The Emigree Flashcards
What is the effect of the opening?
“There once was a country…” establishes a fantastical tone to describe the place as a memory, more so than a reality. Shows that the place is romanticised by the idealism of youth. The usage of ellipses following shows that the narrator is gathering their thoughts in order to carry on with the story.
What is the effect of the poem name?
The Emigree, English mixed with French, establishing the ideas of two contrasting cultures and identities.
What is the effect of repetition?
The repetition of “they” creates an accusatory tone making the city seem threatening and hostile. The city is also possibly racist, as they “accuse me of being dark”. The danger is no longer physical, but social rejection.
“their city”, “they accuse” repeated as well to add to accusatory tone.
What is the effect of the final stanza?
Rumens uses enjambment in “Through the city // of walls”, separating the “walls” from the rest of the text, highlighting the walls as an isolated idea, creating connotations of entrapment.
The final stanza contains caesura and free verse, creating a sense of chaos or possibly creating the sense of freedom that is inherently chaotic.
What form is the poem in?
Free verse, with no rhyme or rhythm.
What is the effect of the form in the poem?
Represents the chaos and lack of control over the country. This juxtaposes the positive imagery in the poem.
What is the effect of epistrophe in the poem?
Every stanza ends with a reference to “sunlight”. The “sunlight” juxtaposes the negative connotations of “branded” in “but I am branded by the impression of sunlight”, showing how her love for her country will always overrule the feelings of pain caused by it.
“it tastes of sunlight” also juxtaposes the “shadow fall[ing] as evidence of sunlight”.
Demonstrates no matter what happens, the speaker will always have a positive view of her city.
What is the effect of the subjunctive case?
Anytime negative attributes of her city are described, the speaker uses the subjunctive case in order to distance herself from the city while also making the issues seem hypothetical to maintain her positive and flawed perspective of the city. “it may be at war, it may be sick with tyrants”
What is the effect of the extended metaphor?
The poem acts as an extended metaphor for a lost childhood. The narrator’s relationship with the former city is shows to be maternal as she “comb[s] its hair and love its shining eyes” implying that motherly relationship with her unconditional love and protective tendencies. The maternal need to protect is also reinforced by “my city hides behind me” implying she protects the city from the rest of the world as a mother does for her child.
Comparisons between The Emigree?
Checking out me history
Comparisons between The Emigree and ComH?
Violent connotations of life in a new place, as Agard has to “bandage up me eye to me own history” and Rumens’ is “branded by an impression of sunlight”.
Both poets attach a great emotional significance between themselves and their cultural identities. Repetition of “dem tell me” and the maternal feelings of “I comb its hair and love its shining eyes”
In ComH, the narrator demonises his childhood through an angry tone with separation of stanzas. Contrastingly, Rumens uses light imagery in “an impression of sunlight”, “the white streets” and “it tastes of sunlight” presenting a dreamlike, idealised childhood.
Good quotes?
“I comb its hair and love its shining eyes”
“I am branded by an impression of sunlight”
“My city hides behind me”
“They accuse me of being dark”
Analysis of “I comb its hair and love its shining eyes”
Acts like a mother to the city in the way through her unconditional love for the place, despite the fact she has left due to it being “sick with tyrants”.
Analysis of “I am branded by an impression of sunlight”
“Branded” is negative, contrasting with the positive connotations of “sunlight”, showing how her positive feelings towards her country will always overrule the feelings of pain caused as a result.
Analysis of “My city hides behind me”
Again furthers the idea of the speaker being protective of the city, like a mother would be.
