Question 1: Briefly explain the historical and cultural context in which John Agard wrote 'Checking Out Me History'.

Answer: John Agard wrote 'Checking Out Me History' to challenge traditional Eurocentric historical narratives and highlight the importance of African and Caribbean history and culture.

Question 2: What is the significance of the phrase 'checking out me history' in relation to the poet's message?

Answer: It signifies the poet's desire to reclaim his personal and cultural identity by exploring and valuing his own history, rather than accepting colonial narratives.

Question 1: Analyze the meaning and impact of the line: 'Bandage up me eye with me own history'. What does this metaphor suggest?

Answer: The metaphor suggests that colonial narratives have blinded the poet to his true history, and only by 'uncovering' his own history can he see clearly. It emphasizes the need to reclaim one's identity.

Question 2: Examine the stanza that begins with ‘Dem tell me’ and explain its significance in conveying the poem’s message.

Answer: The repeated 'Dem tell me' emphasizes how colonial figures have dictated a limited, often false history, contrasting with the poet’s desire to tell his own story.

Question 1: Find and analyze a metaphor used to describe the poet’s reclaimed identity.

Answer: ‘I carving out me own identity’ — Highlights the active process of shaping and asserting one's cultural identity, emphasizing independence and resilience.

Question 2: Identify a simile in the poem and discuss how it enhances the poem’s themes.

Answer: ‘My history’s untold’ — While not a direct simile, the phrase suggests a comparison to an incomplete story, emphasizing the need to uncover and tell hidden histories.

Question 1: Discuss how the poem addresses themes of identity and cultural heritage.

Answer: The poem emphasizes the importance of personal and cultural identity, challenging colonial narratives and celebrating African and Caribbean history as vital parts of the poet’s self-understanding.

Question 2: What does the poem suggest about the power structures that dictate history?

Answer: It suggests that dominant power structures often manipulate or erase true history, and that it’s necessary to challenge and reclaim one’s own narrative.

Question 1: Identify two key themes in 'Ozymandias' and 'Checking Out Me History' related to power.

Answer: Both poems explore how power can be temporary and how rulers manipulate history. 'Ozymandias' shows the hubris of a ruler, while 'Checking Out Me History' highlights the suppression of true cultural power.

Question 2: Outline points you would include in an essay comparing how each poet presents the idea of cultural or personal identity.

Answer: In 'Checking Out Me History', Agard advocates for reclaiming cultural identity through personal history, emphasizing resilience and pride. In 'Ozymandias', Shelley depicts the fleeting nature of power and the legacy that outlives rulers, prompting reflection on the true source of identity and lasting influence.