Lesson Topic Poem Checking Out Me History by

Lesson Topic: Poem: Checking Out Me History by John Agard Analysis and Interpretation Name of Teacher: Susan Strikovsky Target Class: 10 th Lesson Place in the Curriculum: Lesson Two

Table of Contents • Introduction • Repetition and Tone • Non-Standard English Dialect • Enjambment • Definition of Metaphor • Examples of Metaphor • How does Agard highlight the heroism of the Black historical figures? • Definition of Irony • Examples of Irony • Bridging Text and Context • Conclusion

Repetition and Tone is the attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is generally conveyed through the choice of words, or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject. https: //www. pexels. com/photo/marketi ng-man-person-communication-362/

Repetition and Tone Dem tell me Wha dem want to tell me The repetition highlights the control that white people have over history. This repetition creates a feeling of anger in the poem. The tone is therefore one of anger.

Non- Standard English Dialect A dialect is a form of the language that is spoken in a particular part of the country or by a particular group of people. There are many different dialects of English and each one has different vocabulary and grammar. https: //www. pexel s. com/photo/antiq ue-call-close-upcommunication 207538/

Non- Standard English Dialect Agard uses non-standard English to show his pride in his own culture and background which he feels is not acknowledged by the Education system. Examples of Non-Standard dialect: Me, Dem, De, Lick Back

Enjambment The word enjambment comes from the French enjambement, which means to step over, or put legs across. The term as a literary device refers to the practice of running lines of poetry from one to the next without using any kind of punctuation to indicate a stop (periods, commas, etc. )

Enjambment There is no punctuation in the poem. Agard chooses to reject the rules of punctuation which represents how he is rejecting white history too.

Definition of Metaphor A Metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison between two things that aren't alike but do have something in common. For example: The mind is an ocean. Can you find examples of Metaphors in the poem? https: //www. pexels. com/photo/ocean-water-wavephoto-1295138/

Examples of Metaphors Toussaint de thorn To de French Toussant de beacon Of de Haitian Revolution I carving out me identity Bandage up me eye with me own history

How does Agard highlight the heroism of the Black historical figures? The sections about each of the Black heroes are filled with metaphor and positive imagery to convince the reader about how amazing these people are. Agard uses italics to further highlight their importance.

Definition of Irony The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning: the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend. Can you find an example of irony in the poem? What is the effect of this irony? https: //www. pexels. com/photo/ma n-in-red-crew-neck-sweatshirtphotography-941693/

Examples of Irony Dem tell me bout Dick Whittington and he cat But Toussaint L’Ouverture No dem never tell me bout dat We learn all about fictional characters at school, but never learn about the real black hero, Toussaint.

Bridging Text and Context John Agard was born in Guyana, South America in 1949. Agard moved to Britain in the late seventies. His Portuguese mother is White and his father is Black. How do you think this information about the author adds to your understanding of the poem? https: //www. google. co. il/imgres? imgurl=https: //literature. britishcouncil. org/a ssets/Uploads/writers/_resampled/Cropped. Image 680680 John. Agard. jpg&imgrefurl=https: //literature. britishcouncil. org/writer/johnagard&h=680&w=680&tbnid=y. Qs 6 Zzohv. Ht 0 NM: &q=john+agard&tbnh=186&t bnw=186&usg=AI 4_-k. SRIo. Rr. DZ 6 n 0 xrg. UZ 4 Nu. I 72 Jlp. Qs. Q&vet=12 ah. UKEwim 8 T 8 rzd. Ah. XOf. FAKHYSKD 40 Q_B 0 w. Eno. ECAs. QCQ. . i&docid=Rxqj. A 3 RRE 46 Cx. M&itg=1& sa=X&ved=2 ah. UKEwim 8 -T 8 r-zd. Ah. XOf. FAKHYSKD 40 Q_B 0 w. Eno. ECAs. QCQ

Today’s Lesson was about: Poem: Checking Out Me History Analysis and Interpretation Next lesson will be about: Poem: The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Basic Understanding and Analysis