The Emigrée

Question 1

Who wrote The Emigrée

Answer 1

Carol Rumens

Question 2

Carol Rumens context

Answer 2

Born in south London
Has a fascination with ‘elsewhere’
Prefers to be called someone who loves language (not a poet)

Question 3

The Emigrée context

Answer 3

Feminine version of immigrant

Question 4

The Emigrée - Summary

Answer 4

Written from the perspective of a woman who has had to leave her country for political reasons

Through the language we get a sense that her place of birth will always seem beautiful to her despite its struggles

Question 5

The Emigrée Tone

Answer 5

Reflection
Regret
Suffering / fear

Question 6

The Emigrée quotations

Answer 6

‘Sunlight clear’ - bright imagery → associates place with positivity
Suggests she remembers it distinctly

‘white streets’ ‘graceful slopes’ → beauty dignity elegance, purity

‘Time rolls its tanks’ → war, violence, destruction, unstoppable

‘no passport’ - lack of identity / belonging

‘They mutter death and my shadow falls’ - hostility, violence, cruelty, betrayal

Question 7

The Emigrée structure

Answer 7

Repition of ‘sunlight’

‘impression of sunlight’ ‘taste of sunlight’ ‘evidence of sunlight’
Her connection to the city becomes more tangible

Shows her unchanging loyalty to her country