Analysis

An analysis of the poem “The British (serves 60 million)” by Benjamin Zephaniah offers an insight into its unusual composition. The outer composition is irregular, divided into stanzas that hold an unequal number of verses, while the inner composition follows the structure of a recipe.

The speaker addresses readers directly, highlighting the importance of diversity and equality in British society. The setting of the poem is not specified, but it is clearly the UK, as the poem deals with the development of British society over time.

The language of the poem is neutral and easy to understand. The presence of verbs and nouns that are used in recipes makes the poem interesting and draws the reader’s attention to the speaker’s message.

The most important poetic device is the metaphor, as the entire poem is a metaphorical recipe that points to the creation of British society. Irony is also an important element.

Excerpt from the study guide:

Allusion

The term “melting pot” can be considered an allusion to the diversity of British society. The phrase has often been used to refer to a society where people of various backgrounds and cultures assimilate and start to blend in, creating a society that contains elements from each culture present. Britain has often been referred to as a melting pot, both in connection to its history, as well as in the present.

At the end of the poem, the speaker ...