Poetic Techniques in John Agard's 'Half-Caste'

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Questions and Answers

What is the effect of the use of 'little eyes', 'two long legs', 'its language' in the poem?

It creates an atmosphere of fear

It emphasizes the innocence of the child (correct)

It portrays the routine of the child

It highlights the authority of the teacher

What is the effect of the metaphor of 'clockless' and 'tick-less' in the poem?

It highlights the suffering of the knight

It symbolizes the freedom of childhood (correct)

It emphasizes the routine of the child

It represents the authority of the teacher

What is the effect of the repetition of 'wild' in the poem 'Piano'?

It symbolizes the suffering of the knight

It creates a sense of routine

It being entranced by the faery (correct)

It emphasizes the beauty of nature

What is the effect of the use of 'heart and nerve and sinew' in Rudyard Kipling's poem?

It emphasizes the realism and motivation Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the juxtaposition of 'crowds' to 'Kings' in Rudyard Kipling's poem?

It emphasizes the importance of perseverance Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the metaphor of 'two impostors' in Rudyard Kipling's poem?

It personifies triumph and disaster Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the epizeuxis of 'And' and 'If' in Rudyard Kipling's poem?

It adds emphasis to the importance of persistence Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the listing of 'If-' commands in Rudyard Kipling's poem?

It provides a long instruction set Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the use of Caesuras in 'Piano'?

It adds suspense and an abrupt shift back to reality Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the repetition of 'time' compounds in the poem?

It represents the secure routine Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary tone of the poem 'Half Caste' by John Agard?

Defiant Signup and view all the answers

In 'Search for My Tongue', what is the symbolism of the 'tongue'?

Language Signup and view all the answers

What is the structure of the poem 'The Tyger' by William Blake?

6 verses of equal length with rhyming couplets Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the repetition of 'stoop' in 'My Last Duchess'?

It portrays the Duke's pompous attitude Signup and view all the answers

In 'Blessing', what is the significance of the word 'never'?

It emphasizes the relentless nature of suffering Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the onomatopoeic words in 'War Photographer'?

It emphasizes the chaos and drama of the scene Signup and view all the answers

What is the tone of the poem 'War Photographer' by Carol Ann Duffy?

Detached Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'half formed ghost' in 'War Photographer'?

It symbolizes the victims of war Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the sibilance in 'War Photographer'?

It showcases the sinister tone of the war Signup and view all the answers

What is the structure of the poem 'Half Past Two'?

Free verse with no rhyming scheme Signup and view all the answers

What literary device is used in the phrase 'star to every wandering bark' to describe the undulating nature of love?

Metaphor Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the repetition of 'rage' in Dylan Thomas's poem?

To showcase the violence and will to resist Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'plosives of blaze, blind, be' in Dylan Thomas's poem?

To showcase the power of the message Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the juxtaposition of violence and 'yoga meditation' in Alice Walker's poem?

It relaxes the pace of the poem and shifts the tone to a more positive one Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'fire' symbolism in Alice Walker's poem?

It suggests her father lives on Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the shift between past and present tense in Alice Walker's poem?

It paints an image of the father's life Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'voluptuous' word in Alice Walker's poem?

It highlights her father's generosity Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the 'cooking, writing, chopping wood' listing in Alice Walker's poem?

It suggests the independence of her father Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the final couplet in Shakespeare's sonnet?

It marks Shakespeare's confident verdict Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the use of caesura in Shakespeare's sonnet?

It draws attention to the truth about love Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the 'tinkling' sound in 'Prayer Before Birth'?

Adds a gentle touch to the poem's atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'white light' in 'Prayer Before Birth'?

Represents the symbolism of God Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the repetition of 'I am not yet born' in 'Prayer Before Birth'?

Reminds the audience of the child's vulnerability Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the imperatives in 'Hide and Seek'?

To create a sense of urgency and desperation Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the antithesis in 'Remember'?

Conveys the importance of sacrifice and letting go Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'stone' and 'spill' words in 'Hide and Seek'?

Adds a sense of abruptness to the poem's tone Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the 'prowling' metaphor in 'Hide and Seek'?

Highlights the speaker's vulnerability and fear Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the sibilance in 'Prayer Before Birth'?

Adds a warm and motherly comforting tone Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the enjambment in 'Remember'?

Mirrors the emotional moment of someone's passing Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'cold bites through your coat' personification in 'Hide and Seek'?

Emphasizes the growing discomfort and sinister pain Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Poetic Devices and Techniques

Alliteration: repetitive initial consonant sounds, e.g., "s" in "singing, strings, softly, smiles" (Prayer Before Birth)
Assonance: repetitive vowel sounds, e.g., "i" in "fierce tears" (Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night)
Caesura: pause or break in a line, e.g., "He has a job to do" (War Photographer)
Enjambment: sentence or phrase continuing into the next line without punctuation, e.g., "burn and rave" (Poem at 39)
Imagery: vivid descriptions of sensory experiences, e.g., "vista of years" (Prayer Before Birth)
Juxtaposition: contrasting ideas or images, e.g., "beautiful" and "horrific" (War Photographer)
Metaphor: comparisons between two unlike things, e.g., "life is a journey" (not mentioned in the text)
Onomatopoeia: words imitating sounds, e.g., "tinkling" (Prayer Before Birth)
Personification: attributing human-like qualities to non-human entities, e.g., "heart of me weeps" (Prayer Before Birth)
Plosives: strong consonant sounds, e.g., "b" in "burning bright" (The Tyger)
Repetition: repeating words or phrases for emphasis, e.g., "remember" (Remember)
Rhetorical Question: questions without expected answers, e.g., "where are you?" (Hide and Seek)
Sibilance: repetitive "s" sounds, e.g., "singing, strings, softly, smiles" (Prayer Before Birth)
Simile: comparisons using "like" or "as," e.g., "star to every wandering bark" (Sonnet 116)

Poetic Forms and Structures

Ballad: narrative poem with quatrains and a strong rhythm, e.g., La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Free Verse: poetry without a regular rhythm or meter, e.g., Prayer Before Birth, War Photographer
Petrarchan Sonnet: 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme, e.g., Sonnet 116
Sonnet: 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme, e.g., Sonnet 116
Villanelle: 19-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme, e.g., Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Poets and Their Works

Alice Walker: author of Poem at 39
Carol Ann Duffy: author of War Photographer
Christina Rossetti: author of Remember
D.H. Lawrence: author of unknown poem (mentioned in the text)
Dylan Thomas: author of Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Imtiaz Dharker: author of Blessing
John Agard: author of Half Caste
John Keats: author of unknown poem (mentioned in the text)
Louis Macneice: author of Prayer Before Birth
Rudyard Kipling: author of If
Sujata Bhatt: author of Search For My Tongue
U.A. Fanthorpe: author of half past two
Vernon Scannell: author of Hide and Seek
William Blake: author of The Tyger
William Shakespeare: author of Sonnet 116

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Description

Test your understanding of the literary techniques used by John Agard in his poem 'Half-Caste', including language, imagery, form, and structure. Explore the poet's use of phonetic spelling, tone, and repetition to convey his message.