The Emigrée

Question 1

Who is the poet that wrote the emigrée and what are some contextual points on them ?

Answer 1

Carol rumens
- conventionally writes about foreign customs and issues
- travelled in Easter Europe

Question 2

How can we analyze the title ‘The emigrée’?

Answer 2

• the title itself is not English which gives the reader an initial sense of alien ration which makes us sympathize with the speaker
• it represents the speakers different nationality so we are forced to sympathize

Question 3

What are the five quotes you should know and be able to analyze in this poem?

Answer 3

‘Branded with an impression of light’
‘My shadow falls as evidence of sunlight’
‘Bright, filled paperweight’
‘Takes me dancing’
‘ even cleaner as time rolls it’s tanks’

Question 4

How can we analyze the motif of light within the poem ? Qoute, point and explain :)

Answer 4

‘ branded with an impression of sunlight’
- adjective branded implies forceful and unwilling however there is a juxtaposition between the pastoral and anti pastoral imagery here which symbolizes the conflicting emotions the speaker feels about their country
- metaphorical indentation of those memories however they are unwaveringly positive
- the repetition of sunlight is symbolic of how peer positive memoirs over power the negative realities

Question 5

How can we analyze the last line ?

Answer 5

• my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight’
• cyclical structure implies the memories are repetitive and will e never leave the speaker
• good qoute to tie with the motif of sunlight

Question 6

What is a good quote showing the relationship between the city and the speaker ?

Answer 6

‘Takes me dancing’
- the power of her life for the city is personified here which creates a pseudo romantic relationship between the speaker and the city which is overwhelmingly positive due to the nature of the activities she undergoes with the city such as ‘dancing’

Question 7

What is a great quote showing how the memories will never leave her ?

Answer 7

‘Bright, filled paperweight’
- paper wright is a metonym of her love for the country and it metaphorically enforces her positive memories

Question 8

What is a good quote showing the deterioration of the city over time ?

Answer 8

‘Even clearer as time rolls it’s tanks’
- personification of time therefore makes nature and enemy which is juxtaposed by the conventional pastoral imagery being positive
- nature itself is an aggressive force here and it inverts the conventional view of nature being a positive force