The Emigrée Flashcards
Context of The Emigree
Rumens travelled widely throughout Russia & Eastern Europe - this is reflected in her writing as both good & bad memories
In this poem, she is supposedly talking about Iran, where anyone associated with the old regime had to leave the country immediately. As well as this, people were forced to leave countries to avoid persecution due to factors such as religion, etc.
Key quotes of The Emigree
“Sunlight-clear” repetition of “sunlight” - connotations of purity, innocence, goodness
Emphatic repetition of “accuse me” - emphasises persecution & hostility the narrator endured in her new country
“My city comes to me in its own white plane” - personal possessive pronoun “my” amplifies her strong attachment to her home country. “white” - connotations of purity, nostalgia (clearly a welcomed memory). “white streets” “graceful slopes” - imagery of absolute freedom & cleanliness
Presents city as a “docile” creature with “shining eyes” - implies the relationship between the narrator and her home country is almost similar to that of a child & their pet - makes the city sound lovable & appealing, evoking sympathy
“Theres no way back at all” - pushing the message that childhood is a place to which no one can return to
“city of walls” - claustrophobic, trapped, restricted, isolated
Structure of The Emigree
Repetition of “they” - aggressive, accusatory tone, suggests the city is threatening/hostile. “Accuse me of being dark” - racism, rejected, doesnt share the same culture or identity
The final lone stanza is about her new city - the fact that this stanza is separated from the rest of the poem illustrates the narrators feelings of isolation & entrapment in this new city
Use of free verse - reflects the overwhelmingly joyful memories of her home city, interrupted by caesura of her new city (almost as if the new city is getting in the way of her nostalgic memories of home)
Epistrophe of ”sunlight” - implies the positive perception the speaker has of her true home despite her new city trying to ruin this. Connotations of warmth, openness, happiness. She stresses that the “shadow” of her new city is not enough to block out the “sunlight” of her old city
Form of The Emigree
No rhyme or rhythm - implies the chaotic & divided nature of her new city, contrasting to the freedom & unity of her home city
Lots of full stops in stanza 3, showing how the narrator is gradually getting more and more trapped, almost imprisoned and unable to go back to what used to be
This could ALSO represent the narrator struggling to get her words out, almost as if choking up at the thought of her old childhood city
