Refugee Blues by Wystan Hugh Auden
Refugee Blues by W. H. Auden
Summary
The poem
Refugee Blues by W.H. Auden talks about the pain and struggles of refugees who
are forced to leave their home country. The speaker, along with a loved one,
shares their feelings of rejection and hopelessness as they try to find a place
to live. Despite living in a world with so many people and opportunities, they
are treated as outsiders and denied help.
Understanding
The Poem
1. The
title, ‘Refugee Blues’ encapsulates the theme of the poem. Comment.
Answer: The
title “Refugee Blues” highlights the sadness and struggles of refugees. “Blues”
refers to a type of music that expresses sorrow, showing their pain and
hopelessness.
2. What is
the poetic technique used by the poet to convey the plaintive theme of the
poem?
Answer: The
poet uses repetition (e.g., "my dear"), simple language, and
emotional imagery to emphasize the hardships of refugees. This gives the poem a
musical, sad tone.
3. What do
the references to the birds and animals made in the poem suggest?
Answer: The
birds and animals in the poem represent freedom and simplicity, contrasting
with human life, which is full of rules and restrictions.
4. How does
the poet juxtapose the human condition with the behaviour of the political
class?
Answer: The
poet shows how refugees suffer due to the selfishness of politicians. While
birds and animals live freely, humans suffer because of borders, passports, and
decisions made by leaders.
5. How is
the essence of the poem captured in the lines ‘two tickets to Happiness’?
Answer: This
line symbolizes the refugees’ longing for safety and happiness, but their dream
seems impossible because every place they try is full or closed.
Try This Out
- Poetic Devices:
- Refrain: The repeated lines,
such as “my dear,” make the poem sound like a sad song, reinforcing their
pain.
- Pathos: The poem evokes deep
sympathy for the refugees through their struggles and emotional
expressions.
- Irony: While animals are
free, humans with advanced societies are restricted and oppressed.
- Sarcasm: The line about
being "officially dead" mocks the absurdity of valuing
passports over human life.
- Colour “Blue”: In the poem, “blue”
represents sadness and despair.
Other Colours and Moods: - Red: Anger or love
- White: Peace or purity
- Black: Fear or mourning
- Green: Hope or nature
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