Question 1: Briefly explain the historical context in which 'The Emigrée' was written. How might this influence the themes of memory and displacement in the poem?

Answer: The poem was written after the Cold War, reflecting themes of exile and longing. The context of political upheaval and migration influences the poem's focus on memory, identity, and a longing for homeland despite conflict.

Question 2: Identify the social or political issues that might have inspired Carol Rumens when writing 'The Emigrée'.

Answer: Issues such as war, displacement, exile, and the longing for freedom or safety likely inspired the poem, reflecting personal and collective experiences of refugees.

Question 1: Read the line: 'My memory of it is sunlight-clear.' What does this metaphor suggest about the speaker's perception of her homeland?

Answer: The metaphor suggests that the speaker's memory is bright, vivid, and positive, emphasizing a nostalgic and idealized view of her homeland.

Question 2: How does the imagery in the line 'It may be sick with tyrants' lies' contribute to the poem’s themes?

Answer: The imagery of illness and lies highlights the corrupt and oppressive nature of the homeland's rulers, reinforcing themes of political conflict and personal loss.

Question 3: Identify the significance of the phrase 'I comb its hair and love its shining eyes' in terms of the speaker's relationship with her homeland.

Answer: The metaphor personifies the homeland as a beloved person, emphasizing the speaker’s deep emotional connection and protective love for her country.

Question 1: Quote: 'It may be sick with tyrants' lies.' What language device is used here and what is its effect?

Answer: Personification; it emphasizes the oppressive nature of the regime, making the homeland seem ill and in need of care.

Question 2: Quote: 'Sunlight-clear' is an example of which device, and how does it influence the reader's perception?

Answer: Metaphor; it creates a vivid, positive image of the homeland, evoking feelings of warmth and clarity.

Question 3: Identify the use of contrast in the line: 'It may be sick with tyrants' lies' versus 'my memory of it is sunlight-clear.' What effect does this contrast create?

Answer: The contrast highlights the difference between the speaker's idealized memory and the reality of the homeland's political suffering, emphasizing nostalgia versus reality.

Question 1: Discuss how the theme of memory is portrayed in 'The Emigrée' and its effect on the reader.

Answer: Memory is portrayed as a powerful, idealized force that shapes the speaker's identity. It is presented as bright and unchanging, offering comfort but also possibly blinding her to the present realities. This affects the reader by evoking sympathy for the speaker’s longing and highlighting the contrast between memory and reality.

Question 2: Compare the presentation of power in 'The Emigrée' with that in 'Ozymandias'. How do both poets explore the concept of power?

Answer: While 'The Emigrée' depicts personal and emotional power rooted in memory and identity, 'Ozymandias' explores the fleeting nature of political power through the image of the ruined statue. Both poems examine how power can be lost or illusions, but Rumens emphasizes internal resilience, whereas Shelley's poem shows the inevitable decline of human achievements.

Question 1: Quote: 'Sunlight-clear. I see its glassy haze.' Analyze the significance of 'glassy haze' and how it affects the imagery of the homeland.

Answer: 'Glassy haze' suggests a delicate, perhaps distorted image of the homeland, emphasizing nostalgia and idealization. It creates a sense of beauty tinged with distance or unreality, reinforcing the speaker's longing and the idealized memory of her homeland.

Question 1: Outline the main points you would include in an essay comparing how both poems explore the concept of power and its decline.

Answer: Both poems depict the transient nature of power—'The Emigrée' shows internal resilience and the enduring power of memory, while 'Ozymandias' portrays the inevitable decay of political dominance. 'The Emigrée' emphasizes personal identity and hope, whereas 'Ozymandias' reflects on hubris and the impermanence of human achievements. Comparing how each poet presents the effects of power loss and the message about human vulnerability would form the core of the essay.