the emigree - carol rumens

Question 1

Give a plot summary for The Emigree.

Answer 1

the emigree - carol rumens:

• the speaker describes having left her country behind when she was a child but never losing her child-like image of it
• no matter the bad news she hears, she just remembers the sunlight and beauty
• as an adult, she is becoming aware that this is a false image, but she cannot forget or dismiss this view
• she can’t return to her city but is preoccupied by her images and fantasies of it

Question 2

What does The Emigree mean?

Answer 2

The Emigree comes from the word to emigrate, which means to leave.

Question 3

What is The Emigree based on?

Answer 3

The Emigree is not based on any event in Rumens’ life, but she wanted to write an ambiguous poem so that people could relate universally.

Question 4

Give five key quotes in The Emigree.

Answer 4

the emigree - carol rumens:

• “there once was a country…”
• “the worst news… cannot break my original view”
• “I am branded by an impression of sunlight”
• “I can’t get it off my tongue”
• “the city of walls”

Question 5

Give four relevant points on structure and form in The Emigree.

Answer 5

the emigree - carol rumens:

• equal, end-stopped stanzas
• refrain
• enjambment
• fairly equal line length

Question 6

Give five key themes present in The Emigree.

Answer 6

the emigree - carol rumens:

• effects of conflict
• power of memory
• identity
• inner conflict
• control