The Emigree

• Who is the author of the poem "The Emigrée"?

  Carol Rumens
• What is the main theme of "The Emigrée"?

  Displacement and nostalgia for homeland
• What does the narrator reflect on in "The Emigrée"?

  • Memories of childhood in her homeland
  • Discrimination in her new country
  • Positive perspective despite challenges
• What does the narrator believe about her memories?

  They are infallible
• How does the narrator view the news about her homeland?

  She acknowledges the sad truth of conflict
• What does the phrase "sunlight-clear" suggest about the narrator's memories?

  They are bright and positive
• What does the narrator carry with her from her childhood?

  A child's vocabulary
• What does the "hollow doll" symbolize in the poem?

  The emptiness of lost childhood
• What does the narrator say about her passport?

  She has no passport
• How does the narrator describe her city in the poem?

  As docile and loving
• What does the repetition of "they accuse me" convey?

  Hostility from the new city's citizens
• What does the "city of walls" symbolize?

  Isolation and entrapment
• What are the structural elements of "The Emigrée"?

  • Free verse with no rhyme
  • Repetition for emphasis
  • Enjambment and caesura for chaos
• What does the use of free verse in the poem represent?

  Chaos and lack of control
• What literary device is used at the end of each stanza?

  Epistrophe
• How does the narrator feel about her former city?

  She has maternal feelings towards it
• What are the similarities between "The Emigrée" and "Checking Out Me History"?

  • Conflict between cultures
  • Emotional significance of cultural identity
  • Importance of language in identity
• What are the differences between "The Emigrée" and "Checking Out Me History"?

  • Tone: Rumens is idealistic, Agard is angry
  • Imagery: Light vs. violent connotations
  • Presentation of childhood: Romanticized vs. demonized
• What does the juxtaposition of "sunlight" and "branded" signify?

  Love for her country outweighs pain
• What does the gustatory imagery in the poem refer to?

  It tastes of sunlight
• How does the narrator's perspective change over time?

  She gains clarity on her situation
• What does the phrase "my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight" imply?

  Her identity is tied to her memories
• What does the term "subjunctive case" indicate in the poem?

  Hypothetical view of her homeland
• How does the poem reflect the theme of identity?

  Through the contrast of cultures and memories
• What is the significance of the title "The Emigrée"?

  It highlights themes of displacement
• What does the narrator's love for her city represent?

  A longing for her lost childhood
• How does the poem's structure contribute to its themes?

  Free verse reflects chaos and freedom
• What does the narrator's experience in her new city reveal?

  Social rejection and feelings of alienation
• What role does memory play in "The Emigrée"?

  It shapes the narrator's identity and perspective
• How does the poem address the concept of borders?

  It highlights pain caused by man-made borders
• What is the effect of the ellipsis in the poem?

  It creates pauses for reflection
• What does the narrator's relationship with her city suggest?

  It is maternal and protective
• How does the poem's imagery contribute to its themes?

  It contrasts light and dark to show conflict
• What does the phrase "I comb its hair and love its shining eyes" imply?

  Affection and care for her homeland
• How does the poem reflect the narrator's internal conflict?

  Through contrasting memories and current experiences
• What does the narrator's longing for her city signify?

  A deep connection to her roots
• What does the narrator mean by "I am branded by an impression of sunlight"?

  Her memories are positive despite pain
• How does the poem's tone shift throughout the stanzas?

  From nostalgic to conflicted and painful
• What does the use of gustatory imagery reveal about the narrator's feelings?

  Delight in her memories of the past
• What does the phrase "the worst news I receive of it cannot break my original view" suggest?

  Her memories remain untainted by reality