Half-caste

Question 1

Overview of half-caste:

Answer 1

A poem that challenges the ignorance of those who use the term ‘half-caste’ to describe someone who is mixed race. Agard demands an explanation by mocking and ridiculing ideas that those individuals supposedly have. He regains control, when he evokes he’ll only share his full story, when they are more open minded

Question 2

Main themes:

Answer 2

Culture, identity, challenges, personal suffering, racism,

Question 3

Comparing poems:

Answer 3

search for my tongue, If-

Question 4

Form:

Answer 4

Phonetic, free verse + lots of enjambment evokes his rejection of British standards and allows for a colloquial tone. Use of phonetic spelling evokes his unapologetic view on his dialet and therefore has no intention of diluting his heritage to accommodate his English-speaking audience. 4 stanzas - 2 are much longer, evoking a rant-like quality.

Question 5

‘excuse me standing on one leg I’m half-caste’

Answer 5

‘Excuse me’ is direct address + has a confrontational tone towards the audience due to his anger and inability to understand why he’s being described like this. ‘Standing on one leg’ creates a physically humorous image, allowing Agard to highlight how visually ridiculous it is to label someone as ‘half-caste’. It’s a derogatory term used against people who are mixed raced, and Agard is mocking tone to apologise for being ‘half-caste’ as if associated with the social hierarchy.

Question 6

‘Explain yuself’

Answer 6

It is a refrain that highlights his increasing frustration with society calling him ‘half-caste’ as he doesn’t see the reasoning behind it. The pronoun ‘yuself’ is direct address that demands an answer from the audience and he feels it’s unfair to be called such by such a term.

Question 7

‘When light an shadow mix in de sky is a halfcaste weather’

Answer 7

Use of humours metaphor of nature mixing ‘light a shadow mix in de sky’ is described as ‘half-caste’. This highlights the stupidity of referring something to ‘half-caste’ as many natural things that are considered beautiful are mixed.

Question 8

‘England weather nearly always half-caste…till dem overcast so spiteful’

Answer 8

Mocking tone, as the English are known for being obsessed with the audience - gives him relatability. ‘Always half-caste’ shows how miserable weather is considered the norm in England evoking how hypocritical people are being towards him.

Question 9

‘When Picasso mix red an green is a half-caste canvas…when Tchaikovsky..mix a black key wid a white key is a half-caste symphony’

Answer 9

Use of the proper nouns ‘Picasso’ and ‘Tchaikovsky’ evokes how they’re experts in their respective fields.’Half-caste canvas…half-caste symphony’ illustrates how their mixing isn’t perceived as being ‘half-caste’ but rather helps to create masterpieces and works of art - suggests how unrealistic it is to refer to a mixed person as ‘half-caste’ when various beautiful things are a result of mixing.

Question 10

‘Half of mih ear…half of mih eye…i offer you half-a-hand…I dream half-a-dream’

Answer 10

Extended metaphor of being ‘half’ explores his frustrations and offense of being called ‘half-caste’. It illustrates how silly it is to be referred to in this way and should be seen as a human being, nothing less. Hints at the discrimination and segregation he perhaps was a victim to?

Question 11

‘Whole of yu eye…whole of yu ear…whole of yu mind’

Answer 11

Direct parallel to the extended metaphor of ‘half’ as now been replaced by ‘whole’. Acts as an epistrophe as reinforced the importance of understanding a person’s complete narrative - not just your perception of them. Use of synedoche - separate parts of the body ‘eye..ear…mind’ contribute to make a ‘whole’ = many unique characteristics make Agard who he is.

Question 12

‘I will tell yu de other half of my story’

Answer 12

Takes the idea of ‘half-caste’ to the extreme, suggesting that the poem is only half of his story. The pronoun ‘yu’ has been replaced by ‘my’ to evoke how he remains in control of the parts of his life he wishes to share to his audience. Also reference to how he is mixed race - both cultures make him who he is.