No Problem by Benjamin Zephaniah (GCSE Conflict Poetry Edexcel)

Summarise the poem in two words.

What are the main feelings and attitudes which are expressed in the poem 'No Problem'?

• Love and relationships

• Nature and the environment

• Oppression and Hope

• Identity and self-expression

What does the speaker assert about themselves in the poem?

• They are a really great dancer

• They are a born athlete

• They are not confined by stereotypes

• They hold grudges against racists

What does the metaphor 'pigeon hole' mean in the context of the poem?

• A hole for pigeons to live in

• A place of safety

• A stereotype or label

• A type of dance move

What does the speaker mean by 'I greet yu wid a smile'?

• They are often cold and aggressive to other

• They usually appear to be happy when encountering others

• They are mocking the reader

• They are trying to make friends

What effect does the speaker think racism will have on them as they get older?

• They will become more resilient

• They will become more racist

• They will lose their sense of identity

• They will be unaffected

What does the speaker mean by 'Black is not de problem'?

• The problem is the behaviour of black people

• Black people are superior to other groups of people

• The problem is people who are prejudiced and place labels and stereotypes on Black people

• Black people are misunderstood

What does the speaker mean by 'Sum of me best friends are white'?

• The speaker is using irony as racist people often say they can't be racist because 'because some of my best friends are black'

• The speaker's best friends are all white and he is very proud of them

• The speaker's best friends are not white and he is concerned about this

• The speaker has no friends

What is the purpose of the speaker's use of phonetical spelling and dialect?

• To confuse the reader

• To show off their intelligence

• To highlight their cultural identity

• To make the poem more difficult to understand

What is the tone of the poem?

• Sad and melancholic

• Angry and confrontational

• Hopeful and resilient

• Confused and uncertain