Question

Poem: Allusions: Praise had bled my lines white of any more anger, and snow had inducted me into white fellowships, while Calibans howled down the barred streets of an empire that began with Caedmon’s raceless dew, and is ending in the alleys of Brixton, burning like Turner’s ships. –Midsummer, Derek Walcott What can be concluded about the speaker, based on the use of allusions in the passage?

a) He participated in the riots in Brixton.
b) He wishes he had studied Shakespeare in school.
c) He believes that J. M. W. Turner was not a very good artist.
d) He is very familiar with British art and literature.

Answer 1

The speaker's use of allusions in Derek Walcott's poem indicates a deep familiarity with British art and literature, highlighting his connection to British cultural history.

Step-by-step explanation:

The allusions referenced in Derek Walcott's poem Midsummer suggest that the speaker is very familiar with British art and literature. The poem mentions "Calibans," a reference to a character in Shakespeare's The Tempest, and "Turner's ships," alluding to the painter J. M. W. Turner, known for his seascapes. It also references "Caedmon’s raceless dew," an allusion to the first known English poet, Caedmon. Walcott's use of these allusions demonstrates a deep engagement with British cultural history, which is reflective of the broader complexities of colonial and postcolonial identity.