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The Emigree (Imagery (There was once a country-sound like the beginning of…
The Emigree
Structure
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Repetition of sunlight at the end of every stanza suggest that her poem brings hope. Ultimately love wins in the end.
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Enjamblemnt- 'My city takes me dancing through the city of walls'. The first part concerns dancing which is seen in a positive light and the second part is oppressive and filled with walls.
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Meaning
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Because the narrator moved when she was very young, her memories are based on the impressions he gained in childhood.
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Light and shadow
Light images are contrasted by dark, shadow and death.
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conflict and warfare
external conflict- war, tanks
Internal- how she imagines her homeland and what it is become.
Conflict between cultures-rediscovers joy of speaking i her native language.
Loss of childhood- if children are sheltered from reality, then life appears more beautiful and magical. The sunlit country represents an idealised childhood and the warzone reflectes the harsher realities of adulthood.
Imagery
There was once a country-sound like the beginning of a fairy story and this creates an idyllic, child-like tone which reflects the Emigree's innocent love for the city.
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'time rolls its tanks'- time is compared to an enemy attacking the country. This suggest that the country has become worse over time as war has taken hold of it.
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Language- rediscovering lost language is a pleasant experience. 'Banned by the state' - ruler has forbidden to speak freely.
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Language devices
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Simile like a hollow doll- the hollow doll represents the narrator's subconscience, Which stores her innermost feelings and memories until she needs them again.
Simile close like waves- natural image suggets military take over. ideas are mixing and blurring in the speaker's mind.
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'my city comes to me in its own white plane' - aeroplane or paper. Likely as she says 'docile as paper'. The city comes to her in the form of letters from those who were left behind.
repetition of they accuse me- unspecific. Vague, sinister figures left to imagine. 'being dark in their free city' might be about opposition to the state regime (old country) or may refer to racism in the new land as she feels unwelcomed.
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Context
Rumens bases many of her ideas on modern examples of emigration from countries like Russia or the Middle East.
Rumens was interested in Russian writers such as Akhmatova- she experienced pre-revolution Russia and Soviet Russia. But her poetry protected the traditions of classical culture.
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