Poetry - The Emigree by Carol Rumens

Question 1

Describe the lack of rhythm and rhyme in ‘The Emigree’

Answer 1

The lack of regular of rhythm and rhyme, enjambment and caesura could mirror how fragmented and war-torn the country she has had to flee from is

Question 2

Describe the enjambment used in ‘The Emigree’

Answer 2

• Enjambment in several line also gives the poem fluidity and a certain gentleness and tenderness to the rhythm
• This could be to emphasise her affection towards the city

Question 3

Describe the regular stanzas in ‘The Emigree’

Answer 3

• The stanzas are almost equal in length
• Reflect the speaker’s refusal to let the disruption and war and overpower her memories

Question 4

Describe the final stanza in ‘The Emigree’

Answer 4

• The last stanza is longer when she describes how she is dancing through the city
• This reflects her desire to prolong those positive memoires

Question 5

Finish the quote: ‘The white…’ and describe it

Answer 5

• “The white streets”
• Light and colour imagery
• Highlights how overwhelming positive the speaker’s memories are of her city

Question 6

Finish the quote: ‘I comb its hair and…’ and describe it

Answer 6

• “I comb its hair and love its shining eyes”
• Personification of the city
• Intensifies the sense of the speaker’s love and affection towards
• It is also a childish image, conjuring up images of innocence and purity

Question 7

Finish the quote: ‘It may be sick…’ and describe it

Answer 7

-“It may sick with tyrants”
- Personification of the city
- Emphasises the strength of her dislike for the people currently controlled the city

Question 8

Finish the quote: ‘I have no passport..’ and describe it

Answer 8

• “I have no passport, there’s no way back at all”
• Mysterious language suggesting the speaker could be in exile