What is Benjamin Zephaniah most famous for?

What is Benjamin Zephaniah most famous for?

The British writer Benjamin Zephaniah is known for his poetry as well as novels, plays, and other works. His poetry is called “dub poetry,” which means that is performed—the words are recited over the beat of reggae music.

What does Benjamin Zephaniah write about?

Zephaniah writes gritty, realistic novels about the lives of teenagers, these novels are directed to adults as much as they are to teenagers. He believes that for the most part teenagers know what they are going through, but adults need reminding, they have short memories.

Where does Benjamin Zephaniah come from?

Handsworth, Birmingham, United KingdomBenjamin Zephaniah / Place of birthHandsworth is a suburb and an inner-city area of Birmingham in the West Midlands. Historically in Staffordshire, Handsworth lies just outside Birmingham City Centre and near the town of Smethwick. Wikipedia

What is meant by British poetry?

British literature is literature from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.

What is the message of the poem by Benjamin Zephaniah?

Themes. ‘The British (serves 60 Million) by Benjamin Zephaniah presents the themes of cultural diversity, unity, and justice in the poem. The major theme of the poem is the cultural diversity of Britain. The poet refers to historical events and highlights the continuing process of cultural assimilation in Britain.

How did Benjamin Zephaniah learn to read and write?

It wasn’t until he went to night school as an adult for reading and writing instruction that he learned he was dyslexic. When Zephaniah published his first book he still couldn’t write properly, and had to speak the words to someone and have it written down for him.

Who did Benjamin want the audience for his poems to be?

everyone
Benjamin strongly opposes the idea that poetry is only for people in academia. He believes that poetry should be for everyone, regardless of their age, race or ability to read and write. Therefore, Benjamin began performing dub poetry; a form of performance poetry which originated in Jamaica in the 1970s.

What inspired Benjamin Zephaniah to write the British?

The book was inspired by an incident when Zephaniah came face-to-face with Simon Weston, a veteran of the Falklands who was facially-disfigured during the war: ‘I was so taken aback by his face.

When was no problem poem written?

‘No Problem’ focuses, especially, on the racism he endured as a schoolboy in Birmingham – recounting the ‘silly playground taunts’ and ‘racist stunts’ that he suffered. Written in 1996, the poem’s primary aim is to tackle modern racism, which Zephaniah describes as being ‘more subtle’ than in the past.

What is the purpose of the poem half-caste?

This is a poem about asserting your identity against others who would ‘bring you down’. John Agard was born in Guyana in 1949, with a Caribbean father and a Portuguese mother (he is of mixed race). In 1977, he moved to Britain, where he became angry with people who referred to him as ‘half-caste’.

What is the poem no problem about?

This poem explores the racial abuse and discrimination the speaker (presumed to be Zephaniah) has experienced throughout his life. The speaker asserts that he is not the problem. The problem lies with those who perpetrate this abuse. The speaker explains how he was subjected to racist behaviour at school.

Does Benjamin Zephaniah have a wife?

Amina ZephaniahBenjamin Zephaniah / Wife (m. 1990–2001)

Why did Benjamin Zephaniah like writing?

Inspired by Jamaica and what he has nicknamed ‘street politics’, Benjamin began creating poetry. Benjamin strongly opposes the idea that poetry is only for people in academia. He believes that poetry should be for everyone, regardless of their age, race or ability to read and write.

What is the message of the poem the British?

Who is the writer of British poetry?

Lord Byron, William Butler Yeats, William Blake, Matthew Arnold or Rudyard Kipling are just a few names of the British Literature Pantheon.

Who is the greatest British author?

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Celebrating the 450th anniversary of his birth this year, William Shakespeare – also known as the Bard – is the most famous of British writers. The playwright is still commemorated for having coined nearly 1,700 of the words and phrases we still use today.