Nothing’s Changed Tatamkhulu Afrika Objective: To understand the background of Nothing’s Changed and the Techniques used in the poem Outcome: An annotated poem and notes on key phrases

Apartheid noun meaning apartness in Afrikaans a system of legalized racial segregation enforced by the South African government between 1948 and 1994. Apartheid legislation classified South Africa's inhabitants and visitors into racial groups (Black, White, Coloured and Indian).

Apartheid

Townships

ANC Protests

Consequences

MANDELA: 1ST Feb 1990 – after 27 years he is released from prison.

Nothing’s Changed Tatamkhulu Afrika DISTRICT 6 CAPETOWN Who, what, where, when why? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0jJknikgCY&feature=related

WHO?

WHAT?

WHERE?

WHEN?

WHY?

Tatumkhulu Afrika

Tatamkhulu Afrika's life Tatamkhulu Afrika was brought up in Cape Town, South Africa, as a white South African. When he was a teenager, he found out that he was actually Egyptian-born - the child of an Arab father and a Turkish mother. The South African government began to classify every citizen by colour - white, black and coloured. Afrika turned down the chance to be classed as white, and chose instead to become a Muslim and be classified as coloured. In 1984, the poet joined the ANC (the African National Congress - the organisation leading the struggle against apartheid). Arrested in 1987 for terrorism, he was banned from writing or speaking in public for five years. At this point, he adopted the name - Tatamkhulu Afrika - which had previously been his ANC code name. This enabled him to carry on writing, despite the ban.

How do you think he feels? Nothing's Changed is entirely autobiographical. I can't quite remember when I wrote this, but I think it must have been about 1990. District Six was a complete waste by then, and I hadn't been passing through it for a long time. But nothing has changed. Not only District Six... I mean, we may have a new constitution, we may have on the face of it a beautiful democracy, but the racism in this country is absolutely redolent. We try to pretend to the world that it does not exist, but it most certainly does, all day long, every day, shocking and saddening and terrible. Look, I don't want to sound like a prophet of doom, because I don't feel like that at all. I am full of hope. But I won't see it in my lifetime. It's going to take a long time. I mean, in America it's taken all this time and it's still not gone... So it will change. But not quickly, not quickly at all. Tatamkhulu Afrika How do you think he feels?

“ ” District Six. No board says it…

“ ” District Six. No board says it… Summary Look at each stanza ( section, or verse) and write one Sentence to describe what is happening.

Write down an explanation of what these techniques are and how they can be used by poets. Alliteration = Metaphor = Simile = Personification = Repetition = Structure =

Nothing’s Changed Tatamkhulu Afrika Objective: To review the background to the poem, and Understand how the poet’s thoughts and feelings are conveyed. Outcome: Answers to a series of questions as annotations

Small round hard stones click under my heels, seeding grasses thrust bearded seeds into trouser cuffs, cans, trodden on, crunch in tall, purple flowering amiable weeds 1.Word length Why? 2.Verb choice Effect? All of you must answer the questions in set 1. Most of you will answer the questions in set 2 Some of you will answer the questions in set 3. 3. Technique – Why?

and the skin about my bones, and the soft labouring of my lungs, District Six. No board says it is: but my feet know, and my hands, and the skin about my bones, and the soft labouring of my lungs, and the hot, white, inwards turning anger of my eyes. 4.What do you notice about The line lengths and Punctuation in this Section. What is the effect? 5.What is the Technique? What is the effect? 6.Can eyes be angry? What technique is he using? What is the effect?

Name flaring like a flag, It squats In the grass and weeds 7.Look at the word choice. How does it Affect your opinion Of the restaurant? Brash with glass, Name flaring like a flag, It squats In the grass and weeds Incipient Port Jackson trees: New, up market, haute cuisine, Guard at the gatepost, Whites only inn. No sign says it is: But we know where we belong. 8.Flags are used to show Territory. What does this Simile suggest? 9. Why we? What is the effect? Think about the Poet’s life and Actions. 10. What do you notice about the structure? What is the effect?

before I see them, there will be crushed ice white glass, linen falls, I press my nose to the clear panes, know, before I see them, there will be crushed ice white glass, linen falls, the single rose. 11.Why does he do this? Notice the detail Images of luxury

“ Down the road, working man's cafe sells bunny chows … ”

they behave or what whites 13. This is a restaurant where blacks eat. What differences are there? Why does he show this? Down the road, Working man’s café sells Bunny chows. Take it with you, eat It at a plastic table’s top, Wipe your fingers on your jeans Spit a little on the floor: It’s in the bone 14. Why has he changed from I to you? 15.Do you think this is how they behave or what whites expect? 16.What does this mean? How does it relate to the title?

to shiver down the glass. Nothing’s changed. I back from the glass, boy again, leaving small mean O of small mean mouth. Hands burn for a stone, a bomb, to shiver down the glass. Nothing’s changed. 17.What technique is he Using? What is the effect? 18.Why? What might He have done in His past? 19.Odd word. What Is the effect? 20. Why do you think he finishes the Poem with the title?

Compare the way that Island Man and one other poem of your choice use structure and language to convey their ideas.

What are the similarities and differences between Island Man and Blessing?

Similarities Purpose – to tell a political message. Technique – use metaphor in a particular way Structure – both might be in the form of a song, or a narrative poem, Theme – both deal with the flaws in human nature, poverty, oppression.

B-A* 1. examination and analysis of meaning in two poems. 2. examination and analysis of specific methods of using language and structure to convey meanings. 3.integrated comparative approach e.g. clear comparison on use of contrasts, event sequence, shape, metaphor, simile, images, description, repetition etc.

E.g ….Whilst Limbo uses a structure similar to a song to convey the culture behind the poem, Night of the Scorpion takes a more narrative approach. Here the poet recalls an event of his youth and tells it as a story, with his attitude to the culture of the village made clear through his description of the villagers. We see this when he says……..

Comparative paragraphs In “Island Man”, Grace Nichols uses………….to suggest……. We see this when she writes…….. This is effective because it suggests that………… which helps convey Nichols idea that……. Similarly/ In contrast/ However, in “Blessing” the poet uses……....to suggest. We see this when she writes….. This suggests that……..

HOMEWORK Complete your note sheet for Nothing’s Changed. Make sure all the notes you have for all the poems are up to date. ( Blessing, Island Man, Vultures, Nothing’s Changed, Night of the Scorpion Make sure they are all in a folder to hand in on Friday

“ incipient Port Jackson trees… ”

The essay question is: How is contrast used in Nothing’s Changed? Compare this with the use of contrast in one other poem.

How is contrast used in Nothing’s Changed How is contrast used in Nothing’s Changed? Compare this with the use of contrast in one other poem. Introduction In both ‘Nothing’s Changed’ and ‘Two Scavengers’ contrast is used to highlight the differences between rich and poor. In both case the poets have written the poem to criticise the society that allows such a difference in wealth to exist.

Your essay will be composed of SIX paragraphs: Introduction Interpretation = the meaning behind the poem Language = how the poem is told Imagery = the pictures in the reader’s mind Structure = the way the poem is put together Personal Response (conclusion) = your opinion of the poem I LISP

Interpretation = themes Language = poetic voice; 1st/3rd person; past/present tense Imagery = metaphor; simile; personification; symbol Structure = rhythm; rhyme; enjambment; alliteration; assonance Personal Response = tone; mood