Checking Out Me History vs The Émigrée: AQA Power and Conflict Poetry Comparison (Grade 9 Guide)
Introduction
Checking Out Me History by John Agard and The Émigrée by Carol Rumens both explore identity, memory, and the power of perspective, but in different ways. Agard focuses on the reclaiming of identity through history, while Rumens presents a speaker shaped by memory of a lost homeland. Together, the poems suggest that identity is constructed through both knowledge and personal experience.
Quick Comparison Summary
| Theme | Checking Out Me History | The Émigrée |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Reclaimed through history | Shaped by memory |
| Power | Power of education | Power of memory |
| Conflict | Cultural oppression | Political conflict |
| Tone | Defiant | Nostalgic, reflective |
| Structure | Irregular, rhythmic contrast | Controlled, consistent |
Similarity 1: Both poems explore identity
In Checking Out Me History, Agard challenges the version of history he was taught, stating “Dem tell me”.
In The Émigrée, identity is rooted in memory: “There once was a country… I left it as a child”.
Grade 9 Comparison Point:
Both poets show identity as shaped by external influences.
Similarity 2: Both poems explore power
Agard presents power through control of education.
Rumens presents power through memory resisting authority.
Grade 9 Comparison Point:
Both poems show that power can influence how identity is formed.
Similarity 3: Both poems explore conflict
Agard shows cultural conflict between dominant and marginalised histories.
Rumens presents political conflict forcing exile.
Grade 9 Comparison Point:
Both poems show conflict affecting identity.
Difference 1: Source of identity
Checking Out Me History
Identity is reclaimed through knowledge.
The Émigrée
Identity is preserved through memory.
Grade 9 Comparison Point:
Agard focuses on discovery, Rumens on preservation.
Difference 2: Tone
Checking Out Me History
Defiant and assertive.
The Émigrée
Nostalgic and reflective.
Grade 9 Comparison Point:
Agard challenges authority, Rumens reflects on loss.
Difference 3: Structure
Checking Out Me History
- Irregular
- Alternating stanzas
The Émigrée
- Three stanzas
- Consistent structure
Grade 9 Comparison Point:
Agard disrupts, Rumens controls.
Key Quotes Comparison Table
| Checking Out Me History | The Émigrée |
|---|---|
| “Dem tell me” | “There once was a country” |
| “Bandage up me eye” | “sunlight-clear” |
| “I carving out me identity” | “my memory of it is sunlight-clear” |
| “Toussaint” | “they accuse me” |
Context Comparison
Checking Out Me History
- Postcolonial identity
- Critique of Eurocentric education
The Émigrée
- Political exile
- Memory and displacement
Exam Question 1
Compare how poets present identity in Checking Out Me History and The Émigrée.
Grade 9 Model Response
Both Agard and Rumens explore identity as something shaped by external influences, but they present contrasting methods through which identity is formed and maintained. In Checking Out Me History, Agard presents identity as something that has been suppressed and must be actively reclaimed. The repeated phrase “Dem tell me” suggests an imposed narrative, reflecting the dominance of colonial education systems that prioritise white European history while ignoring black historical figures. This creates a sense of frustration and limitation, reinforced by the metaphor “Bandage up me eye”, which suggests deliberate blindness and restriction of knowledge. However, the turning point in the poem occurs when Agard begins to celebrate figures such as “Toussaint L’Ouverture”, presented through more lyrical and vivid language. This shift symbolises the speaker’s reclaiming of his identity through knowledge and self-education.
In contrast, The Émigrée presents identity as something preserved through memory rather than actively constructed. The speaker’s identity is rooted in her recollection of her homeland, described as “sunlight-clear”. This phrase conveys warmth and clarity, suggesting that memory provides a stable sense of identity despite physical displacement. However, there is tension between memory and reality, as the speaker acknowledges that her country may have changed or become unsafe. The repeated references to “they accuse me” suggest external pressures that challenge her identity, yet she continues to hold onto her memories. This indicates that identity can be resilient, even when faced with conflict.
Structurally, Agard uses irregular form and shifts in tone to reflect the process of reclaiming identity, while Rumens uses a more controlled structure to mirror the consistency of memory.
Therefore, both poets present identity as shaped by external forces, but Agard emphasises active reclamation, while Rumens highlights preservation through memory.
Exam Question 2
Compare how poets present power in Checking Out Me History and The Émigrée.
Grade 9 Model Response
Both poems explore the idea of power, but they present it in different forms that reflect their respective themes. In Checking Out Me History, power is associated with control over knowledge and education. The phrase “Dem tell me” suggests that authority figures determine what history is taught, shaping the speaker’s understanding of the world. This control is presented as restrictive and unjust, particularly through the metaphor “Bandage up me eye”, which implies that the speaker has been prevented from seeing the full picture. However, the poem also presents an alternative form of power: the power of self-education and resistance. By learning about figures such as “Toussaint”, the speaker gains a sense of empowerment, reclaiming control over his identity.
In The Émigrée, power is more abstract and psychological. The speaker does not have control over her physical situation, as she has been forced to leave her country, but she retains power through her memories. The phrase “my memory of it is sunlight-clear” suggests that memory provides a sense of certainty and strength. However, this power is challenged by external forces, as shown in “they accuse me”. This creates tension between personal identity and political reality, highlighting the limitations of individual power.
Structurally, Agard’s use of contrasting stanzas emphasises the struggle between imposed and reclaimed power, while Rumens’ consistent structure reflects the stability of memory.
Therefore, both poets present power as something that influences identity, but Agard focuses on the power of knowledge and resistance, while Rumens highlights the power of memory.
Exam Question 3
Compare how poets present the effects of conflict.
Grade 9 Model Response
Both Agard and Rumens explore the effects of conflict, but they present different types of conflict and their consequences. In Checking Out Me History, the conflict is cultural and ideological, centred around the suppression of black history within a colonial education system. The repetition of “Dem tell me” suggests ongoing oppression, while the contrast between the stanzas emphasises the divide between imposed and personal identity. This conflict leads to a sense of frustration, but also motivates the speaker to reclaim his identity.
In The Émigrée, the conflict is political and results in displacement. The speaker’s reference to leaving her country as a child suggests that she has been directly affected by political unrest. However, rather than focusing on the violence itself, the poem emphasises the emotional impact of exile. The repeated imagery of sunlight contrasts with the idea of conflict, suggesting that the speaker chooses to remember her homeland positively despite its reality.
Structurally, Agard’s fragmented form reflects the disruption caused by cultural conflict, while Rumens’ more controlled structure reflects the speaker’s attempt to maintain stability through memory.
Therefore, both poets show that conflict has a significant impact on identity, but Agard focuses on cultural suppression and resistance, while Rumens highlights emotional displacement and memory.
Further Revision Links
- AQA Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology (All 15 Poems): https://englishmadesimple.org/aqa-power-and-conflict-poetry-anthology-complete-gcse-revision-guide-all-15-poems/
- Checking Out Me History – Grade 9 Guide: https://englishmadesimple.org/checking-out-me-history-by-john-agard-gcse-poetry/
- The Émigrée – GCSE Poetry Guide: https://englishmadesimple.org/the-emigree-by-carol-rumens-gcse-poetry/
You might also like…
- London vs Checking Out Me History: https://englishmadesimple.org/london-vs-checking-out-me-history/
- Ozymandias vs The Émigrée: https://englishmadesimple.org/ozymandias-vs-the-emigree/
- Tissue vs The Émigrée: https://englishmadesimple.org/tissue-vs-the-emigree/
Final Grade 9 Tip
When comparing these poems, remember: Agard shows identity being reclaimed through knowledge, while Rumens shows identity being preserved through memory.
