Class and language : the two competing markers of identity in tony Harrison's “Iraq uatrains”

Abstract EN

This study handles the conflict of class and the power to master words in the poetry of Tony Harrison (1937- ).

It is a critical study of his poetic experience especially in his poem "Iraquatrains." The study is divided into an introduction, three sections and a conclusion.

The first section is devoted to the political and historical background of the poem.

The second section deals with Harrison's life with, an illusti'ation of his shift from a working class life towards articulacy and culture.

The third section illustrates the conflict of class in the form and theme of the poem.

The conclusion contains a summary of the findings of the research.

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In short, Harrison attempts to dramatize his feelings of sorrow that societies are still dominated by class distinctions as well as money which still exist nowadays; and education as well as mastering language are just artificial markers of people’s position in society