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Poem: racism is around be everywhere
Poet: Francis Duggan
Date:1.2.12
Introduction :
The poem “racism is around me everywhere” By Francis Duggan grasps the readers attention with its honest evaluation on racism and how it is effecting the world around us & its stimulating rhyme scheme. This poem is sure to get your complete attention and another look on racism through Duggans eyes.
To find more of Duggans poems check : poemfinder.com

Poem title: Racism is around me everywhere
Poet: Francis Duggan
Q1: what do you learn about the setting of this poem in terms of place and time?
Well it states in the 6 th stanza that
“
It's been awhile since the days of Martin
Luther King His name to it has a familiar ring If against racism he did not choose to strive Today the great man he would be alive ”. This gives me a hint that the poem could have set place after the time of M.L.K, as for the setting I think it is definitely in America.
Q2 who is the speaker of the poem ; he/she?
Well first I think the poet is a he because of the way it is written and I think the evident characteristics were ; passionate about equality and he seemed to be strong and powerful.
Q3 what is the P.OV of the speaker?
I think that this poem is written in first person because in the first stanza it reads
“
Of human ignorance I am almost in despair f or racism is around me everywhere ”. And first person is ; I , me etc.
Q4 who is the speaker talking to? who is the intended audience?
Well it seems more than evident that the speakers appropriate demographic is adults because despite the fact children know about racism ; some sentences may somewhat complex. I think that the poet is talking to everyone in general because he o ften writes “ Though we live in a so called democracy Of racism we never will be free They judge you by where you come from and the color of your skin for many equality and respect seems impossible to win” first person is {I , we etc..
Q5 what is the poets tone in the poem? Interested or disinterested ?
I think that because the topic of the poem is so serious I think that the poets tone was naturally serious and anything but happy.
Q6 What do you learn about the poem from the title ?
I think that title is pretty self-explanatory because it is obvious that the duration of the poem is going to be about racism because the title is “ Racism is around me everywhere.

Q7 What is the topic of the poem? What is the poem about? Does it tell a story?
Is the ending surprising?
I think that the obvious topic of the poem is the effect racism has on people. In my eyes the poem is about how the poet sees racism and how people are judged by their ethnicities and how crucial equality is. I think that the poem definitely tells a story because it has a very strong view on racism and how Martin Luther King helped in ways… save racism. I don’t think that the ending is surprising at all because it just states a very prominent perception of racism that the poet has.
Q8 What is the purpose of the poem?
I think that the purpose of the poem is to give people the “other side of the story”
Q9 state the central them of the poem in 1 sentence:
Theme: racism is effecting human status and how the initial idea was born of ignorance.
Q10 What word leap out whilst reading the poem?
Words that stick out to me are words like: respect, equality , discriminate , honor
, racism and Martin Luther King.
Q11 Are there any bizarre or invented words? Why do you think the author choose these words?
Honestly I don’t think there are any bizarre or invented words. I think the poet used thought-provoking words.
Q12 Does the author use everyday words or highfalutin words?
I think that the author uses normal words so that it straight and to the point.

Q13 Do any of the word have symbolic meanings?
I think that word like “discriminate” have very symbolic meanings because it shows how serious racism is.
Q14 Are there any allusions ? literary allusions?
I think there are definitely literary allusions because it really makes you STOP and THINK …..well what if I was in a situation where I was judged by my ethnicity? And did not have equal rights. This poem really is stimulating.
Q15 Are there any predominant images?
I think that in certain stanzas, it gives you a different image and I definitely think that t the images hey are prevalent.
Q16 Does the author use metaphors or similes ?
I think that the author definitely uses metaphors such as:
- So many holding the reins of power not spiritually aware
- Some people carry their honor in a flag-
Q17 Does the author use irony ?
Definition of irony according to dictionary.com : The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect
: “Don't go overboard with the gratitude,” he rejoined with heavy irony. See note at wit.
From what I have read; I have it detected irony.
Q18 Does the author use understatement , paradox & overstatement?
I think that an example of an understatement in the poem would be:
“So many people still judged by their race” because not only were people judged; many people were murdered. I have not detected paradox or overstatement .

Q19 Is the poem allegorical? {is it about something else?}
Definition of allegorical: constituting or containing allegory: an allegorical painting.
I think the poem is NOT allegorical because it is clear that the poem is about the pots opinion on discrimination.
Q20 what is the effect of the rhyme? Is there a rhyme?
Well the poems rhyme scheme immediately caught my attention because it was balanced and attention grabbing.
Q21 Does the pot use repetition? Assonance, consonance or alliteration ?
I have observed that there are many word repeated which gives off a strong , enticing feeling. On the other hand I have detected a consonance . Words repeated such as :
-Discriminate
-Racism
-judge
Q22 What meter is used? Does the poem have a certain rhythm ?
I think that in most stanzas the rhythm is generally:
Trimeter
The meter used is: iambic
Q23 What is the format of the poem?
Well it is evident that the whole poem is a 4 – line stanza and it is very interesting because despite the fact it is restricted 4 line stanza ; it sill manages to stay consistently coherent.
Q24 Does the poet use peculiar punctuation, capitalizations etc.?
Well for the duration of the poem you will find commas in the middle of some sentences, which I think is in the poets best interest because it adds a strong pause and illustrates a powerful line/ word. Other than that I have not seen queer capitalization or punctuation.

Q25 how does the structure and content relate?
Well, I think that the structural element and content do relate because by having a coherent and balanced rhythm and rhyme scheme it adds to the content and how serious discrimination is .

DEFINITIONS: {SOME DEFINTIONS ARE FROM DICTIONARY.COM}
TRIMETER: (3) STRESSES PER LINE
DISCRIMINATION: racial discrimination : prejudice, bias, bigotry, intolerance, narrowmindedness, unfairness, inequity
COHERENT/ COHERENCE: A persons speech is more coherent today : logical, reasoned, reasonable, rational,
ETHNICITIES: The color of a persons skin
Images found on Google:
Definitions found at : Dictionary .com