GROUP REPORT

Our group members explored the topics of abuse with the subtopics: Emotional Abuse, Child
Abuse, Domestic Abuse, Physical Abuse, Verbal Abuse, Animal Abuse and Sexual Abuse. Most
artefacts were easy to find but one group member found it difficult since Emotional Abuse isn’t
greatly recognized nor acknowledged in the Caribbean. In total we had eighteen pieces to choose
from. “Animal Abuse” by Anonymous, “A Cry for Help” by Anonymous and “I’m Just Kidding”
by Anonymous were chosen. Our group met through virtual means, due to Covid-19 and its
limitations until physical school was able to reopen, to discuss which subtopics were the least
addressed within society. This allowed us to deduce the best artefacts that represented the
subtopics chosen, these pieces were shared among our group.

In the piece “Animal Abuse”, we discovered that animals’ emotions are not deemed equal to
the emotions of humans or even considered. They are therefore mistreated and viewed as
‘decorations' or ‘toys’. This is seen by the poet’s use of a first person’s point of view which
allows readers to understand the animal’s experience of abuse. The second artefact, “A Cry for
Help”, taught us that children may feel powerless, unworthy and afraid, which ultimately leads to
social withdrawal, after going through the experience of abuse. With the poet’s use of flashback
as a dramatic technique, the readers are able to empathize with the persona. By the use of
hyperboles with the help of contrast in the last poem “I’m Just Kidding”, readers are able to
understand the negative impact that the words “I’m just kidding” has on someone. The phrase is
used to ‘soften’ direct insults and make them socially acceptable. It also dismisses a person’s
emotions which makes them seem as though they are overreacting or being overly sensitive.

It was learnt that abuse is a destructive practice that negatively affects children, women, men
and even animals.