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1. Teacher-of-English.com Half Caste Poems from Different Cultures

2. Slide Contents Author Social & Historical Context What is it About? Structure Language Examination Preparation Links

3. The Author

4. John Agard John Agard was born in Guyana in South America in 1949. Like many people from the Caribbean his parents were of mixed nationality - his mother is Portuguese, but born in Guyana and his father is black. Following his move to Britain in 1977 he said that one of the things he loves about England is the wide variety of people he meets: 'The diversity of cultures here is very exciting'. Agard is well known as a performance poet and his poems often use humour to convey a serious point.

5. Social & Historical Context

6. ‘Half-caste’ The term 'half-caste', still used by many people to describe people of mixed race, is now considered rude and insulting as it suggest that mixed race people are inferior or incomplete . In this poem John Agard ridicules the term and challenges the reader to be more open minded.

7. What is it About?

8. Like a person of mixed race, there are two halves to this poem but are you aware of what they are? What Happens?

9. Like a person of mixed race, there are two halves to this poem but are you aware of what they are? What Happens?

10. Structure

11. Structure The poem is made up of five stanzas, each one of a different length. The lines throughout the poem are quite short and Agard doesn't use standardpunctuation. This is partly because the poem is written as a performance piece (to be read aloud). Agard has said that: ‘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...’

12. Language&Imagery

13. Language When you read the poem for the first time you immediately notice that it is not written in standard English. As well as neglecting the rules of punctuation the poet uses the lower case where standard English would use capital letters. Agard also writes in a Caribbean dialect using 'yu' instead of 'you', or 'dem' for 'them'. The next thing you may notice is that certain phrases such as ‘Explain yuself’ and ‘half' are repeated or echoed and that the poem contains a number of comparisons to show us how ridiculous it is to judge things that are in contrasting colours as only 'half' worthy. The poet uses examples of great artists such as Picasso and Tchaikovsky and the weather as examples of things that are full of contrasting colour.

14. Language Response • Why do you think that John Agard does not write this poem in Standard English? • Why do you think Agard chose to write 'Half-Caste' in a Caribbean dialect ? • Why does the poet repeat or echo certain words and phrases? • Why does he mention Picasso & Tchaikovsky to convey his point of view?

15. Imagery Look at the following images from the poem. What effect do the images create?

16. Poetic Techniques TechniqueDefinition Metaphorthe ability to see that something is funny HumourA figure of speech not meant literally Repetition the act or process of saying or writing something again Match the technique with the correct definition.

17. Poetic Techniques TechniqueDefinition Metaphorthe ability to see that something is funny HumourA figure of speech not meant literally Repetition the act or process of saying or writing something again Match the technique with the correct definition.

18. Poetic Techniques Think about the poetic techniques discussed on the last slide. Copy down the chart below. Find examples in the poem and write down the effect created.

19. Feelings and Attitudes The poet pokes fun at the idea of mixed race people being only half made. He uses humour to ridicule the idea of being only half a person (‘standing on one leg’). He uses a conversational but quite aggressive tone to express his feelings and convey his opinion. The poem is very direct and informal – despite the humour the tone of the poem is also confrontational and angry.

20. ExaminationPreparation

21. The Examination Paper • You will have 45 minutes to answer the question. • You will be asked to compare two poems. • You should begin by annotating the question for the key words. This will help you to understand what you are being asked to do. E.g. Compare ‘Half Caste’ with one other poem which demonstrates strong attitudes and feelings about how individuals are treated in society.

22. Planning • Spend between 5 and 10 minutes making a plan. This will help you to order your essay logically. • Make a note of any key ideas you are going to include. • Leave at least 5 minutes at the end to read through your work and check for any basic errors.

23. Structure Remember: • Write in paragraphs. • Don’t forget to P.E.E! Using a range of quotes that are properly embedded within your answer. • Begin with an introduction and end with a conclusion. The main body of the essay should follow these five steps to make a good answer: • Write about the theme • Compare the structures of each poem • Compare the use of language in each poem • Compare the feelings of the poets • Write about how the poems make you feel.

24. Similarity Connectives Equally In the same way Similarly Likewise Just as…also Contrast Connectives In contrast However Whereas (best used in the middle of a sentence) On the other hand Making Connections Use a series of comparisons, using connectives to link ideas, both within paragraphs and between paragraphs. Refer back to the question repeating the key words from it.

25. Analysis Use the following words to link your Point -> Evidence -> Explain sentences. The use of these words will also help to ensure that your response is analytical. suggests implies gives the impression that shows highlights indicates To make the same point using a different example, try one of these: furthers emphasises reinforces

26. Recap • When you are comparing poems you will be asked to look for the similarities and the differences. • You should comment on the language they use. What poetic devices are present? Imagery, similes, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification, rhyme etc. What effect do they have on the reader? • You will need to comment on the structure of the poems. How are they set out? Does this add to their overall effect/meaning? • Consider the tone of the poems. What mood has the author created?

27. Links

28. Useful Stuff ‘Half Caste’ short film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KqyVpMJ1gI&feature=PlayList&p=16EF7CA5C98BAEE0&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=10 BBC Bitesize Poems From Other Cultures: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/poemscult/halfcasterev1.shtml