The emigree

Question 1

Who is the poet?

Answer 1

Carol Rumens

Question 2

When was it written?

Answer 2

1983

Question 3

Context:

Answer 3

• Rumen’s poem doesn’t refer to any specific war or conflict, its clear she’s talking about the plight of many around the world who are forced to leave their home

Question 4

Poet’s life:

Answer 4

• British born poet
  -published a number of poems that focus on themes of persecution, love, separation, death and displacement

Question 5

Form and structure:

Answer 5

• 3 stanzas
• written in free verse
• lack of formal structure of rhythm helps show the scattered thoughts of the speaker as they look back on their life

Question 6

Similes:

Answer 6

• uses a number of similes to describe the city and what it means to the speaker
  ‘docile as paper’ - highlights fragility of the place, but also that her memories of it are calm and reassuring

Question 7

Metaphors:

Answer 7

• refers to the city as being like a ‘bright, filled paperweight’ , which shows how her memories of it are fixed, idealised and can never be broken

Question 8

Tone:

Answer 8

• written in 1st person with a nostalgic tone

Question 9

Personification:

Answer 9

-city is personified throughout the poem
- speaker talks about how the city ‘takes me dancing’ showing that she sees it as something thats always with her, or like a friend

Question 10

Repetition:

Answer 10

• repeats the word ‘sunlight’ at the end of every stanza
• shows her idealised view of her city, as she sees it as bright and warm

Question 11

Themes:

Answer 11

prejudice
identity

Question 12

Techniques used:

Answer 12

personification
repetition
metaphors
similes
nostalgic tone

Question 13

Quotes:

Answer 13

‘my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight’
‘it may be sick with tyrants’
‘like a hollow doll’
‘the worst news I receive of it cannot break / my original view’