How do the poets represent the importance of roots in their poetry? E

How do the poets represent the importance of 'roots' in their poetry? Consider how the social and cultural identity of the poets is paramount to the development of the main themes. Other Cultures ============== How do the poets represent the importance of 'roots' in their poetry? Consider how the social and cultural identity of the poets is paramount to the development of the main themes. The four poems that I will be comparing all describe how the poets feel about their roots, background and cultural heritage. Although they are all based on the same issue, they have many different features that are quite different. John Agard is the author of 'Half-Caste'. He was born in Guyana and then moved to Britain in 1977. In 'Half-Caste' the poet is feeling discriminated and he wants to put across that he is one person and by calling him half-caste, they are taking away half of his identity. The author of 'Search For My Tongue' is Sujata Bhatt. She was born in India in 1956 and then moved to the USA in the 1960s. She now lives in Germany. In 'Search For My Tongue' the poet can speak two different languages, her original language and her second language, English. She is saying that her original language is being forgotten, but then discovers that it is returning and progressing. 'Nothing's Changed' was written in South Africa in 1997 by Tatamkhulu Afrika. The poem is autobiographical and was written after apartheid had been abolished in 1994. In 'Nothing's Changed' the poet is saying that even though apartheid had been abolished, he still feels that racism is still around him and he feels that nothing has changed. Moniza Alvi wrote 'Presents From My Aunts In Pakistan'. She was born in Pakistan in ... ...ates this she also wants to be able to feel the same way about her new home in Britain. Even though she says she is, 'of no fixed nationality', the poet still knows in her heart that she wants to celebrate and be proud of her roots in Pakistan. From reading and understanding the four poems, I have learnt that people from ethnic backgrounds can face terrible hardship and that even after large amounts of discrimination drilled into their heads, they still feel proud of their roots and identity. However I have also learnt that by having their roots discriminated against, losing their roots or even not knowing what exactly their roots are, can deeply sadden the people and make them irritated. People react differently to these and we should acknowledge that to make people in situations like those in the poems to feel happier and at ease with themselves.