The Emigree

Question 1

Who wrote it?

Answer 1

Carol Rumens

Question 2

When was it published?

Answer 2

In her 1993 collection ‘Thinking of Skins’

Question 3

Why was it written?

Answer 3

To show the effect of emigration and how you can’t affect someone’s memories - they are more powerful

Question 4

What are the poet’s attitudes?

Answer 4

Nostalgia

Threat

Question 5

Who was Rumens?

Answer 5

An English poet, lecturer and translator

There’s no evidence that she experienced this enforced emigration

Question 6

What’s the poem about?

Answer 6

A female refugee forced to leave her country battling with her memories and threats of her new city

Question 7

Recite your introduction sentence

Answer 7

The Emigree, written by Carol Rumens and published in her 1993 collection ‘Thinking of Skins’, is about a female refugee forced to leave her native country, and follows her battle with her new city and memories. It was written to show the effect of emigration, and how you can’t affect someone’s memories, because they are more powerful.

Question 8

Recite your conclusion

Answer 8

Rumens is an alive English poet, lecturer and translator, and although her poem is a vivid exploration of the effects of emigration, there’s no evidence to show that she experienced this enforced emigration as well. The poem was primarily written to show how memories and identity are most important, and you cannot lose sense of where you’re really from.