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This section provides NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 9: Refugee Blues, to deepen students’ understanding of the poem’s themes, tone, and poetic devices. The solutions explore the poem’s depiction of displacement, alienation, and the human cost of political indifference. These solutions are prepared to help students in effective exam preparation. You can also download the free PDF for quick revision.
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Explore Notes of Class 11 English Woven Words
NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 9: Refugee Blues
Here are the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 9: Refugee Blues, designed to enhance understanding of the poem’s themes, imagery, and emotional resonance for effective revision.
UNDERSTANDING THE POEM
- The title, ‘Refugee Blues,’ encapsulates the theme of the poem. Comment.
The title Refugee Blues succinctly captures the poem’s central theme of displacement and despair faced by refugees, particularly Jewish refugees fleeing persecution during the 1930s. The word “Refugee” highlights the speaker’s stateless, marginalised identity, while “Blues” evokes the melancholic, mournful tone of the poem, drawing on the musical genre known for expressing sorrow and hardship. The title encapsulates the poem’s exploration of alienation, as seen in lines like “Came to a great city, my dear, where a million people live / Yet not a single one we knew,” which underscores the refugees’ isolation in a crowded world. The rhythmic, blues-like structure, with its repetitive refrains, mirrors the relentless suffering and cyclical rejection faced by the refugees, making the title a fitting encapsulation of the poem’s emotional and thematic core.
- What is the poetic technique used by the poet to convey the plaintive theme of the poem?
W.H. Auden employs the poetic technique of a blues song structure, characterised by repetition and a conversational tone, to convey the plaintive theme of Refugee Blues. The poem is structured in tercets, with each stanza ending in a refrain-like line that reinforces the refugees’ despair, such as “But we have no place, my dear, we have no place.” This repetition mimics the cyclical, unending nature of their plight, evoking a sense of hopelessness. The conversational address to “my dear” adds an intimate, personal tone, amplifying the emotional weight of their suffering. Additionally, Auden uses simple, direct language to narrate the refugees’ experiences, such as “Thought I heard the thunder rumbling in the sky / It was Hitler over Europe, saying, ‘They must die,’” which starkly conveys the terror and inevitability of their persecution. This blues-inspired structure and tone effectively underscore the poem’s plaintive theme of loss and rejection.
- What do the references to the birds and animals made in the poem suggest?
The references to birds and animals in Refugee Blues contrast the natural freedom of these creatures with the refugees’ lack of agency and belonging. For instance, the line “Saw a poodle in a jacket fastened with a pin / Saw a door opened and a cat let in” highlights how animals are treated with care and given shelter, while the refugees are denied such basic rights, as seen in “But we have no place, my dear, we have no place.” Similarly, the mention of birds singing “at their ease” in the trees contrasts with the refugees’ inability to find safety or peace. These references suggest a cruel irony: even animals enjoy freedom and security, while humans fleeing persecution are dehumanized and excluded. Auden uses these comparisons to underscore the unnatural injustice faced by the refugees, emphasising their alienation from both society and the natural world.
- How does the poet juxtapose the human condition with the behaviour of the political class?
Auden juxtaposes the desperate human condition of the refugees with the callous indifference of the political class to highlight the moral disconnect between those in power and those suffering. The refugees’ plight is vividly depicted through personal, human experiences, such as “Went to a committee; they offered me a chair / But told me politely they couldn’t help, my dear,” which shows their rejection despite their dire need. In contrast, the political class is portrayed as detached and cruel, as seen in “Thought I heard the thunder rumbling in the sky / It was Hitler over Europe, saying, ‘They must die.’” This line personifies the political authority’s genocidal intent, contrasting sharply with the refugees’ human vulnerability. The bureaucracy’s formalities, like offering a chair, and the consul’s dismissive “If you’ve got no passport, you’re officially dead,” further emphasise the political class’s cold, procedural detachment from the refugees’ human suffering, exposing the inhumanity of political systems.
- How is the essence of the poem captured in the lines ‘two tickets to Happiness’?
The line “He was talking of you and me, my dear, talking of you and me” following the reference to “two tickets to Happiness” captures the essence of Refugee Blues by encapsulating the refugees’ unattainable yearning for safety and belonging. The phrase “two tickets to Happiness” symbolises an idealised escape to a place of peace and acceptance, a stark contrast to the refugees’ reality of rejection and displacement. The conversational address to “my dear” underscores the personal, intimate bond between the speaker and their companion, highlighting their shared hope and despair. However, the subsequent line reveals the cruel irony: this “Happiness” is an illusion, as no such refuge exists for them. The phrase distils the poem’s core theme of longing for a home and security, only to be met with exclusion and despair, making it a poignant summation of the refugees’ tragic predicament.
TRY THIS OUT
- Here is a list of devices used in poetry. Elaborate on their use in this poem: Refrain, Pathos, Irony, Sarcasm.
- Refrain: Auden uses refrains, such as “my dear, we have no place” or variations at the end of each stanza, to mimic the repetitive structure of a blues song. This repetition reinforces the relentless, cyclical nature of the refugees’ suffering, creating a haunting rhythm that underscores their unending displacement. For example, the refrain “my dear, my dear” adds emotional intimacy while emphasising their shared despair.
- Pathos: The poem is steeped in pathos, evoking deep sympathy for the refugees’ plight. Lines like “Once we had a country and we thought it fair / Look in the atlas and you’ll find it there” evoke a heartbreaking sense of loss for a homeland that no longer exists for them. The personal address to “my dear” and the simple, direct narration of their struggles amplify the emotional impact, making readers empathise with their human suffering.
- Irony: Irony is prevalent in the contrast between the refugees’ desperate situation and the indifference they face. For instance, “Went to a committee; they offered me a chair / But told me politely they couldn’t help, my dear” is ironic because the polite gesture of offering a chair is meaningless against the committee’s refusal to provide aid. This highlights the cruel disconnect between superficial civility and the refugees’ dire need.
- Sarcasm: Auden employs sarcasm to critique societal and political indifference. The line “If you’ve got no passport, you’re officially dead” drips with sarcasm, mocking the bureaucratic dismissal of human lives based on paperwork. Similarly, the reference to a poodle in a jacket being treated better than the refugees sarcastically underscores the absurdity of a society that prioritises animals over persecuted humans.
- What does the colour ‘blue’ suggest in the poem? Make a list of other colours and the emotions and moods they carry.
The colour “blue” in Refugee Blues suggests melancholy, sorrow, and emotional despair, drawing on the blues music genre’s association with expressing hardship and grief. The title uses “blue” to evoke the poem’s plaintive tone and the refugees’ unending sadness, as seen in their repeated rejections and loss of home. The colour amplifies the emotional weight of their alienation and hopelessness.
Other colours and their associated emotions and moods:
- Red: Passion, anger, or danger. Often used to signify intense emotions or conflict, as in rage or bloodshed.
- Green: Growth, hope, or nature. Suggests renewal, vitality, or envy, depending on context.
- Yellow: Joy, optimism, or caution. Evokes warmth and happiness but can also imply cowardice or warning.
- Black: Death, mystery, or despair. Associated with mourning, the unknown, or ominous events.
- White: Purity, innocence, or emptiness. Conveys peace and simplicity but can also suggest sterility or loss.
Also Read: NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Hornbill Poem 1 A Photograph (Free PDF)
Download NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 9: Refugee Blues
You can download the free PDF of NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 9: Refugee Blues for effective revision.
Download more NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English ‘Woven Words’ here!
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