Question 1: Briefly explain the historical context of 'Checking Out Me History' and why it is important for understanding the poem.

Answer: The poem emphasizes the importance of reclaiming personal and cultural identity by highlighting overlooked or misrepresented aspects of history, especially Black history and figures.

Question 1: Look at the line: 'Dem tell me Dem tell me / Wha dem want to tell me.' What is the effect of this repetition and informal language on the reader?

Answer: The repetition emphasizes the oppressive, repetitive way history is told by those in power, while the informal language reflects the voice of the poet and the community, making it more personal and powerful.

Question 2: Examine the line: 'Bandage up me eye with me own history / Blind me to my own identity.' What does this metaphor suggest about the impact of distorted history?

Answer: The metaphor suggests that false or incomplete history 'blind' the speaker to their true identity, preventing self-awareness and cultural understanding.

Question 3: Identify and analyze the imagery in the lines: 'I carving out me own identity.' How does this imagery contribute to the poem's message?

Answer: The carving imagery suggests active, deliberate effort to shape one's identity, emphasizing empowerment and self-determination against oppressive narratives.

Question 1: Quote: 'I carving out me own identity.' Discuss the use of dialect and how it affects the tone and authenticity of the poem.

Answer: The use of dialect ('me' instead of 'my') creates an authentic voice, emphasizing cultural identity and making the poem more personal and relatable. It also challenges standard English, reinforcing themes of resistance.

Question 2: Identify the metaphor in the line: 'Dem tell me Dem tell me / Wha dem want to tell me.' How does this use of repetition and colloquial language impact the poem's tone?

Answer: Repetition emphasizes the ongoing dominance of imposed narratives, while colloquial language gives the poem a conversational, defiant tone, engaging the reader emotionally and highlighting resistance.

Question 3: Find and analyze a simile used in the poem. How does it reinforce the poem's themes?

Answer: An example is 'Bandage up me eye with me own history,' where the metaphor acts like a simile, suggesting history is used as a bandage to cover up truth, reinforcing themes of concealment and manipulation.

Question 1: Discuss how the theme of power is conveyed in the poem. Provide specific examples.

Answer: The theme of power is conveyed through the contrast between authoritative 'dem tell me' voices and the speaker's assertive attempts to reclaim identity, emphasizing resistance against oppressive narratives.

Question 2: How does Agard explore the theme of cultural identity in the poem?

Answer: Agard highlights the importance of personal and cultural identity by contrasting mainstream history with the speaker's own history, emphasizing self-empowerment and cultural pride.

Question 1: Outline key points for comparing how each poem presents the idea of power and authority.

Answer: Both poems depict the decline of power—Agard challenges oppressive historical narratives to empower individuals, while Shelley shows the futility of imperial power through the ruined statue. Language in Agard is personal and dialectal; in Shelley, it’s grand and descriptive.

Question 1: Draft an analytical paragraph discussing Agard’s use of dialect, repetition, and metaphor in conveying resistance and cultural pride.

Answer: In 'Checking Out Me History,' Agard employs dialect to create an authentic voice and challenge traditional narratives. Repetition emphasizes the ongoing struggle against imposed histories, while metaphors like 'bandage' and 'carving' symbolize the act of reclaiming identity. These devices work together to reinforce themes of resistance, empowerment, and cultural pride.