For example ‘of his small emerald island’
This is particularly effective as the connotations of ‘emerald’ reflect a precious, rare and colourful island. This is later compared to a “grey” and “dull” North Circular to show the clear contrast between the man’s origin and where he is currently at now. Further, light language is used which also engages the senses of the reader to portray the island the man loved so much. We can hear “the sound of the blue surf” which connotes a colourful and vibrates colours.
A sense of understanding however is also visible as the narrator acknowledged the man ‘always’ comes back from his dream. However he comes back ‘groggily groggily’ emphasizes the man hates the idea of having to come back and this is further emphasized as ‘groggily’ is repeated.
Similarly, Nothing’s Changed uses powerful language however to vent his anger towards the fact that nothing’s changed and class division still exists.
For example ‘cuffs, cans.. crunch’
This alliteration of the ‘c’ is effective in conveying his anger as the ‘c’ is a very sharp and hard sound as is the attitude of Tatamkhulu Afrika as he begins to realise things haven’t changed. The evident recurrent theme which the speakers anger revolves around is the fact that despite the Apartheid regime has ended, things haven’t changed. The Apartheid regime separated coloured people which lead to the eviction of thousands of black people in District Six, Cape Town as it was declared a whites only town. As the speaker walks through the district, he notices the ‘whites only inn’ with ‘guards’ at the door clearly suggested nothing has changed as division still exists.
Structure is used in Island Man additionally to convey the beautiful origin the man is from.
For example the fact that island man uses no punctuation devices.
By not including any punctuation devices, it allows the poem to almost role of the tongue and to be read in a preferred pace and ease again linking back to the idea of the beautiful island which is relaxed and laid back. The place where the man wakes up is also clearly separated with the use of enjambment to show a clear divide between the two cultures and to represent the fact that they are both different.
Structure in Nothing’s Changed further connotes the fact that the origin hasn’t changed and probably wont change.
For example the poem both begins with and ends with Nothing’s Changed.
Following the idea that the most memorable parts of texts are both the beginnings and endings, the speakers idea that nothing’s changed is clearly put forward as it is repeated both at the beginning and end.
Concluding, both poems convey their origins effectively where island man shows a clear contrast whereas Nothing’s changed explores the fact that the situation in District Six still remains. Despite both poems being very effective as they clearly convey their feelings strongly, Island Man appears more effective as the reader can see a clear divide represented by both the strong language and the structure.