Samacheer Kalvi Class 10 English Solutions Poem 6 No Men Are Foreign

10th English Guide No Men Are Foreign Textbook Questions and Answers

A. Based on the understanding of the poem, read the following lines and answer the questions given below.

Question 1. "Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes
Like ours: the land our brothers walk upon
Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie”
(a) What is found beneath all uniforms?
(b) What is same for every one of us?
(c) Where are we all going to lie finally?
(d) What is the alliterated words in the 2nd line?
(e) What is the figure of speech in the 2nd and 3rd line?
Answer:
(a) Beneath all uniforms, a single human body is found. This reminds us that we are all the same, regardless of our outward appearance.
(b) The earth we walk on is the same for everyone, and we all share the same basic human form.
(c) In the end, we will all be buried under the earth.
(d) The alliterated words in the second line are "beneath," "body," and "breathes." Alliteration means words starting with the same sound are close together.
(e) The figure of speech used in the second and third lines is a simile. A simile uses "like" or "as" to compare two different things, here comparing 'our' land to 'earth like this'.
In simple words: (a) A human body is found under all uniforms. (b) The earth and our bodies are the same for everyone. (c) We will all eventually lie in the earth. (d) "Beneath," "body," and "breathes" are alliterated words. (e) The figure of speech is simile because it uses "Like."

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing poem excerpts, first identify the literal meaning, then look for literary devices like alliteration, simile, or metaphor, and always explain their effect.

Question 2. "They, too, aware of sun and air and water,
Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war's long winter starv'd.
(a) What is common for all of us? (or) What are they aware of?
(b) How are we fed?
(c) Mention the season referred here.
Answer:
(a) The sun, air, and water are common resources that all of us share and are aware of. These basic elements are essential for everyone's survival.
(b) We are fed by the food from peaceful harvests. During times of war, however, people face hunger and hardship.
(c) The season referred to in the poem is winter. Winter often brings scarcity, which is made worse by war, leading to starvation.
In simple words: (a) Sun, air, and water are common to everyone. (b) We eat food from good harvests, but war makes us starve in winter. (c) Winter season is mentioned.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to how natural elements are used to symbolize common humanity, and how specific imagery like "winter starv'd" conveys hardship.

Question 3. Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read A labour not different from our own.
(a) Who does “their” refer to?
(b) What does the poet mean by lines we read?
(c) What does not differ?
Answer:
(a) "Their" refers to people from other parts of the world, whom we might see as different or foreign. The poet wants us to understand that they are just like us.
(b) By "lines we read," the poet means the lines on their hands, which show their capacity for hard work and effort. It suggests that their destiny and struggles are similar to ours.
(c) The hard work and labor that people do around the world do not differ. Everyone works hard to live and achieve their goals, no matter where they are from.
In simple words: (a) "Their" means people from other countries. (b) The "lines we read" are the lines on their hands, showing they work hard like us. (c) The work people do is the same.

🎯 Exam Tip: When a pronoun like "their" is used, always identify who it refers to in the context of the poem's theme, especially in poems promoting universal brotherhood.

Question 4. "Let us remember, whenever we are told
To hate our brothers, it is ourselves
That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn "
(a) Who tells us to hate our brothers?
(b) What happens when we hate our brothers?
(c) What do we do to ourselves?
Answer:
(a) The poet suggests that evil rulers or people with selfish motives are the ones who tell us to hate our brothers, often for their own gain.
(b) When we hate our brothers, we actually end up hating ourselves. This is because all humans are connected, and harming others ultimately harms us too.
(c) When we hate others, we dispossess (take away from), betray (are disloyal to), and condemn (criticize strongly) ourselves. It's like hurting our own family.
In simple words: (a) Bad leaders tell us to hate others. (b) When we hate our brothers, we end up hating ourselves. (c) We betray and harm ourselves.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note how the poet uses strong words like "dispossess, betray, condemn" to emphasize the negative impact of hatred on oneself and humanity.

Question 5. “Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence
Of air that is everywhere our own,
Remember, no men are foreign, and no countries Strange "
(a) What outrages the innocence?
(b) Who are not foreign?
(c) What is not strange?
(d) Who defiles the earth?
Answer:
(a) War, which is a destructive and pointless act, spoils the earth with its "hells of fire and dust." This pollution and damage outrage the natural innocence of the air we all breathe.
(b) Every human being who breathes the same air and lives on the same earth is not foreign. We are all part of one global family.
(c) The world, despite its divisions, is not strange, and any country in this world is not strange either. We are all connected by our shared planet.
(d) The men who fight against each other in wars are the ones who defile, or make impure, our common earth. Conflict harms everyone and everything.
In simple words: (a) Wars cause fire and dust, which make the pure air dirty. (b) No human is foreign because we all breathe the same air. (c) The world and its countries are not strange. (d) Men who fight with each other make the earth dirty.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand how the poet connects the physical destruction of war ("fire and dust") to the moral outrage against the shared elements of nature and humanity.

Additional Questions and Answers

Question 1. Remember they have eyes like ours that wake Or sleep, and strength that can be won By love
(a) What do they have like ours?
(b) What do the eyes do?
(c) How can strength be won?
Answer:
(a) Just like us, other people have eyes, which serve the same purpose of waking and sleeping. This is a common feature among all humans.
(b) The eyes wake up and also sleep, a cycle common to all human beings. This highlights our shared biological experiences.
(c) Strength, especially the power of unity and understanding, can be won through love. Love helps us overcome differences and build strong bonds.
In simple words: (a) They have eyes just like us. (b) Eyes wake up and sleep. (c) Strength is won by love.

🎯 Exam Tip: The poet uses common human traits like eyes that "wake or sleep" to show that all people share fundamental similarities, making them "not foreign."

Question 2. In every land is common life
That all can recognize and understand
(a) What is common in every land?
(b) What can all recognise and understand?
Answer:
(a) Life itself is common in every land. The fundamental experience of living and needing basic necessities is shared globally.
(b) Everyone can easily recognize and understand that life is a shared experience across all lands. This universal understanding bridges cultural gaps.
In simple words: (a) Life is common everywhere. (b) Everyone can see that life is the same in all places.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on how the idea of "common life" reinforces the poem's message of unity and shared humanity, transcending geographical boundaries.

Question 3. Remember we who take arms against each other
It is the human earth that we defile
(a) Who defiles the earth?
(b) Whose earth is this?
Answer:
(a) It is we, human beings, who take up weapons and fight against each other, thereby defiling or polluting the earth. Our conflicts harm our shared home.
(b) This earth belongs to all humans; it is our common human earth. We all share this planet and are responsible for its well-being.
In simple words: (a) We, humans who fight, make the earth dirty. (b) This earth belongs to all humans.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note the poet's direct address ("we who take arms") to make readers understand their personal responsibility in harming the environment and human connections through conflict.

Question 4. Or sleep, and strength that can be won. Pick out the words that are in alliteration in this line.
Answer: The alliterated words in this line are "Sleep" and "Strength." They both begin with the 's' sound.
In simple words: The words "Sleep" and "Strength" are examples of alliteration here.

🎯 Exam Tip: Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together; identifying it helps analyze poetic devices.

Question 5. Remember, we who take arms against each other. Write down the words that are in assonance here.
Answer: The words showing assonance here are "arms" and "against." They both repeat the 'a' vowel sound.
In simple words: The words "arms" and "against" have the same 'a' sound.

🎯 Exam Tip: Assonance refers to the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words; this creates a musical effect in poetry.

Question 6. Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes like ours;
(a) Who does all refer to?
(b) What does the poet denote?
Answer:
(a) "All" refers to the people from every country around the world. It means everyone, no matter their nationality or status.
(b) The poet wants to show the idea of universal brotherhood and equality. He emphasizes that under their clothes, all people are the same.
In simple words: (a) "All" means people from all countries. (b) The poet wants to show that all humans are equal and like brothers.

🎯 Exam Tip: This line is central to the poem's theme, highlighting the shared human condition beneath superficial differences like uniforms or nationalities.

Question 7. Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war's long winter starv'd
What is the poetic device employed here?
Answer: The poetic device used here is 'transferred epithet'. It is found in the phrase "winter starv'd." This device transfers an adjective from the actual subject to something else closely related.
In simple words: This line uses a 'transferred epithet' in "winter starv'd" because 'starved' describes people, not winter.

🎯 Exam Tip: A transferred epithet applies an adjective to a noun different from the one it logically describes, creating a stronger image or emotion.

Question 8. Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence.
(a) What is the figure of speech used here?
Answer: The figure of speech used here is a metaphor. The phrase "Hells of fire" is a metaphor, comparing the terrible destructive power of war to a hell-like situation without using "like" or "as."
In simple words: The figure of speech is a metaphor. "Hells of fire" means war is like a hell, but it doesn't say "like hell."

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember, a metaphor directly states one thing is another, while a simile uses "like" or "as" for comparison.

Question 9. Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign
Remember, they have eyes like ours that wake
Remember, we who take arms against each other
Remember, no men are foreign, and no countries strange
What is the figure of speech used in these lines?
Answer: The figure of speech used in these lines is 'repetition'. The word "Remember" is repeated several times at the start of multiple lines, which emphasizes its importance.
In simple words: The poem uses 'repetition' because the word "Remember" is said many times.

🎯 Exam Tip: Repetition is a common poetic device used to create emphasis, rhythm, or a sense of urgency in a message.

B. Based on your understanding of the poem complete the following by choosing the appropriate words/phrases given in brackets:

Question. This poem is about the (1) _________ of all men. The subject of the poem is the (2) _________ race, despite of the difference in colour, caste, creed, religion, country, etc. All human beings are the same. We walk on the (3) _________ and w/-e will be buried under it. Each and every one of us is related to the other. We all are born the same and die in the same way. We may wear different uniforms like (4) _________ during wars the opposing side will also have the same (5) _________ like ours. We as human do the same labour with (6) _________ and look at the world with the (7) _________ Waging war against others as they belong to a different country is like attacking our own selves. It is the (8) _________ we impair. We all share the same (9) _________ We are similar to each other. So the poet concludes that we shouldn't have wars as it is (10) _________ to fight against us.
Answer: This poem is about the (1) brotherhood of all men. The subject of the poem is the (2) unity of human race, despite the difference in colour, caste, creed, religion, country, etc. All human beings are the same. We walk on the (3) same land and we will be buried under it. Each and every one of us is related to the other. We all are born the same and die in the same way. We may wear different uniforms like (4) language during wars the opposing side will also have the same (5) breathing body like ours. We as human do the same labour with (6) our hands and look at the world with the (7) same eyes. Waging war against others as they belong to a different country is like attacking our own selves. It is the (8) dreams and aspirations we impair. We all share the same (9) human earth. We are similar to each other. So the poet concludes that we shouldn't have wars as it is (10) unnatural to fight against us.
In simple words: The poem talks about how all men are brothers and how all humans are connected, no matter their differences. We all live on the same earth, work with our hands, and have the same dreams. Fighting each other in war is wrong and unnatural because we are all part of one human family.

🎯 Exam Tip: Read the full passage carefully before filling in the blanks. The surrounding words often provide clues to the correct choice, ensuring the completed sentence makes logical sense.

C. Based on your understanding of the poem answer the following questions in a paragraph of about 100-150 words.

Question 1. What is the central theme of the poem "No Men are Foreign".
Answer: The central theme of James Kirkup's poem "No Men are Foreign" is universal brotherhood and the unity of mankind. The poet strongly believes that all human beings are fundamentally the same, despite any visible differences like nationality, race, or language. He emphasizes that we all share the same basic needs, like sunlight, air, and water, and we all work with our hands for a livelihood. We also experience the same cycles of waking and sleeping. The poem highlights that divisions and hatred between people are often created by selfish interests or conflicts, leading to destruction and suffering. It urges us to remember our common humanity and to recognize that fighting against others is like fighting against ourselves. The poet's message is that by understanding and embracing our shared connections, we can foster peace and overcome the artificial barriers that separate us, living in harmony on our common earth. This understanding can make the world a better place for everyone.
In simple words: The main idea of the poem is that all people are alike and should live together as brothers. We all share the same earth, needs, and feelings. The poet wants us to remember that we are one human family and should not fight each other.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing about a poem's theme, define the core idea clearly, then provide specific examples from the poem (like shared sun, air, hands, eyes) to support your explanation, and conclude with the poet's overall message.

Question 2. The poem "No Men are Foreign" has a greater relevance in today's world – Elucidate.
Answer: The poem "No Men are Foreign" holds significant relevance in today's world, perhaps even more than when it was written. We still see many conflicts, disasters, and divisions globally, often fueled by differences in color, caste, creed, or national identity. The poem reminds us that these differences are superficial. It points out that beneath varied uniforms and languages, all humans share a single body, breathe the same air, walk on the same earth, and have the same basic needs. It highlights that the hatred and enmity between countries often lead to war, which defiles our shared planet and causes immense suffering. The poet encourages us to remember that when we fight others, we are essentially harming ourselves, because we are all interconnected. In a world where intolerance and violence still exist, the poem's message of universal brotherhood, peace, and understanding serves as a powerful reminder. It urges us to overcome our differences, recognize our shared humanity, and build a world based on love and mutual respect, turning our planet into a paradise instead of a "hell of fire and dust." This timeless message is crucial for fostering global peace and harmony today.
In simple words: This poem is very important today because there is still a lot of fighting and hatred in the world. It teaches us that all people are the same, no matter where they come from. By remembering that we are all human, we can stop fighting and live together in peace, making the earth a better place for everyone.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing the relevance of a poem, connect its themes directly to current global issues and explain how the poet's message offers a solution or perspective for contemporary challenges.

No Men Are Foreign Summary of the poem

The poem 'No Men are Foreign' teaches us about the unity of the human race. It says that people from one country should not see people from other countries as strangers. The poet explains that we are all humans and should not hate each other. In the end, he asks us to remember that no people are strange, and no countries are truly foreign.

1. Human beings are same.

2. In the world, all are brothers.

3. We live and die in the same earth.

4. The sun, air, water are common to all.

5. We live by the earth food crops.

6. Land is common to all.

7. Love strengthens us.

8. During war, we hate our brothers.

9. So, learn to live in peace with all.

Glossary:

Condemn: to express complete disapproval

Labour: hard work

Betray: disloyal

Defile: damage the purity or appearance

Outrage: the extremely strong reaction of anger shock