What is the main message of the poem half-caste?

This is a poem about asserting your identity against others who would ‘bring you down’. John Agard was born in Guyana in 1949, with a Caribbean father and a Portuguese mother (he is of mixed race). In 1977, he moved to Britain, where he became angry with people who referred to him as ‘half-caste’.

What are the themes of half-caste?

Possible themes you might be asked about include:

• • Identity.
• • Feelings about people.
• • Feelings about places.
• • Language and dialect, how people talk.
• • Other cultures, customs and traditions – way of life spiritually and materially.
• • Beliefs and rituals.
• • Different attitudes and values.
• • Living between two cultures.

What is the overall effect of the poem half-caste?

The speaker is discussing the term ​“half-caste”​ which is attributed to him as a result of his mixed race heritage. The comparisons he makes highlight the ridiculousness of the term’s usage. The overall tone of the poem is sarcastic and biting, arguably as the result of years of criticism.

What is the tone in half-caste?

Agard repeatedly tells the person to ‘explain yuself’, and asks them ‘what yu mean’ when they use the term ‘half-caste’. The tone is confrontational, angry. The repetition of the command and question create the effect that the other person is unable to explain them his or herself, or answer the question.

Why did John Agard write half caste poem?

Half-Caste – John Agard. This is a poem about asserting your identity against others who would ‘bring you down’. John Agard was born in Guyana in 1949, with a Caribbean father and a Portuguese mother (he is of mixed race). In 1977, he moved to Britain, where he became angry with people who referred to him as ‘half-caste’.

Is the half caste poem suitable for GCSE?

The tasks allow your child to explore the meaning, form, structure, language and imagery of the Half Caste poem. By the end of the lesson your child should be able to write a cogent analysis of Half Caste. This pack is suitable for those studying the Half Caste poem for GCSE English Literature with the main exam boards.

What do you need to know about half caste?

1 Summary of Half-Caste. Half-caste is a derogatory term for a person who is of mixed race. 2 Half-Caste Analysis. Half-Caste, which can be read in full here, is composed of four stanzas of varying length, although there does seem to be some symmetry with these stanzas, as 3 Historical Significance of Half-Caste.

What does Yu mean in half caste poem?

Lines 27-32: “yu mean when tchaikovsky / sit down at dah / piano / and mix a black key / wid a white key / is a half-caste symphony” Unlock all 258 words of this analysis of Allusion in “Half-Caste,” and get the poetic device analyses for every poem we cover.