Origins: Island Man and Nothing's Changed

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Comparing the origins and cultures in Island Man and Nothing’s Changed.

Island Man is set in London, across the North Circular while Nothing’s Changed is set in District 6. Island Man recounts a man originating from the Caribbean awaking from a dream and Nothing’s Changed recounts a man revisiting his childhood to reveal nothing has changed. The speaker in Nothing’s Changed is Tatamkhulu Afrika whereas Island Man has an omniscient narrator. Similarly both poems explore their past memories of their origins and compare them to present day. The speaker in Island Man appears to have an understanding attitude whereas the speaker in Nothing’s Changed appears to have an angry attitude towards the issues explored.

Language in Island Man is used effectively to convey the man’s past origin to present day.

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        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 ...

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