Title: Explore how the theme of identity is presented in ‘The
Emigree’ by Carol Rumens and ‘Checking Out Me History’ by John
Agard
The theme of identity is often defined as an individual’s sense of self and how they
perceive their place in the world. In ‘The Emigree’ by Carol Rumens and ‘Checking
Out Me History’ (COMH) by John Agard, both poets present identity as a complex
concept - one that is strongly influenced by both past and present experiences.
Rumens’ use of the french term ‘Emigree’ in the poem’s title suggests a female
emigrant who has been forced to leave her homeland due to political or social
instability. Moreover, the term immediately evokes a sense of loss, displacement and
a fragmented identity to the reader before even reading the poem. The sense of
separation from her homeland is a critical aspect, which is continued throughout the
poem, demonstrating how the emigree’s memories shape her identity even in exile.
Furthermore, Rumens’ use of the definite article ‘the’ in the poem’s title is a
commonly used standard English term. The juxtaposition with ‘Emigree’ (a term from
a different culture) may represent the two cultures she has been exposed to, which
now shapes her cracked identity. However, in ‘COMH’ Agard uses informal
Caribbean native dialect (‘me’) to suggest a more personal and defiant approach to
reclaiming his identity. The phrase ‘checking out’ implies an active engagement as
he perhaps searches for solutions to his broken identity. The title displays a strong
opposition to an imposed historical narrative unlike Rumens’ speaker who seems to
be shaped by a history imposed on her. Both poets use titles to indicate their strong
ties to their native land whilst reflecting a clear struggle for true identity. ‘The
Emigree’ focuses on a lost and grieved homeland whereas COMH focuses on a
speaker who seeks to reclaim their identity by revisiting and challenging dominant
cultural structures.
Both poets employ a semantic field of light in order to illuminate their contrasting
views on aspects that shape their identity. In ‘The Emigree’, the concept of light is
used to convey the power of memory in shaping identity, where the speaker holds a
nostalgic and emotional attachment to their homeland. Through the terms ‘bright’
and ‘sunlight’ Rumens creates an idealised vision of her homeland, where light is
symbolic of hope and the joyful memories that she carries with her. The speaker has
an untarnished vision of home despite the physical distance and time away from it.
The association of light with positive memories suggests that the emigree clings to a
pure, unchangeable image of her country as part of her identity, even though she is
physically removed from it. However, in ‘COMH’, Agard refers to light in order to
place importance upon certain black historical figures, conveying his strong feelings
of passion for the matter. The term ‘beacon’ suggests the illumination of truth and
therefore challenges the colonial, whitewashed education system imposed upon him.
Furthermore, the word ‘vision’ reinforces reclamation and a way of seeing and aiding
Emigree’ by Carol Rumens and ‘Checking Out Me History’ by John
Agard
The theme of identity is often defined as an individual’s sense of self and how they
perceive their place in the world. In ‘The Emigree’ by Carol Rumens and ‘Checking
Out Me History’ (COMH) by John Agard, both poets present identity as a complex
concept - one that is strongly influenced by both past and present experiences.
Rumens’ use of the french term ‘Emigree’ in the poem’s title suggests a female
emigrant who has been forced to leave her homeland due to political or social
instability. Moreover, the term immediately evokes a sense of loss, displacement and
a fragmented identity to the reader before even reading the poem. The sense of
separation from her homeland is a critical aspect, which is continued throughout the
poem, demonstrating how the emigree’s memories shape her identity even in exile.
Furthermore, Rumens’ use of the definite article ‘the’ in the poem’s title is a
commonly used standard English term. The juxtaposition with ‘Emigree’ (a term from
a different culture) may represent the two cultures she has been exposed to, which
now shapes her cracked identity. However, in ‘COMH’ Agard uses informal
Caribbean native dialect (‘me’) to suggest a more personal and defiant approach to
reclaiming his identity. The phrase ‘checking out’ implies an active engagement as
he perhaps searches for solutions to his broken identity. The title displays a strong
opposition to an imposed historical narrative unlike Rumens’ speaker who seems to
be shaped by a history imposed on her. Both poets use titles to indicate their strong
ties to their native land whilst reflecting a clear struggle for true identity. ‘The
Emigree’ focuses on a lost and grieved homeland whereas COMH focuses on a
speaker who seeks to reclaim their identity by revisiting and challenging dominant
cultural structures.
Both poets employ a semantic field of light in order to illuminate their contrasting
views on aspects that shape their identity. In ‘The Emigree’, the concept of light is
used to convey the power of memory in shaping identity, where the speaker holds a
nostalgic and emotional attachment to their homeland. Through the terms ‘bright’
and ‘sunlight’ Rumens creates an idealised vision of her homeland, where light is
symbolic of hope and the joyful memories that she carries with her. The speaker has
an untarnished vision of home despite the physical distance and time away from it.
The association of light with positive memories suggests that the emigree clings to a
pure, unchangeable image of her country as part of her identity, even though she is
physically removed from it. However, in ‘COMH’, Agard refers to light in order to
place importance upon certain black historical figures, conveying his strong feelings
of passion for the matter. The term ‘beacon’ suggests the illumination of truth and
therefore challenges the colonial, whitewashed education system imposed upon him.
Furthermore, the word ‘vision’ reinforces reclamation and a way of seeing and aiding
