Unit - 6: No Men Are Foreign by James Kirkup
Glossary
1.Beneath: under
2.Strange: unknown
3.dispossess: dislodge; deprive
4.defile: make dirty; pollute
5.outrage the innocence of: violate the purity of
Overview of the Poem
The title- ‘No men are Foreign’ means that the no men belong to another country. The poet wants to say that all men are same, all men are equal. He wants to promote the concept of universal brotherhood. In this poem, the poet wants to tell us that everyone in this world is same. All people, all men are same – they eat, live, die the same way. Everyone gets the bounties of nature like, sunshine, land etc in equal measure. We can also say that it is a peace poem.
Summary of the Poem
The poem "No Men Are Foreign" begins and ends with the line, "Remember no men are strange, no countries foreign," emphasizing that all people on Earth are fundamentally the same. The distinctions we create—through borders, languages, and other divisions—are human-made. While we live, we all walk on the same Earth, and in death, we are buried in the same soil. The poet also highlights that during times of peace, we all enjoy good food, but in times of war and winter, we face hunger. We all have similar hands that labor, and eyes that open when we wake and close when we sleep. The poem reminds us that when we harbor hatred toward others, we ultimately harm ourselves. Moreover, when we engage in violence, we pollute the Earth with the bloodshed and destruction it brings. Therefore, we should remember, "Remember no men are strange, no countries foreign."
Poem Analysis
Central Idea: The poem stresses the commonality of all humans, regardless of nationality, race, or culture. It calls for the recognition that no one is a foreigner and that humanity is united.
Themes:
1.Unity of Humanity: All people, irrespective of where they come from, share the same human experiences.
2.Brotherhood and Equality: Emphasizes the idea that every human being is equal and deserving of respect, no matter their background.
3.Peace and Understanding: Advocates for peace by promoting mutual understanding between people of different cultures.
4.Opposition to Prejudice: Rejects the concept of "foreignness" or "otherness," encouraging acceptance and empathy.
Message: The poem encourages readers to see the world as one shared community where all people are essentially the same, urging an end to prejudice and conflict.
Underlying Message: Conflict and division between nations arise from misunderstandings; by recognizing our shared humanity, we can foster peace and harmony.
Setting: The poem’s setting is universal, encompassing the entire world and focusing on global human experience.
Characters: The "characters" in the poem are people of all nations, representing the global human family.
Poetic Devices
1. Rhyme Scheme – The entire poem is written in free verse. There is no rhyme scheme in the poem.
2. Alliteration: The repetition of a consonant sound in two or more closely placed words is called alliteration. The instances of alliteration in the poem are –Stanza 1 – Body, breathes ‘b’ sound is repeated
Stanza 2 – war’s, winter ‘w’ sound is repeated
3. Metaphor Stanza 1 – Uniform refers to the military of different countries
Stanza 2 – wars time is compared to the winter season
4. Repetition: It is used in the entire poem.‘Remember’ word is repeated 5 times in this poem.
‘Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign’ is repeated in stanza 1 and stanza 5
5. Enjambment – running lines of poetry from one line to the next without using any kind of punctuation to indicate a stop. Instances of enjambment in the poem are as follows-Stanza 1 – line 2, 3 and 4
Stanza 2 – line 3 and 3
Stanza 3 – line 1, 2, and 3
Stanza 4 – line 1 and 2
Stanza 5 – Line 2 and 3
NCERT Textbook Questions
Thinking about the poem (Page 81)
Question 1.“Beneath all uniforms…” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about?
How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?
Answer:The poet speaks about the various dresses that people of various countries wear but beneath them, the human body is same.
The poet says that nobody is different and peculiar. No country is foreign. A single body breathes beneath all uniforms. Moreover, the land is the same everywhere.
Question 2: In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike. Pick out the words.
Answer: In the first stanza the poet says that there is no difference between the body of a citizen of one country and the citizen of another country. We have same kind of body; we wear same kind of clothes. We walk on the same planet, and the end of each individual is the same.
Question 3: How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words.
Answer:
The following common features are given in the stanzas:
sun
air
water,
Peaceful harvests required for human survival
same hands
Question 4: “… whenever we are told to hate our brothers….” When do you think this happens? Why? Who ‘tells’ us? Should we do as we are told at such times What does the poet say?
Answer: Sometimes some selfish people instigate the innocent to harm others. They do it for their own benefit. The common or ordinary man does not understand their tricks and starts hating his fellow human beings. They tell them to cause riots. The poet says that one should not follow anybody’s advice without brooding over it. The poet repeatedly says that there is no difference in them and the foreigners. The people of the entire world are the same.
Answer 5: The repetition of the line "Remember no men are strange, no countries foreign" serves as a powerful refrain that reinforces the central message of the poem—that all humans are fundamentally the same, despite the artificial divisions we create through borders, languages, or cultural differences. By repeating this line, the poet emphasizes the idea that any distinctions made between people are man-made and do not change our shared humanity. It acts as a reminder to the reader that all people, no matter where they come from, are part of the same human family, encouraging a sense of global unity and equality.
Question 6: In the poem, the poet emphasizes the harmful effects of hatred and violence. How can we apply this message in our daily lives to promote peace and understanding in society?
Answer 6: The poem highlights the destructive impact of hatred and violence on both individuals and the world as a whole. We can apply this message in our daily lives by fostering understanding and respect for others, regardless of their background or nationality. Instead of succumbing to prejudice or engaging in conflict, we can promote peace by treating everyone as equals and working towards common goals. Small acts of kindness, empathy, and communication can bridge divides and help build a more harmonious society. The poem's lesson urges us to recognize our shared humanity and to act in ways that support unity and compassion, rather than division and destruction.
Glossary
1.Beneath: under
2.Strange: unknown
3.dispossess: dislodge; deprive
4.defile: make dirty; pollute
5.outrage the innocence of: violate the purity of
Overview of the Poem
The title- ‘No men are Foreign’ means that the no men belong to another country. The poet wants to say that all men are same, all men are equal. He wants to promote the concept of universal brotherhood. In this poem, the poet wants to tell us that everyone in this world is same. All people, all men are same – they eat, live, die the same way. Everyone gets the bounties of nature like, sunshine, land etc in equal measure. We can also say that it is a peace poem.
Summary of the Poem
The poem "No Men Are Foreign" begins and ends with the line, "Remember no men are strange, no countries foreign," emphasizing that all people on Earth are fundamentally the same. The distinctions we create—through borders, languages, and other divisions—are human-made. While we live, we all walk on the same Earth, and in death, we are buried in the same soil. The poet also highlights that during times of peace, we all enjoy good food, but in times of war and winter, we face hunger. We all have similar hands that labor, and eyes that open when we wake and close when we sleep. The poem reminds us that when we harbor hatred toward others, we ultimately harm ourselves. Moreover, when we engage in violence, we pollute the Earth with the bloodshed and destruction it brings. Therefore, we should remember, "Remember no men are strange, no countries foreign."
Poem Analysis
Central Idea: The poem stresses the commonality of all humans, regardless of nationality, race, or culture. It calls for the recognition that no one is a foreigner and that humanity is united.
Themes:
1.Unity of Humanity: All people, irrespective of where they come from, share the same human experiences.
2.Brotherhood and Equality: Emphasizes the idea that every human being is equal and deserving of respect, no matter their background.
3.Peace and Understanding: Advocates for peace by promoting mutual understanding between people of different cultures.
4.Opposition to Prejudice: Rejects the concept of "foreignness" or "otherness," encouraging acceptance and empathy.
Message: The poem encourages readers to see the world as one shared community where all people are essentially the same, urging an end to prejudice and conflict.
Underlying Message: Conflict and division between nations arise from misunderstandings; by recognizing our shared humanity, we can foster peace and harmony.
Setting: The poem’s setting is universal, encompassing the entire world and focusing on global human experience.
Characters: The "characters" in the poem are people of all nations, representing the global human family.
Poetic Devices
1. Rhyme Scheme – The entire poem is written in free verse. There is no rhyme scheme in the poem.
2. Alliteration: The repetition of a consonant sound in two or more closely placed words is called alliteration. The instances of alliteration in the poem are –Stanza 1 – Body, breathes ‘b’ sound is repeated
Stanza 2 – war’s, winter ‘w’ sound is repeated
3. Metaphor Stanza 1 – Uniform refers to the military of different countries
Stanza 2 – wars time is compared to the winter season
4. Repetition: It is used in the entire poem.‘Remember’ word is repeated 5 times in this poem.
‘Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign’ is repeated in stanza 1 and stanza 5
5. Enjambment – running lines of poetry from one line to the next without using any kind of punctuation to indicate a stop. Instances of enjambment in the poem are as follows-Stanza 1 – line 2, 3 and 4
Stanza 2 – line 3 and 3
Stanza 3 – line 1, 2, and 3
Stanza 4 – line 1 and 2
Stanza 5 – Line 2 and 3
NCERT Textbook Questions
Thinking about the poem (Page 81)
Question 1.“Beneath all uniforms…” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about?
How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?
Answer:The poet speaks about the various dresses that people of various countries wear but beneath them, the human body is same.
The poet says that nobody is different and peculiar. No country is foreign. A single body breathes beneath all uniforms. Moreover, the land is the same everywhere.
Question 2: In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike. Pick out the words.
Answer: In the first stanza the poet says that there is no difference between the body of a citizen of one country and the citizen of another country. We have same kind of body; we wear same kind of clothes. We walk on the same planet, and the end of each individual is the same.
Question 3: How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words.
Answer:
The following common features are given in the stanzas:
sun
air
water,
Peaceful harvests required for human survival
same hands
Question 4: “… whenever we are told to hate our brothers….” When do you think this happens? Why? Who ‘tells’ us? Should we do as we are told at such times What does the poet say?
Answer: Sometimes some selfish people instigate the innocent to harm others. They do it for their own benefit. The common or ordinary man does not understand their tricks and starts hating his fellow human beings. They tell them to cause riots. The poet says that one should not follow anybody’s advice without brooding over it. The poet repeatedly says that there is no difference in them and the foreigners. The people of the entire world are the same.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) Question
Question 5: How does the repetition of the line "Remember no men are strange, no countries foreign" in the poem contribute to its central message of universal unity and the rejection of divisions among people?
Question 6: In the poem, the poet emphasizes the harmful effects of hatred and violence. How can we apply this message in our daily lives to promote peace and understanding in society?
Answer 6: The poem highlights the destructive impact of hatred and violence on both individuals and the world as a whole. We can apply this message in our daily lives by fostering understanding and respect for others, regardless of their background or nationality. Instead of succumbing to prejudice or engaging in conflict, we can promote peace by treating everyone as equals and working towards common goals. Small acts of kindness, empathy, and communication can bridge divides and help build a more harmonious society. The poem's lesson urges us to recognize our shared humanity and to act in ways that support unity and compassion, rather than division and destruction.
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