Emigree - Carol Rumens✔ Flashcards
Significance of the opening “there once was a country”?
Establishes a fantastical (strange or extreme) tone to highlight the fact that the place described is a memory rather than a reality - idea of it being a memory when the writer was younger creates a sense of unreliability reinforced through the use of ellipsis which creates a pauses necessary for the narrator to gather their thoughts and carry on with the story
Significance of the poems title?
“The Emigre” - contrast between the English ‘the’ and the French ‘ Emigre’ which establishes the idea of two conflicting cultures and identities
Significance of the repetition ‘they’?
Creates an aggressive and accusatory tone to make the city seem threatening and hostile - which reflects the aggression aimed at her from the citizens of her new city due to their racism seen in they ‘accuse me of being dark’ shows she is experiencing a new threat which is no longer physical conflict but social rejection
How is the theme of segregation created?
Repetition of ‘their city’ and ‘they accuse me of absence’ the use of the pronoun ‘they’ sets her apart from the rest of the population as if she is and outcast in ‘their city’
Significance of the last stanza?
Can be interpreted to be a description of the narrators new city - Rumens uses enjambment in “through the city// of walls” to separate ‘of walls’ from the rest of the text which causes the reader to see the walls as an isolated idea creating connotations of entrapment
Significance of the caesura and free verse in the last stanza?
Creates a sense of chaos which could be interpreted as indicative (showing) freedom
What is the form of the poem?
Predominantly in free verse with no rhyme or rhythm which could be seen to represent the chaos and lack of control over a country with no stable government - this interpretation juxtaposes with the positive imagery in the poem so the form could more likely be presenting freedom
How is the poem structured?
Three fairly consistent stanzas each stanza ends with an image of sunlight, taking the reader back to the narrators positive childhood memories of the city
Significance of the refrain- repeated use of a word as the end of every stanza?
Every stanza ends with a reference sunlight - rumens juxtaposes the positive connotations of ‘sunlight’ with the negative connotations of ‘branded’ in “but i am branded by the impression of sunlight” which shows her love for her country will always overrule any feelings of pain caused by it
How does the poem act as an extended metaphor?
Acts as a metaphor for a lost childhood - as well as depicting her maternal relationship with her former city seen with the metaphor “I comb its hair and love its shining eyes” implies she acts like a mother to the city - this impression is reinforced by “my city hides behind me” which implies that she is attempting to defend it from criticism of the outside world
Significance of the personification “docile as paper”?
The city is personified as a gentle creature ‘docile as paper’ that she pets before it ‘takes her dancing’ like a lover
What metaphor is used in the first stanza for the speakers “original view” of her country? How is it significant?
“Bright filled paper weight” when describing her original country - suggests that her earlier “bright” memories of her old country are being held down - because we know paper weights are heavy and used to hold paper but are also beautiful and decorated showing she feels these memories are precious to her - paper weights are often shaped like snow globes which normally are sold to tourists because they contain certain scenes like landmarks ext. links to idea of her being an immigrant
Examples of language of brightness and light?
- ‘sunlight’
- ‘white’
- ‘bright’
- ‘glow’
- ‘coloured’
How do we get a sense that she feels rejected by her new city?
“Their free city” the use of the plural pronoun “their” separates her from the new people who threaten her accusing her of “being dark” and “mutter[ing] death” links to idea immigrants are not welcomed and have an uncomfortable experience
Significance of “it may now be a lie, banned by the state”?
Shows the power of this state as they can ban speech and have total control over these people and how they communicate
