So many interpretations to the culture poems in this book that we students have to study!
This thread is for us all to study them together and go over the messages and techniques etc.
The first one I studied was Search For My tongue. Any comments?
Khadijah
salamualikum.
identity of two different languages, Gujrati it's in the middle because it's for the attention and the way it's structured. It's got repitition and enjarment.
...And if you lived in a place you ''HAD'' to. where it says had sujata Bhatt has been forced. Theres alot of metaphors ''Rot and die in your mouth'' that is referring to a plant.
This poem is all about like a living thing in Sujata Bhatt's mouth, she thinks she lost her mother language but it comes back to her.
Ma'assalama
Right! I love the last stanza. The way she describes her mother tongue blossoming in her mouth. It's beautiful.
salamualikum.
Yes she says something like this
''It blossoms out of my mouth''
Ma'assalama
salaam
i need to revise those peoms and practise essay writing
coz we've exam's comming up soon!! this threads will be
useful! thanks for starting it sis
wa salaam
salamualikum.
What about ''Halfcaste''?? lol John Argard is well funny haha
Ma'assalama
salaam
i saw John Argard reading some of his poems in this museum that we went
to. He is realy funny and his poems have a deeper message to them, My fav one is Halfcsate
wa salaam
'wah u mena when u say half-caste'.
Lol I love that poem!!
How many speakers are there? 2 or 3?
salamualikum
2 i think. That poem is challenging people face of different sorrounding identity. Acceptance does variety society accept what you are. All about ''Half'' of something and the culture.
Ma'assalama
salaam
wa salaamExcuse me
standing on one leg
I'm half-caste
Explain yuself
wha yu mean
when yu say half-caste
yu mean when picasso
mix red an green
is a half-caste canvas/
explain yuself
wha u mean
when yu say half-caste
yu mean when light an shadow
mix in de sky
is a half-caste weather/
well in dat case
england weather
nearly always half-caste
in fact some o dem cloud
half-caste till dem overcast
so spiteful dem dont want de sun pass
ah rass/
explain yuself
wha yu mean
when yu say half-caste
yu mean tchaikovsky
sit down at dah piano
an mix a black key
wid a white key
is a half-caste symphony/
Explain yuself
wha yu mean
Ah listening to yu wid de keen
half of mih ear
Ah looking at u wid de keen
half of mih eye
and when I'm introduced to yu
I'm sure you'll understand
why I offer yu half-a-hand
an when I sleep at night
I close half-a-eye
consequently when I dream
I dream half-a-dream
an when moon begin to glow
I half-caste human being
cast half-a-shadow
but yu come back tomorrow
wid de whole of yu eye
an de whole of yu ear
and de whole of yu mind
an I will tell yu
de other half
of my story
John Agard
salamualikum.
^ lol good one
Ma'assalama
salaam
I got this stuf of BBCBitesize, It'll be useful i think
any good?Structure
The poem is written is five stanzas of varying lengths. Look carefully at the gaps between the stanzas (lines 38/39, 47/48 and 50/51). Why do you think the poet left these gaps, when the sentence seems to run on into the next stanza?
The lines throughout the poem are quite short, perhaps to hammer home the message.
Language
When you read the poem, you will notice that certain phrases (eg 'Explain yuself, half') are repeated or echoed, which builds up a pattern in the language. Do you think that this repetition is a successful way of strengthening the impact of his argument?
The poem relies on comparisons to make us see how stupid it is to judge things that are in contrasting colours as only 'half' worthy. He uses examples of great and famous artists (Picasso and Tchaikovsky). What is the effect of this?
He also uses the weather as an example of something that is full of contrasting colour. Think about what the poet is doing when he uses the phrase 'overcast' (line 20). It sounds like the same word as 'caste' with an 'e', but is actually an entirely different word. Do you think this adds to the humour of the poem? Agard said: 'I think humour can be very powerful. Humour breaks down boundaries, it topples our self-importance, it connects people, and because it engages and entertains, it ultimately enlightens.'
The poet has decided not to use standard English in this poem.
He doesn't use the standard form of punctuation. This is partly because it's a poem that is written to be performed aloud. Agard said: 'Sometimes I think no punctuation can be effective because if the words are floating in space it gives the reader a chance to punctuate with their own breath...'
He uses the lower case where standard English would use capital letters. Even proper names - like 'picasso', or 'tchaikovsky' - are written in this way. What effect does this create?
He writes in a Caribbean dialect -'yu' instead of 'you', for example, or 'dem' for 'them'. Why do you think Agard chose to write 'Half-Caste' in 'non-standard' form
Last edited by ummAbdillah; 04-06-2007 at 03:25 PM.
I love English Literature.
If anybody needs help with English, especially literature, feel free to drop me a note.
snap sis! literature is my fave! lol
Salamualikum.format_quote Originally Posted by DeepOcean
Not to worry sis. How many poems have you studied so far?
Ma'assalama
Eng lit anthology! I so wanted to throw that down a drain or something last year! I still got notes in mine, very useful if i may add...anyone want to place a bid for it...20p for starters
kay:
format_quote Originally Posted by H4RUN
Eng lit anthology! I so wanted to throw that down a drain or something last year! I still got notes in mine, very useful if i may add
How long ago did you sit the exam bro?
How long are everybodies English exams?
(Mine was 2hrs and 15 minutes)
Last edited by strider; 04-07-2007 at 09:15 PM. Reason: Edit: Info.
format_quote Originally Posted by DeepOcean
It was last summer...or should i say late spring...i need to get hold of the video the headmaster made of all us walking into the exam hall....i tripped over..
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yeh right
Put your head down nowIt's easy to get distracted at the end of high school days...Unfortunately it was more jokes than work for some of us....did not affect us too much when the results came in....but trust me, they could have been better...more A's would have done the trick
peace
kay:
My favorite was is definately Half Caste coz it is funny and still brings a message across.
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