Essay

Excellent (grade A) English B: Literature Sample Extended Essay (MAY 2019)

738 views 1 purchase

Course
English B HL

Institution
Istek Acibadem Private High School

Book
Pigeon English

International Baccalaureate (IB) English B, Category 3: Literature A (full points) received extended essay by May 2019 graduate. The essay covers an in-depth analysis of many real-life social issues from marginalization, prejudice to racism that are an important part of the story told in Pigeon Eng...

[Show more]

Preview 3 out of 15 pages

View example

Uploaded on March 5, 2020
Number of pages 15
Written in 2018/2019
Type Essay
Professor(s) Unknown
Grade Unknown

english
extended essay
extended
essay
sample
example
a grade
full points
english b
ee
ib
international baccalaureate
a
hl

dkrly Member since 4 year 38 documents sold

CA$11.33

Added

Add to cart Add to wishlist

100% satisfaction guarantee
Immediately available after payment
Both online and in PDF
No strings attached

Assimilation Issues in Stephen Kelman’s Pigeon English

To what extent does Harrison Opoku assimilate into London culture in

Pigeon English?

Extended Essay

English B

Category 3: Literature

Word Count: 3998

, Table of Contents

I. Introduction ...............................................................................2

II. A New Beginning: Language and Culture ..............................4

III. Stepping Back: Prejudice .......................................................7

IV. The End: Death and Violence .................................................9

V. Conclusion ..............................................................................12

Works Cited ................................................................................13

1

, I. Introduction

“In England, nobody helps you if you fall over. They can't tell if you're serious or if it's just a

trick. It's too hard to know what's real.” (Kelman 130)

African immigration has grown dramatically over the past decade (Kekana) in hopes of

receiving higher living standards and achieving unfulfilled desires with the UK being many

immigrants’ one of the top destinations throughout the history to the present day. Inspired

by the tragic story of Damilola Taylor, a ten year old Nigerian boy who was stabbed to death

on his way to home by a street-gang in 2000 (Christodoulou), Stephen Kelman’s Pigeon

English, with its protagonist and narrator Harrison Opoku, a young Ghanaian immigrant in

London, shows the dark facets of an immigration experience from the perspective of a child

that is full of innocence, curiosity and joy.

With the murder of Taylor, the British public is awakened to the issue of increasing

rate of knife crime every day in the UK, dedicating more than five novels and a television

drama to the incident across the country (Seresin). Pigeon English is one of the notable ex-

amples of this awareness, as it tells the story of a brave Ghanaian family who separates in

hopes of reuniting someday in England when enough money is saved. The mother leaves

her husband and baby behind in Ghana together with her two older children and starts a

new life for a brighter future in London. Harrison or shortly ‘Harri’, arrives at his new house

with his older sister Lydia and his mother whom he calls as Mamma, speaks pidgin English

and tries to adjust to his new life as an outsider surrounded by an unfamiliar culture with

many harsh rules and norms. He imitates the new world around him but this is still not

enough to eliminate the ongoing marginalization, prejudice, and black-racism.

Immigration is a long process that comes with several consequences. Harri, practical-

ly, is unaware of how London’s culture contradicts with the concept of multiculturalism, de-

spite being a multiethnic community. London expects its immigrants to assimilate into their

way and perception of life which at the outset includes the difficulties Harri frequently faces
2

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller dkrly. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for CA$11.33. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

75323 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now

Start selling

Essay

Excellent (grade A) English B: Literature Sample Extended Essay (MAY 2019)

Document information

Subjects

Connected book

Written for

Seller

Reviews received

Content preview