Tissue and The Émigrée

Question 1

Comparison 1

Answer 1

Both poems explore the importance of the past in forming identity.

Question 2

Comparison 2

Answer 2

Both poems explore displacement and the effects conflict/human barriers have on identity.

Question 3

Comparison 3

Answer 3

Both poems explore the power of humanity.

Question 4

Tissue 1

Answer 4

In Tissue, Dharker explores our recorded history on paper – the focus is on human identity as a whole. She considers the paradox of paper being so fragile yet the strength it holds in recording and confirming the human existence.

Question 5

Tissue 2

Answer 5

In Tissue, the poet explores manmade borders and divisions which have created conflict between humans for centuries.

Question 6

Tissue 3

Answer 6

In Tissue, this focuses on humanity as a whole and our contribution to society.

Question 7

The Émigrée 1

Answer 7

In The Emigree, her individual memories of the past shape and solidify identity and this sustains her throughout difficult times.​

Question 8

The Émigrée 2

Answer 8

In The Emigree, the speaker is removed from her country and feels displaced – her societal identity of her ‘passport’ and ‘vocabulary’ have been removed because of the ‘state’.​

Question 9

The Émigrée 3

Answer 9

In The Emigree, the poem focuses on an individual experience – the power of humans to displace her and cause conflict but the power of her own memory to maintain her identity when faced with this.​