The Emigrée

• form

  -> first person with 3 eight-line stanzas but no regular rhyme scheme.

  -> first 2 stanzas contain enjambment which reflects the feelings on confinement in her new city.
• structure

  -> speakers memory of the city grows and solidifies throughout the poem and in the final stanza, the poem becomes a physical presence.

  -> referred to as 'sunlight' as the speaker sees the city in a positive light.
• language of conflict

  vocabulary associated with war, invasion, tyranny - the city may not be as perfect as she remembers.
• language of light

  -> city is described as bright and colourful emphasising the feeling that it is a beautiful positive place.
• personification

  -> city is initially 'sick with tyrants' but in stanza 3, city lies down, dancing etc.. ~ showing the strength of the speakers love.
• emotions: nostalgia

  -> the speakers positive memories are unwavering. her view will never change.
• context

  ->Millions of people have been displaced, because their mother-land is a war zone.

  -> Families leave due to political corruption and oppressive dictatorship.

  ->People choose to immigrate to other countries, often in the West, in the hopes of a better, safer life.

  ->

  Unfortunately, some feel that they are neither welcome in their new location nor the country whence they came.
• "But my memory of it is sunlight clear for it seems I never saw it in that November which, I am told, comes to the mildest cities."

  -> sun = powerful force - nothing can change her perfect view of the city.

  -> "told" creates a sense separation between what she believes and what she has been told by others.

  -> "November" is late Autumn/Winter which can signify she never saw it in a dark, cold light and her memories are only positive.

  -> "mildest city" - disaster can strike in any place, even if they don't deserve it.

  -> memories are a metaphor- has connotations of happiness as the speakers memories bring comfort.
• "It may be at war, it may be sick with tyrants, but i am branded by an impression of sunlight."

  ->repetition of "may" can signify she is dismissive of the criticism that her country faces and can only ever see the good. ~ Also a modal verb creating a sense of doubt because she is not accepting her counties flaws.

  -> "branded" ~ nothing can erase the positive memories. but also that she is branded by society as an outsider as she looks different is labelled as if she doesn't belong.

  -> "sick" - the country needs healing not criticism.

  -> repetition of sunlight symbolises a dream-like image of the past.