the emigree

Question 1

what is an emigree

Answer 1

someone who is exiled from their home, usually to escape political persecution
- first used in the 1800s to describe people who had escaped fro the french revolution

Question 2

what traits may we expect an exiled person to have

Answer 2

• they struggle with conflicted emotions
• on one hand, this person would long for a return to their home country, but cannot do so because of the fear of oppression

Question 3

themes in the emigree

Answer 3

• displacement
• nostalgia
• memory
• homesickness

Question 4

“there once was a country….

Answer 4

i left it as a child”

Question 5

“there once was a country-i left it as a child” analysis

Answer 5

“once was” - establishes contrast between past

imagery and time travel : The line “There was once a country” suggests that the speaker’s homeland is no longer in existence or has changed so much that it is unrecognizable. The phrase “I left it as a child” emphasizes the speaker’s sense of displacement and loss. However, the phrase “but my memory of it is sunlight clear” suggests that the speaker’s memories are so vivid that they are able to transport them back in time and experience the country as it was before

sunlight clear” is a powerful example of nostalgia. The warmth and brightness of sunlight are associated with positive emotions, and the use of the phrase suggests that the speaker’s memories of their homeland are overwhelmingly positive. By describing their memories as “sunlight clear,” the speaker is able to convey the depth of their emotional attachment to their homeland and the power that memories have to shape our sense of self.

Contrast: The contrast between the speaker’s departure from their homeland as a child and the clarity of their memories is a powerful technique used by Rumens. The contrast highlights the complexity of the speaker’s relationship with their homeland and the ways in which memory can both comfort and torment us.

Question 6

repetition of sunlight in stanza 1 (emigree)

Answer 6

• memory being “sunlight clear” and sunlight being the last word of each stanza
• sunlight serves as a key motif
• juxtaposes the metaphor of tyranny as a disease, theres an idea of sunlight being a powerful disinfectant of political corruption and decay
• speaker implies that sunlight posses more destructive power than any tyrant, reinforced by the phrase “branded by” (scorched/burnt)

Question 7

“it may be filled with war…..

Answer 7

it may be sick with tyrants, but i am am branded by an impression of sunlight”

Question 8

“but i am branded…

Answer 8

by an impression of sunlight”

Question 9

“it may be at war, it may be sick with tyrants, but i am branded by an impression of sunlight”

Answer 9

• Metaphor: The use of the metaphor “branded by an impression of sunlight” is a powerful technique that conveys the lasting impact of memory on the speaker’s sense of identity. The metaphor suggests that the speaker’s childhood memories are not only deeply ingrained but also leave a permanent mark on them, like a brand, almost as if she is owned by her memories
• The contrast between the negative images of war and tyranny and the positive image of sunlight is a technique used to emphasize the complexity of the speaker’s relationship with their homeland. The contrast creates a sense of tension and conflict within the poem, highlighting the speaker’s conflicting emotions of longing and detachment.
• Repetition: The repetition of the phrase “it may be” is a technique used to emphasize the uncertainty and instability of the speaker’s homeland. The repetition creates a sense of rhythm within the poem and emphasizes the speaker’s sense of detachment from their homeland. It also serves to emphasize the power of memory to transcend time and place.

Imagery: The use of imagery in the phrase “impression of sunlight” is a technique used to evoke a sense of warmth, brightness, and positivity associated with sunlight. The imagery creates a powerful contrast with the negative images of war and tyranny, emphasizing the speaker’s emotional attachment to their homeland and their longing for a sense of belonging.

Question 10

“that childs vocabulary…

Answer 10

i carried here like a hollow doll, opens and spills a grammar

Question 11

“that childs vocabulary i carried here like a hollow doll, opens and spills a grammar” analysis

Answer 11

• Metaphor: The use of the metaphor “hollow doll” is a powerful technique that conveys the emptiness and lack of meaning the speaker initially felt when they arrived in their new home. The metaphor suggests that the child’s vocabulary was once a source of comfort and familiarity, but has since become disconnected from the speaker’s sense of self.

Question 12

“that childs vocabulary i carried here like a hollow doll, opens and spills a grammar” context

Answer 12

• The quote can be seen as a metaphor for this division, with the “hollow doll” representing the speaker’s memories of their childhood language and culture, and the opening and spilling of the grammar representing the reunification of East and West Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The transformation that occurs within the speaker can be seen as a symbol of the transformative power of reunification

The quote can also be seen as a symbol of the speaker’s nostalgia for their homeland, which was divided by the Berlin Wall. The “hollow doll” can represent the speaker’s memories of their childhood language and culture, which were left behind when they emigrated. The opening and spilling of the grammar can represent the speaker’s longing to reconnect with their homeland and to rediscover the language and culture of their childhood.

Question 13

there once was a country i left as a child but my memory of it is sunlight clear analysis - simpler

Answer 13

• begins like a story that a mother might tell her daughter like a once upon a time opening
• “once was” suggests that the country no longer exists, happened a lot in history, where a neighbour country takes over another and it no longer exists
• “sunlight clear” as she was a child and happy there, all her memories appear like sunlight

Question 14

it may be filled with war, it may be sick with tyrants but i am branded by an impression of sunlight simpler analysis

Answer 14

• suggests that by leaving the country, she has moved to a better place as its not full of tyrants or sick with war. instead, she has her memories with her
• motif on sunlight suggests happiness and hope
• heat is also dangerous, this is alluded to by the word “branded” which suggests a mark or ownership, seems like she is owned partly by her childhood memories, can’t escape her past, may be asking a wider question, are we all branded by our childhoods? are we all unable to escape the experiences we had as children?
• “by an impression of sunlight” although she is marked by her childhood, because her childhood in this other country was positive, it means that she carries hope with her all the time, despite the terrible things happening to her original country. could symbolise hope for her own life, but also hope for a turnaround in the country that she has left, it may recover from this sickness

Question 15

that childs vocabulary I carried here like a hollow doll, opens and spills a grammar simpler analysis

Answer 15

• “that childs vocabulary” the language she spoke in her old country, but is also the childs way of looking at the world, much more innocent perspective.
  
  • but now she looks back on it and describes the vocabulary as “a hollow doll”
• simile could he referring to a Russian doll (the ones that u open and see more dolls under) she may have done this to locate this city east of the Berlin wall
• “doll” suggests that the childs vocabulary or memories arent really real. this combined with it being “hollow” means that now, as an adult, she can look back on that childs perspective and say maybe that wasnt really a dull perspective of the world, it was just a small and hollow one
• “opens and spills a grammar” suggests shes gotten over those doubts, grammar is structure of language, suggests that there has become a structure to her memories, suggests that holding onto her language allows her to understand her roots and her upbringing. she now clings onto that, even if as part of that, shes clinging onto memories which arent quite descriptions of the truth, theyre just the childs perspective

Question 16

motif of sunlight

Answer 16

• suggests hope
• impressions of sunlight could be looked at in a different way after the “hollow doll” line, as these memories may have been false, she may have just assumed that her country was as happy as she was as a child, but maybe that wasnt the case, rather it was a naiive or false representation, as a doll is a very simplistic representation of real human life

Question 17

it lies down in front of me…

Answer 17

docile as paper I comb its hair and love its shining eyes”

Question 18

it lies down in front of me docile as paper I comb its hair and love its shining eyes analysis

Answer 18

• “docile as paper” suggests that shes recreating the city on that paper through her poem, so the poetry itself is a way to get those memories back
• i comb its hair - suggests that city is like a doll or a pet, conveys how much attention shes giving to her memories
• “shining eyes” are not actually seeing eyes, theyre blind, could suggest that her image of the past is a false projection, just like the view on her country
• line suggests aspects of lonliness, there are no other people in her new city who have come with her, so she feels like a child who has been uprooted and saved, whereas her parents havent, theyve stayed behind, hence why we get a symbolic repetition of the doll
• use of “shining” conveys a positive and vibrant image, suggesting that the memories or thoughts hold a special significance and beauty for the speaker
• she “love{s} its shining eyes, but the love is not returned as those eyes of course arent real, just like the country cant return its love to her, as she can never go back to it, shes cut off from it

Question 19

“they accuse me of…

Answer 19

being dark in their free city”

Question 20

they accuse me of being dark in their free city” analysis

Answer 20

metaphor - the word “dark” suggests not only a physical attribute but also symbolizes a sense of mystery, complexity, or unfamiliarity. By accusing the speaker of being “dark,” the people in the “free city” are essentially labeling the speaker as different or foreign, highlighting a perceived contrast between the speaker’s identity and the accepted norms of the city.

• The choice of words, particularly “accuse,” conveys a tone of confrontation or accusation. This tone indicates that the speaker is being unfairly judged or criticized by the people in the “free city.” It adds a sense of tension and conflict to the line, suggesting a power dynamic or a clash of perspectives.
• t: The phrase “in their free city” presents a contrast between the speaker’s identity and the supposed freedom of the city. This contrast underscores the irony and contradiction in the accusation. The “free city” is meant to symbolize a place of liberty and openness, yet the speaker’s experience reveals that there are limitations and prejudices that prevent them from truly being accepted or understood
• The use of the pronoun “me” emphasizes the speaker’s individual experience and personal connection to the accusation. It highlights the direct impact of the judgment and discrimination on the speaker’s sense of self and belonging. The repetition of “me” adds emphasis and draws attention to the personal nature of the accusation.

Question 21

“my city hides behind me…

Answer 21

they mutter death, and my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight

Question 22

my city hides behind me. they mutter death and my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight analysis

Answer 22

• “they” may be the tyrants in the new city, reaching out to her as an emigree and saying she still threatens them
• “they” could also refer to us, the peole in the country that she comes to, rejecting the migrant. could reflect problems that some immigrants face like racism
• juxtaposition of “shadow” and “sunlight” , suggests that her upbringing was positive, as she still carries that symbolic sunlight with her. could also highlight tragedy, considering shadow follows after death, could suggest that shes going to die, but the death will be worth it, as her life has been evidence of the positivity
• The phrase “they mutter death” uses metaphorical language to describe the actions or words of the people in the city. The word “death” is not meant literally but symbolizes hostility, threats, or the suppression of the speaker’s voice. This metaphor emphasizes the oppressive atmosphere and the negative impact of the people’s actions on the speaker.
• The line “my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight” creates vivid visual imagery. It suggests that despite the oppressive nature of the city, there are traces of light or hope. The image of the speaker’s shadow falling as evidence of sunlight implies that even in darkness or adversity, there are remnants of positivity or truth.

Question 23

structure

Answer 23

• same number of lines in each stanza except for the last one, which has 9 lines, instead of ending it with death and keeping it as 8 lines per stanza, she ends on a positive note of sunlight, used to celebrate the culture of emigrees
• The poem employs repetition of certain phrases and images to create emphasis and reinforce key themes. For example, the repeated use of “my city” and “I” throughout the poem emphasizes the speaker’s personal connection to the city and their individual experiences within it. This repetition adds to the sense of identity and personal perspective that the speaker brings to the narrative.
• Fragmentation: The poem’s structure contains fragmented phrases and sentences, particularly in the latter stanzas. This fragmentation mirrors the speaker’s fragmented memories and experiences as an emigree. It adds to the sense of dislocation and uncertainty, reinforcing the theme of the speaker’s struggle to reconcile their past and present.