Setting

The physical setting of John Agard’s poem “Listen Mr Oxford don” is the UK, which the speaker has immigrated to. This is suggested, for example, by the reference to Clapham Common, an area in south London, where the speaker seems to live: “me a simple immigrant/from Clapham Common.” (p. 69, ll. 2-3).

It is likely that the setting is inspired by Agard’s own experience as an immigrant coming to the UK. More specifically, the reference to Clapham Common could also refer to the history of Caribbean immigrants in the UK. A large number of Caribbean immigrants who came to the UK after World War II were initially housed in a shelter in Clapham South, which is near Clapham Common.

Also, London is known as one of the most multicultural cities in the world. However, the speaker and other immigrants like h...