Class 11 English NCERT Book Woven Words Poetry Lesson 9 Refugee Blues Questions and Answers.
Understanding the Poem
1. The title. ‘Refugee Blues’ encapsulates the theme of the poem. Comment.
2. What is the poetic technique used by the poet to convey the plaintive theme of the poem?
3. What do the references to the birds and animals made in the poem suggest?
4. How does the juxtapose the human condition with the behaviour of the political class?
5. How is the essence of the poem captured in the lines ‘two tickets to Happiness’?
Answer:
1. The title “Refugee Blues” encapsulates the theme of the poem. Comment.
The title “Refugee Blues” effectively captures the central theme of displacement, loss, and alienation that refugees experience. “Blues” refers to a melancholic music genre, traditionally used to express deep sadness and sorrow. The poem reflects the deep emotional struggles of refugees who have lost their homeland and are left wandering without a place to call home. The title suggests that this is not just a political issue, but a deeply personal and painful human experience, filled with emotional suffering.
2. What is the poetic technique used by the poet to convey the plaintive theme of the poem?
W.H. Auden uses repetition, rhyme, and the ballad form to convey the plaintive theme of the poem. The repeated phrases like “my dear” and “there’s no place for us” emphasize the despair and hopelessness felt by the refugees. The ballad form, with its simple and rhythmic structure, contrasts with the heavy emotional weight of the subject, making the plight of the refugees more poignant. The poet also uses irony and understatement, as seen in the references to mundane objects like passports, tickets, or animals, to highlight the stark difference between freedom and oppression.
3. What do the references to the birds and animals made in the poem suggest?
The references to the birds and animals in the poem, such as fish swimming freely, birds singing without worry, and a poodle in a jacket, suggest the contrast between the natural world’s freedom and the refugees’ lack of it. The animals live without fear or restriction, while the refugees are trapped by human-made borders and political systems. These references underline the irony that animals, who are not bound by the same constraints, have more freedom than the refugees. It also reflects the idea that political oppression is uniquely a human problem.
4. How does the poet juxtapose the human condition with the behaviour of the political class?
The poet contrasts the plight of the refugees with the indifference and callousness of the political class. For instance, the bureaucrats dismiss the refugees by saying they can return next year, and the speaker at a public meeting warns of refugees stealing bread if allowed in. These portrayals of politicians show their lack of empathy and willingness to reduce human lives to mere numbers and policies. In contrast, the human condition of the refugees is one of suffering, longing for a place to belong, and being treated as outsiders. This juxtaposition highlights the coldness and inhumanity of the political systems compared to the raw human emotions of the refugees.
5. How is the essence of the poem captured in the lines ‘two tickets to Happiness’?
The essence of the poem, which is the refugees’ longing for a sense of belonging and safety, is beautifully encapsulated in the lines “two tickets to Happiness.” The refugees’ quest for “tickets to Happiness” symbolizes their desire for a better life, free from persecution and fear. However, their dream is unattainable, as every coach is full, emphasizing the hopelessness of their situation. This line reflects their yearning for something as simple as happiness and peace, which seems out of reach in a world where they are constantly rejected and marginalized.
Try this out
1. Here is a list of devices used in poetry. Elaborate on their use in this poem
Refrain:
Pathos:
Irony:
Sarcasm:
2. What doe the colour ‘blue’ suggest in the poem? Make a list of other colours and the emotions and moods they carry.
Answer:
1. Devices used in the poem “Refugee Blues”:
Refrain:
A refrain is a repeated line or phrase that adds emphasis to the theme or mood of a poem. In “Refugee Blues,” the refrain “There’s no place for us, my dear” recurs throughout the poem. It highlights the central theme of displacement and homelessness. This repetition intensifies the emotional impact of the refugees’ plight, reinforcing their constant rejection and the sense of isolation they feel. The refrain captures their unending search for a place to belong, only to face rejection at every turn.
Pathos:
Pathos refers to the quality in a work of art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. Auden employs pathos in “Refugee Blues” by vividly portraying the emotional suffering of the refugees. Lines such as “Once we had a country and we thought it fair” evoke nostalgia for a lost homeland, while “But we are still alive, my dear, but we are still alive” elicits sympathy for their resilience despite immense hardship. The helplessness of the refugees, wandering without a home or a sense of belonging, tugs at the reader’s heart, generating deep empathy.
Irony:
Irony is the contrast between expectation and reality, often used to highlight absurdities or deeper truths. In the poem, irony is evident when the refugees see animals, such as a cat being let into a house and birds singing in the trees, living freely. This contrasts with the refugees’ lack of freedom, even though they are human beings with rights. Another ironic moment occurs when they visit a public meeting and hear, “If we let them in, they will steal our daily bread,” suggesting that the refugees, who are starving and homeless, are seen as a threat to those in power.
Sarcasm:
Sarcasm is a cutting or ironic remark meant to mock or convey contempt. While the tone of “Refugee Blues” is more sorrowful than sarcastic, there are hints of sarcasm in lines such as “If you’ve got no passport, you’re officially dead.” This line sarcastically mocks the bureaucratic system that reduces human lives to mere documents, suggesting that a lack of paperwork renders a person non-existent, despite the reality that the refugees are very much alive.
2. What does the colour ‘blue’ suggest in the poem?
In “Refugee Blues,” the colour “blue” symbolizes sadness, melancholy, and despair. The “blues” is a music genre traditionally associated with sorrow and lament, and the poem mirrors this tone by conveying the deep emotional suffering of displaced refugees. The refugees’ inability to find a place to live, along with their ongoing rejection, contributes to the overall sense of loss and hopelessness, which is effectively symbolized by the colour blue.
List of Other Colours and the Emotions and Moods They Carry:
Red: Passion, anger, danger, love, and violence.
Emotion/Mood: It can symbolize strong emotions such as intense love or rage, often associated with both romantic and violent imagery.
White: Purity, innocence, peace, and emptiness.
Emotion/Mood: Often represents cleanliness, purity, and peace, but can also signify emptiness or coldness in certain contexts.
Black: Mourning, death, mystery, and evil.
Emotion/Mood: Associated with darkness, fear, and the unknown, as well as grief and death.
Yellow: Happiness, warmth, cowardice, and caution.
Emotion/Mood: Represents sunshine, joy, and optimism but can also signify caution or deceit.
Green: Nature, growth, envy, and inexperience.
Emotion/Mood: Symbolizes renewal, freshness, and fertility but can also suggest jealousy or a lack of maturity.
Purple: Royalty, luxury, spirituality, and mystery.
Emotion/Mood: Evokes a sense of grandeur, luxury, or mystery, often associated with higher spiritual awareness.
Orange: Energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and warmth.
Emotion/Mood: Represents warmth and energy, inspiring feelings of excitement or creativity.
Grey: Ambiguity, dullness, neutrality, and sadness.
Emotion/Mood: Often suggests neutrality, indecision, or emotional numbness; it can also convey a sense of boredom or dreariness.
These colours, like blue in “Refugee Blues,” are used in literature to deepen the emotional resonance of a scene or character, enhancing the mood and adding layers of meaning to the narrative.