To learn to analyse Island Man by Grace Nichols.
Video reading of poem:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/1368.flv
The Poem
Island Man
(for a Caribbean island man in London
who still wakes up to the sound of the sea)
Morning
and island man wakes up
to the sound of blue surf
in his head
the steady breaking and wombing
wild seabirds
and fishermen pushing out to sea
the sun surfacing defiantly
from the east
of his small emerald island
he always comes back groggily groggily
Comes back to sands
of a grey metallic soar
to surge of wheels
to dull north circular roar
muffling muffling
his crumpled pillow waves
island man heaves himself
Another London day
Grace Nichols
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Homework - due Friday 14th
1. Watch the video-clip (click the link below the video if it fails to load)
2. Read the poem/lyrics to the song (below)
3. Research meaning of certain words (more info below)
4. Answer the question at the bottom of the poem.
- post answers WITH YOUR NAME in the 'comments' section.
Billy Bragg - England, Half English
Read the lyrics to the song, 'England, Half English' by Billy Bragg (below)
What is Bragg referring to by 'red, white and blue', 'Hindustan', 'Bubble and Squeek', 'three lions', 'Morris dancing' and 'Morrisey'? Look them up!
ENGLAND, HALF-ENGLISH
My mother was half-English
And I’m half-English too
I’m a great big bundle of culture
Tied up in the red, white and blue
I’m a fine example of your Essex Man
And I'm well familiar with the Hindustan
‘Cos my neighbours are half-English
And I’m half-English too
My breakfast was half-English
And so am I you know
I had a plate of Marmite soldiers
Washed down with a cappuccino
And I have a veggie curry about once a week
The next day I fry it up as ‘Bubble ‘N’ Squeak’
‘Cos my appetite’s half-English
And I’m half-English too
Dance with me
To this very English melody
From Morris dancing to Morrissey
All that stuff came from across the sea
Britannia , she’s half-English
She speaks Latin at home
St. George was born in the Lebanon
How he got here I don’t know
And those three lions on your shirt
They never sprang from England’s dirt
Them lion’s are half-English
And I’m half-English too
Le-li Umma le-li-ya, le-li Umma le-li-ya
Le-li Umma le-li-ya, bledi g’desh akh! le-li-ya
Oh my country
Oh my country
Oh my country
What a beautiful country you are.
Question:The phrase: "Le-li Umma le-li-ya, bledi g’desh akh! le-li-ya" is Algerian for "Oh my country / What a beautiful country you are" (the music to the song in the video is also Algerian in origin). How does England, Half English compare with The British (serves 60 million) by Zephaniah and Island Man by Nichols? What's the same? What's different? Answer in full sentences.
ALL ANSWERS (WITH YOU NAME!) POSTED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS POST BY MONDAY 17th.
