New Writings in English

One form of imperialism is inescapable - that of the dominance of the English language.

Derek Walcott - 'The Schooner Flight'

Concerned with issues of identity and ancestry.

The original inhabitants of the Caribbean were the Caribbs - They were killed off by the French and English (colonizing powers)

The 'golden triangle' - Colonizing power, slave trade and colony. (UK - Africa - Caribbean)

The Africa to Caribbean route was known as 'the middle passage' - see Walcott's 'Schooner Flight' - Section 5 )

Economic network - slaves to colony - wealth to colonizer.

Walcott - vacuum - searching for identity

Ancestors? - made up of a mix of races and nationalities. However instead of being concerned by this, he celebrates it - composed of elements of different languages and cultures.

Poem is about a persona (Shabine) who is leaving. Why?

Opening section - starts as standard English - alliterative qualities - echoes the English literary tradition.

Then incorporates elements of Caribbean usage (gradually) - fusing of two traditions standard English and native expression.

Walcott is saying if the language that I have been given is a mixture of languages, then I will use it as such.

There are changes in tone throughout the 1st section.

The poem's persona knew the Caribbean as paradise - but now sees it as corrupt - is leaving out of despair. However, has mixed feelings.

Section 5 - evokes images of the past

visions of what happened in that area - slaves travelling to the colonies.

Mentions admirals who were 'heroes' from the British point of view - however they were the ones who transported the slaves.

Course assignment

Option A

R.K. Narayan - style is possibly too English for this question.

V.S. Naipaul - plenty of relevant material (Remember that he has been criticized because he highlights rather than covers up the corruption that is present in ex-colonies)

Chinua Achebe - Things Fall Apart is about trying to create a sense of national identity.

Derek Walcott - breaks through - stops searching for a home and accepts that it doesn't exist.

Option B

Grace Nichols, Bharati Mukherjee.

Remember that the questions says 'in the colonial or post-colonial context'.