No Men Are Foreign

Introduction

No Men are Foreign is a poem by “English Poet,” “James Harold Kirkup,” with a strong viewpoint. The poet wants to convince people that all people are the same and share a common home- the Earth. People shouldn’t be discriminated against because they all breathe the same air, receive the same amount of sunlight, and go through the same processes of birth and death. No Men are Foreign is the poem’s main concept, which is reflected in the title. The poet’s conviction that “all men are the same” is emphasized in the title.

No Men Are Foreign Poem Summary

“Remember no men are strange, no countries foreign”, is the opening and closing phrase of the poem- “No Men are Foreign.” The poet wants to emphasize how similar all living things in this world are despite the differences we have created through building walls, and fences, usage of foreign languages, etc. He longs for humanity to come together despite all the arbitrary divisions between people. Any time there is a war or a winter, everyone suffers. God gave us a happy life, but it is human nature that causes our miseries and brings sorrow.

The poet continues further by stating that our physical and mental features are all the same. He does a wonderful job of illustrating how humans are not inherently different from one another. He tells the reader that when we hate someone, we lie and hate ourselves too. In addition, when we use weapons against someone, we pollute the Earth by leaving behind huge piles of decomposing carcasses, which make the earth filthy. The poem conveys the idea that everyone is born with red blood, regardless of wealth or race. We are all children of mother nature.

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Theme of the Poem No Men Are Foreign

The central idea of no men are foreign revolves around the brotherhood of all humankind. The poet emphasizes that our divisions and distinctions are constructed by humans. James Kirkup portrays the shared qualities of humanity throughout the poem and implores individuals to relinquish their arms and extend an inclusive embrace, fostering a world of harmony and affection without animosity or prejudice.

Conclusion

The poet compared the physical similarity between people who live in different parts of the world to show that all people are created equal. He wants to instill the value of fraternity in everyone. The author of this poem wants to show us how people are similar to one another, how they have similar lives, and how they eventually die in similar ways. No matter your caste or creed, nature offers its best to everyone equally.

TextBook Questions

1. Beneath all uniforms…” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about?

Ans: The poet talks about the various clothes that people in other countries wear, and how, underlying them all, the human body is the same.

2. In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike. Pick out the words.

Ans: The 5 words that depict  all men are same are:

1. “We walk”
2. “We breathe”
3. “We have eyes”
4. “We work with our hands”

3. How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words.

Ans: The stanzas list some common traits such as  “Sun, Air, Water, hands and Peaceful harvests necessary for human sustenance.

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?

Ans: Egocentric people occasionally persuade innocent people to injure others in order to benefit themselves. The common man instructs them to instigate riots because he is irritated by his own fellow beings’ manipulations and cannot understand them properly. The poet cautions against the following advice without giving it careful consideration. A common claim made by the poet is that there is no difference between men and strangers and that everyone on Earth is the same.

5. How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?

Ans: Nobody is unusual or unique, the poet asserts. No country is foreign. Every uniform has a body breathing below it. The land is uniform throughout as well.

No Men Are Foreign Extra Question

1. Is no men are foreign a war poem?

Ans: No men are foreign is a poem that opposes war because it explains why it is unacceptable to treat people differently based on their caste, creed, race, or religion. Everyone shares a brotherhood and is on an equal footing. The message of this poem is that killing others is useless.

2. What is the poet hoping we never forget?

Ans: “Remember, no men are foreign, and no countries strange.” This line appears often in the poem. The poet wants us to remember that no men in this world are different, thus the poet emphasizes the notion of global fraternity

3. Does the poem No Men Are Foreign have a rhyme scheme?

Ans: The entire poem is composed in free verse. The poem lacks a Rhyme scheme.

4. what are the poetic devices in no men foreign class 9

The poem “No Men are Foreign” by James Kirkup uses several poetic devices, including repetition, metaphor, alliteration, personification, and imagery. The repetition of the phrase “No men are foreign” emphasizes the theme of unity and equality among all people.

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