Theme and Symbolism
What does the sea symbolize in "The Sea is History"?
the sea symbolizes the lost history of post colonialism.
Finish the line: "I who am poisoned..."
"...with the blood of both."
What is post-colonialism?
The study of cultural legacy and impacts of colonial rule
What tone is used in "The Sea is History"?
Reflective and critical
Where was Derek Walcott born?
Saint Lucia.
What is a major theme in "The Schooner Flight"?
Identity and exile
What poem includes the line: "Either I'm nobody, or I'm a nation"?
"The Schooner Flight"
What does "hybridity" mean in literature?
The mixing of cultural identities and influences.
What is the point of view in the "Schooner Flight"?
First person, from Shabine's perspective.
What languages influence Caribbean literature?
English, French, Spanish, African dialects.
In "A Far Cry from Africa," what does the speaker feel torn between?
African heritage and personal journey.
Identify the poem: "The sea is history."
"The Sea is History"
Define "epic" in poetry
A long narrative poem, often involving heroic deeds and cultural history.
What is the structure of "Omeros"?
Epic poem in three line stanzas
What was the Mau Mau Uprising?
A rebellion in Kenya against British colonial rule.
What does the schooner represent in "The Schooner Flight"?
Escape and personal journey
What poem includes the line: "In which poem does the speaker reflect on his life as a sailor and comment on post-colonial identity?
"The Schooner Flight"
What is a "persona"in poetry?
A character or voice created by the poet to speak in a poem.
What literary device is used in the phrase "the sea is a vault"?
Metaphor.
How does Walcott blend Caribbean and classical influences?
By mixing local dialect and imagery with epic form and Western references
What is the symbolic meaning of "poisoned with the blood of both"?
Racial and cultural conflict within the speaker.
What poem features the line: "Where shall I turn, divided to the vein?"
"A Far Cry from Africa"
Define "allegory."
A story or poem with a deeper symbolic meaning?
What emotion does Walcott express most in "A Far Cry from Africa"?
Inner conflict and sorrow.
What is one effect of colonialism seen in Walcott’s poetry?
A fractured or dual sense of identity.