Comparing ‘Checking Out Me History’ and ‘The Émigrée’
I can compare how Agard and Rumens present conflict and identity in their poems.
Comparing ‘Checking Out Me History’ and ‘The Émigrée’
I can compare how Agard and Rumens present conflict and identity in their poems.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Both ‘The Émigrée’ and ‘Checking Out Me History’ explore big ideas of oppression, power and identity.
- Both poems criticise oppressive systems due to the detrimental effect they can have on identity.
- Both poets reconnect with their heritage: Rumens personifying her country and Agard telling stories in his dialect.
- Both poems use the motif of light to show the power of personal identity.
- Both poets ultimately reveal how one can reclaim their sense of identity.
Common misconception
Pupils may notice the theme of oppression in ‘The Émigrée’ due to the mention of war, but not notice this in 'Checking Out Me History'.
'Checking Out Me History' explores how Agard presents colonisation and its effects as oppressive.
Keywords
Oppression - cruel or unfair treatment
Triumph - to defeat someone or something
Heritage - a person’s racial, religious or cultural background
Reclaim - to take back something that was yours
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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