Question 1: What is the significance of the line 'Dem tell me' repeated throughout the poem?

Answer: It emphasizes the narrator's frustration with the biased or incomplete history he has been told, highlighting his desire to reclaim his own identity.

Question 2: Explain how Agard contrasts traditional British history with Caribbean history in the poem.

Answer: He highlights the marginalization of Caribbean history, using vivid language to assert the importance of his own cultural identity.

Question 1: Find an example of a metaphor in the poem and explain its effect on the reader.

Answer: Example: 'Bandage up me eyes with me own history' - the metaphor of 'bandaging' suggests that history has been hidden or obscured, and removing the bandage would reveal the truth. It encourages the reader to question accepted narratives.

Question 2: Identify a simile used in the poem and discuss how it enhances the poem's message.

Answer: Example: 'My history's a mystery' - the simile compares history to a mystery, emphasizing the lack of clarity and the need to uncover and understand one's own history.

Question 3: How does Agard use repetition in the poem, and what is its purpose?

Answer: Repetition of 'Dem tell me' emphasizes the ongoing suppression of true history and reinforces the narrator’s resistance.

Question 1: Discuss how the theme of identity is developed through the poem.

Answer: The poem emphasizes the importance of personal and cultural identity by contrasting official history with personal history, asserting the need to reclaim one's own story.

Question 2: Analyze how the poem challenges traditional ideas of power and authority.

Answer: Agard challenges the authority of colonial history and traditional narratives by highlighting marginalized histories, empowering the oppressed to reclaim their identity and history.

Question 1: What similarities and differences would you explore regarding the portrayal of power in these two poems?

Answer: Similarities include the critique of oppressive power structures; differences lie in 'Ozymandias' depicting the decay of hubris, whereas 'Checking Out Me History' emphasizes reclaiming suppressed cultural identity.

Question 1: Analyze the quote: 'Bandage up me eyes with me own history / blind me to my own identity.' Discuss the imagery and its effect.

Answer: The metaphor of 'bandage' suggests concealment or suppression of true history, while 'blind' reinforces the idea of ignorance imposed by authoritative narratives. This evokes the reader’s awareness of the importance of uncovering the truth to restore identity.

Question 2: Examine the line: 'Dem tell me what them want to tell me.' How does this reflect the poem's message about power and control?

Answer: It highlights how authoritative figures manipulate history, controlling what is told and what is hidden, thus emphasizing the struggle against imposed narratives.

Question 1: Outline an essay plan that discusses the use of metaphors, repetition, and imagery in 'Checking Out Me History' to convey themes of cultural identity and resistance.

Answer: Introduction: Context and main themes. Paragraph 1: Use of metaphors like 'bandage' to symbolize concealment. Paragraph 2: Repetition of 'Dem tell me' to emphasize resistance. Paragraph 3: Vivid imagery that highlights the contrast between official and personal history. Conclusion: Agard’s overall message of reclaiming identity through language and imagery.