Checking Out Me History"?

  John Agard
• What does the speaker resolve to do in the poem?

  Discover more about his own heritage
• What is the structure of "Checking Out Me History"?

  • Alternates between historical figures taught and black history
  • Uses italics for black historical figures
  • Ends with a personal resolution
• What historical figure is mentioned in italics in the poem?

  Toussaint L'Ouverture
• What does the repetition of "Dem tell me" signify?

  It reflects rote learning and oppression
• How does the speaker feel about the history he was taught?

  He feels anger and frustration
• What does the speaker mean by "Bandage up me eye with me own history"?

  It implies being blinded to his identity
• What does the phrase "Blind me to me own identity" suggest?

  Colonial education obscured his true self
• Who is Nanny de Maroon?

  A female leader of Jamaican maroons
• What does the speaker imply about Mary Seacole's contributions?

  She did more than Florence Nightingale
• How does the poem's structure reflect the speaker's journey?

  It contrasts taught history with personal discovery
• What are the key themes in "Checking Out Me History"?

  • Colonialism and its impact on identity
  • The importance of cultural heritage
  • The struggle against oppression
• What does the term "volta" refer to in the poem?

  A turning point in the poem
• How does Agard use light imagery in the poem?

  To symbolize hope and guidance
• What does the lack of punctuation in the poem signify?

  Freedom of interpretation and expression
• What is the significance of the rhyme scheme in the poem?

  It connects sections of white and black history
• How does Agard's poem compare to "Ozymandias"?

  Similarities:

  • Both address loss of identity
  • Show pain from oppression

  
  

  Differences:

  • Agard seeks to reclaim identity
  • Ozymandias depicts permanent corruption
• How does "Checking Out Me History" compare to "The Emigrée"?

  Similarities:

  • Both explore cultural identity
  • Emotional significance of heritage

  
  

  Differences:

  • Agard's tone is angry and frustrated
  • Rumens presents an idealized childhood
• What does the phrase "I carving out me identity" imply?

  He is actively shaping his own identity
• What does the speaker's transition from "Dem" to "I" signify?

  Taking ownership of his identity
• What is the significance of the historical figures mentioned in the poem?

  • Toussaint L'Ouverture: Leader of Haitian Revolution
  • Nanny de Maroon: Military leader in Jamaica
  • Shaka de Zulu: Influential military leader
  • Mary Seacole: Pioneer in healthcare during war