Comparing “Checking out Me History” with “Tissue”: AQA Power and Conflict Essay Analysis

Welcome back to this series on the AQA Power and Conflict poetry anthology for GCSE – explaining how to write comparative poetry essays.

Today, I’ll be looking at two poems which on face value seem almost completely different. I’ll compare “Checking Out Me History” by John Agard with “Tissue” by Imtiaz Dharker.

While Checking Out Me History has an upbeat almost sing-song tone (and is a really fun poem to teach and discuss), it deals with serious themes of race, history, culture and identity. So once you get into it, there’s lots to compare with Imtiaz Dharker’s more traditional poetry.

Tissue is probably the poem that students struggle most with in the AQA Power and Conflict anthology though. And I can see why. The themes can be hard to spot at first glance, and there’s little in the way of rhyme scheme. But once you get into it, there’s loads to discuss. Trust me!

I hope this sample essay provides inspiration for your own poetry comparison. Think about the points made, what you’d add and what you’d take away. How are the paragraphs structured? Have I used enough quotes and terminology? What about structure points?

You can even have a go reading it alongside the AQA mark scheme – thinking about what grade you’d award and why.

Before we get to the sample essay itself, in case you need reminding of the poems, here’s a great video of John Agard discussing his work with the BBC.

And here’s Imtiaz Dharker reading and discussing Tissue.

Ready? Let’s compare.

In “Checking Out Me History” by John Agard, the poet explores ideas about History and Identity. Compare this with “Tissue” by Imtiaz Dharker.

In “Checking Out Me History” by John Agard and “Tissue” by Imtiaz Dharker, both poets delve into the themes of history and identity, though they approach these subjects from distinct perspectives. Agard critiques the Eurocentric portrayal of history and its impact on personal and cultural identity, while Dharker explores the fragility and interconnectedness of human existence through the metaphor of tissue. Despite their differing focuses, both poems use vivid imagery, symbolic language and innovative structures to challenge readers’ perceptions and highlight the importance of a comprehensive understanding of history and identity.

John Agard employs a mixture of standard English and Creole to reflect his dual heritage and to challenge the dominance of Western narratives. The poem opens with a strong assertion, “Dem tell me / Wha dem want to tell me,” immediately establishing the speaker’s frustration with a biassed educational system. Agard emphasises the selective nature of the historical accounts presented to him: “Bandage up me eye with me own history / Blind me to me own identity.” This violent metaphor of blindness suggests how the omission of Afro-Caribbean history has obscured the speaker’s understanding of his own cultural identity.

Similarly, Imtiaz Dharker examines the delicate nature of identity and history, but through a more abstract lens. Dharker uses the extended metaphor of tissue paper to explore themes of human fragility and resilience. The poem begins with the line, “Paper that lets the light / shine through, this / is what could alter things”. The recurring motifs of light and transparency suggest (in a similar way to Agard) that openness and understanding are crucial for a true understanding of ourselves and our histories. Dharker’s use of enjambment and free verse further creates a fluid, almost fragile structure, mirroring the delicacy of the paper she describes. The imagery of paper maps and architectural plans underscores the idea that our histories and identities are constructed and interconnected, yet inherently fragile.

Both poets also use historical references to emphasise their themes. Agard juxtaposes well-known European figures with significant but overlooked Afro-Caribbean figures. He mentions “Toussaint / a slave / with vision” and “Nanny / see-far woman / of mountain dream,” highlighting the achievements of Black historical figures who are often marginalised in mainstream history. Agard’s use of rhythmic and musical elements, such as repetition and rhyme, imbues the poem with a sense of oral tradition, reinforcing the idea that history and identity are living, dynamic constructs.

Dharker, on the other hand, uses the metaphor of tissue to convey the fragility of human life and history. Like Agard though, it still retains its “living” qualities. The recurring image of paper being “thinned by age or touching” symbolises the delicate nature of human experiences and memories. Dharker writes, “If buildings were paper, I might / feel their drift, see how easily / they fall away on a sigh,” suggesting that human constructs, whether physical or ideological, are impermanent. 

Contextually, both poets draw from their diverse backgrounds to inform their work. John Agard, born in Guyana and residing in Britain, addresses the colonial legacy and its impact on Afro-Caribbean identity. His poem is a call to reclaim and celebrate his cultural heritage – challenging the dominance of Eurocentric historical narratives. Imtiaz Dharker, a poet of Pakistani and British heritage, also explores cultural identity and the fragility of the human experience. Her work reflects a more global perspective, emphasising our interconnectedness and the need for empathy and understanding.

In conclusion, “Checking Out Me History” by John Agard and “Tissue” by Imtiaz Dharker are both profound explorations of history and identity. They both challenge readers to reconsider their perceptions of history and the ways it shapes our current identity and experiences. Agard’s critique of a Eurocentric historical narrative and Dharker’s meditation on the fragility of human constructs offer complementary perspectives on the importance of a comprehensive and inclusive understanding of our past – and its impact on our present and future identities.

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What do you think of the points made in the essay above, and the way the poems are compared? Is there anything you would add? Anything you disagree with? Let me know in the comments!

If you’re looking for more sample essays comparing poems from the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology, you’ll find them all listed in this complete exams overview.