1.    How does Kelman highlight the struggles of urban life in Pigeon English?

Struggles of urban life – Violence+ Gangs/ Drugs/ Lack of support+ Naivety / Fitting in

Lack of support+ Naivety

Police not friendly POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS

“chains hanging from his belt”

“acid spray” (pepper)

“guarding”

How does Kelman highlight the struggles of urban life in Pigeon English?

Violence and gangs

“”guts spill out”

“chook” X Fire “chocolate milk and cigarette breath” sweets interspersed with references to danger and death

Drugs

Crack spoon outside school gates

Fitting in

“nipples” harmed wearing the Arsenal shirt – replicate/ genuine

TATS – Text Author Task ref Summary

 

‘Pigeon English is a harrowing story by Stephen Kelman set in modern inner city London, and tells the story of the recently arrived immigrant Harri. The story is based firmly in the life and death of Damilola Taylor which occurred in Peckham several years ago, but which haunted Kelman and many others due to it highlighting the grim reality of life for immigrants, and the presence of gang violence which literally steals the lives of children. Kelman has written the book to highlight that, despite Taylor’s death having occurred some years ago, the issues still remain and the death toll rises; something which clearly disgusts Kellman and is shown in his grotesque imagery, frank language and cyclical structure which further highlights the ongoing vicious cycle of death. Kelman highlights the struggles of urban life which include: a lack of support to those living in gang areas and those who are immigrants, the presence of violence and gangs, drugs and an inability to fit in.

One of the struggles of urban life highlighted by Kelman is the lack of support offered to people like Harri (immigrants and those living in the presence of gangs). One way in which this lack of support is shown is on the very first page where Kelman writes of the a dead boy and we are told of the: POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS. Firstly the line is in a solitary paragraph, this emphasis the solitary nature of the police and that the police are apart from Harri and the community. Just as the paragraph stands apart, so do the police form the very people they should be supporting. Furthermore this line is in the very first page of the story, thus highlighting form the start the complete and utter lack of support offered to Harri and those in his community. At no point do the police support. This lack of support is furthered when we are told of the “chains hanging from his belt”. This is Harri describing a police officer to us. The word choice of hanging is associated with death, suicide and also suggests a lack of support and stability. This suggests that the police are not associated with care and protection, but in this urban life are associated with death and a lack of protection. Therefore through the use of structure and word choice, Kelman highlights one of the struggles of urban life being that the police do not offer support or protection.