Poetry Across Time: Character and voice Checking Out Me History Key

Language: connotation, imagery, metaphor, simile Structure and Form: stanzas, type, patterns, contrast, juxtaposition Poetic methods: alliteration, caesura, assonance, rhythm, rhyme Character and Voice: Who is speaking and to whom? Tone of voice Links: Comparisons to other speakers, methods and themes Dem tell me Dem tell me Wha dem want to tell me

Dialect reinforces a sense of pride in his culture. Vague and dismissive comment implies that he sees these stories as insignificant in comparison to his own

Bandage up me eye with me won history Blind me to me own identity Dem tell me about 1066 and all dat dem tell me bout Dick Whittington and he cat but Toussaint LOuverture no dem never tell me bout dat Verse and chorus form mirrors a song to place the characters in the status of legends; those that you sing to your song about.

Toussaint Emphasises pride he feels in his nations a slave with vision history. lick back Napoleon battalion Rhyming couplet reminiscent of and first Black nursery and shows that he feels it Metaphor light represents truth and Republic born deserves the same status and popularity. hope for his own nations place in Toussaint de thorn history. to de French Toussaint de beacon of de Haitian Revolution Even childrens stories given precedence Dem tell me bout de man who discover de balloon highlights the extent and de cow who jump over de moon of the cultural Dem tell me bout de dish ran away with de spoon ignorance. but dem never tell me bout Nanny de maroon Nanny see-far woman of mountain dream fire-woman struggle hopeful stream to freedom river Images of nature used to reinforce adventurous and exciting deeds done by the heroes of his history.

Juxtaposition of real and fictional heroes emphasises discrepancies in the teaching of history.

Dem tell me bout Lord Nelson and Waterloo but dem never tell bout Shaka de great Zulu Dem tell me bout Columbus and 1492 but what happens to de Caribs and De Arawaks too Dem tell me bout Florence Nightingale and she lamp and how Robin Hood used to camp Dem tell me bout old King Cole was a merry ole soul but dem never tell me bout Mary Seacole

Question serves as an accusation of neglecting to mention great figures when teaching history

From Jamaica she travels far to the Crimean War she volunteer to go and even when de British said no she still brave the Russian snow a healing star Images that are reliable and among the wounded steadfast show how Mary Seacole a yellow sunrise was a rock to those she treated. to the dying Dem tell me Dem tell me wha dem want to tell me But now I checking out me own history I carving out me identity

Interpretations of the poem: A man showing patriotism and national pride An accusation that the Wests influence on the teaching of history is an injustice. An attempt to make personal heroes gain some recognition.