Question 1: Describe the overall structure of the poem. How is it organized in terms of stanzas and lines? What effect does this organization have on the reader?

Answer: The poem is structured in free verse with irregular stanzas, which reflects the speaker's rejection of traditional, colonial narratives and emphasizes a sense of personal and cultural independence.

Question 2: Identify any shifts or changes in tone or structure within the poem. How do these shifts influence the message?

Answer: Shifts occur when the speaker contrasts his own history with that taught in schools, highlighting a rebellious tone that underscores the importance of personal and cultural identity.

Question 1: Quote Explosion: 'Bandage up me eye with me own history / Blind me to me own identity.' How does the structure of these lines (enjambment and line breaks) emphasize the message?

Answer: The enjambment forces the reader to move swiftly from one line to the next, mirroring the ongoing struggle to uncover or reclaim identity. The break between 'history' and 'Blind' highlights how neglecting personal history can lead to blindness or ignorance.

Question 2: Identify where Agard uses irregular line lengths or stanza breaks. What is the effect of these choices on the poem's rhythm and emphasis?

Answer: Agard's use of irregular lines and stanza breaks creates a disrupted rhythm that reflects the theme of breaking away from colonial narratives and challenges traditional poetic form to mirror the poem's rebellious tone.

Question 1: How does the poem's free form and lack of a consistent stanza pattern reinforce its themes of personal and cultural resistance?

Answer: The free form symbolizes the rejection of imposed structures of colonial power, emphasizing individual agency and the importance of personal and cultural identity over colonial narratives.

Question 2: Discuss how the placement of key lines or phrases affects the reader’s understanding of the poem's message.

Answer: Strategic placement of rebellious phrases, often at the start or end of stanzas, emphasizes defiance and highlights the importance of reclaiming history and identity.

Question 1: Identify similarities in how Agard and Shelley use structure to depict themes of power and arrogance.

Answer: Both poets use structural choices—Agard's free verse and Shelley’s sonnet form—to emphasize the transient nature of power and the importance of individual agency.

Question 2: How might the structural differences influence the reader's perception of the central messages of each poem?

Answer: Shelley's structured sonnet emphasizes the permanence of power and hubris, while Agard's free form underscores resistance and the fluidity of personal identity.

Question 1: Extended Analytical Paragraph: Using evidence from the poem, explain how Agard’s structural choices reinforce his message of reclaiming personal and cultural history.

Answer: The poem’s irregular structure, free verse, and strategic placement of rebellious phrases serve to emphasize the speaker’s rejection of colonial narratives and the importance of personal agency. The disrupted rhythm mirrors the breaking away from imposed histories, reinforcing themes of resistance and cultural pride.