Class : 9 – Lesson (15) No Men Are Foreign
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
📚 Introduction to the Poem
No Men Are Foreign is a thought-provoking poem by James Kirkup that advocates the ideals of universal brotherhood 🟢, equality 🔵, and peace 🕊️. It rejects the narrow boundaries of nations, castes, and races, reminding us that all human beings share the same earth, breath, and basic needs. The poet condemns war and discrimination, urging humanity to live in harmony.
👨🎨 About the Poet
James Kirkup (1918–2009) was a British poet, translator, and playwright. Much of his poetry reflects humanistic values, compassion, and pacifism. His verses often emphasise universal brotherhood and the futility of violence.
💡 Themes of the Poem
🟢 All human beings are equal regardless of nationality, race, or religion.
🔵 War is destructive, harming not only enemies but all of mankind.
🟡 Brotherhood and empathy are necessary for peace.
🟠 Humanity shares a common bond through nature and life.
🎬 Main Episodes of the Poem
1️⃣ Shared Humanity
The poet begins by stating that no men are strange and no countries are foreign. Though divided by artificial boundaries, people everywhere share the same physical body, emotions, and needs.
2️⃣ Similarities in Daily Life
The poet highlights that all people:
Walk on the same land 🌍.
Are buried in the same earth after death ⚰️.
Depend on nature—sun ☀️, air 💨, and water 💧—for survival.
This shows that human beings are interconnected.
3️⃣ Condemnation of Hatred and War
The poet questions the logic of hatred and violence. When nations fight, they harm themselves because killing others is, in truth, killing one’s own brothers. The poem condemns exploitation, wars, and conflicts that divide humanity.
4️⃣ Unity Through Labour
Kirkup reminds us that farmers in every land sow seeds and reap harvests 🌾, women everywhere weave clothes, and people work hard to sustain families. Life’s basic struggles and joys are common to all.
5️⃣ The Futility of Borders
The poet stresses that borders and divisions are created by politics, not by nature. In reality, human beings are bound by common life and emotions. Hatred only destroys peace.
6️⃣ Final Appeal for Peace
Towards the end, the poet appeals to all: remember that when we wage war against others, we wage war against ourselves. If we spread hatred, we betray humanity. The true path is love, empathy, and peace.
🎭 Tone, Style, and Devices
✨ Tone – Didactic, persuasive, and compassionate.
✨ Imagery – Earth, sun, air, water symbolise shared resources.
✨ Refrain/Emphasis – “No men are foreign, and no countries strange” reinforces the core idea.
✨ Contrast – Unity of humanity vs. divisions of politics.
✨ Symbolism – Soil and natural elements symbolise equality and universality.
🕊️ Lessons and Takeaways
✔️ National, cultural, and racial boundaries are artificial.
✔️ All humans share the same needs and emotions.
✔️ War and hatred only destroy humanity.
✔️ Brotherhood and compassion ensure peace.
✔️ Humanity is one, and protecting it is our duty.
🌟✨ Summary (Approx. 150 words) ✨🌟
No Men Are Foreign by James Kirkup is a peace poem that emphasizes the equality and brotherhood of all human beings. The poet reminds us that all men share the same earth, depend on the same natural resources like sun, air, and water, and are buried in the same soil after death. Despite differences in nationality, culture, or religion, people everywhere experience the same joys, sorrows, and struggles. The poet condemns hatred and war, stressing that when we fight others, we harm ourselves because humanity is one family. Political borders are man-made and meaningless before the universality of human existence. Through simple yet powerful words, Kirkup conveys that compassion and unity are the only paths to peace. The message is clear: no men are foreign, no countries strange.
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PASSAGE
📖 Passage
“Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign,
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.”
🌟 Questions and Answers
1️⃣ Question: What does the poet mean by “no men are strange, no countries foreign”?
🟢 Answer: He means that all humans are equal, and differences of nationality, race, or culture are artificial and man-made.
2️⃣ Question: What idea is expressed through “beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes”?
🟢 Answer: It conveys that regardless of nationality or military uniform, all people are human beings with the same physical needs and emotions.
3️⃣ Question: What is common to all people after death, according to the poet?
🔵 Options:
A. Different nations have different burial grounds.
B. All are cremated differently.
C. All are buried in the same earth, symbolising equality.
D. All return to the soil of their own country.
🟢 Answer: C. All are buried in the same earth, symbolising equality.
4️⃣ Question: How does the poet use the image of “uniforms” to criticise war?
🟢 Answer: The “uniforms” represent soldiers of different nations, but beneath them all are humans. By fighting, nations ignore their shared humanity.
5️⃣ Question: Assertion (A): According to the poet, national boundaries define true differences among people.
Reason (R): People from different countries have different basic needs.
🔵 Options:
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is false, but R is true.
D. Both A and R are false.
🟢 Answer: D. Both A and R are false.
6️⃣ Question: What message does this passage give about life and death?
🟢 Answer: It shows that all humans share the same life processes and finally return to the same earth, proving that humanity is united beyond divisions.
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OTHER IMPORTANTQUESTIONS: –
1️⃣ Question: Who is the poet of No Men Are Foreign?
🟢 Answer: The poet is James Kirkup.
2️⃣ Question: What does the poet mean by “no countries foreign”?
🟢 Answer: He means that national boundaries are artificial; humanity is one family beyond divisions.
3️⃣ Question: What is the central theme of the poem?
🟢 Answer: The poem highlights universal brotherhood, equality of all humans, and rejection of war and hatred.
4️⃣ Question: Which natural elements are common to all human beings, according to the poem?
🟢 Answer: All depend on the same sun, air, and water for survival.
5️⃣ Question: What does the poet say about the labour of people across the world?
🟢 Answer: Farmers sow seeds, reap harvests, and toil in every land, showing the common struggles of life.
6️⃣ Question: How does the poet link death with equality?
🟢 Answer: He says all humans are buried in the same earth after death, proving everyone is equal in the end.
7️⃣ Question: Why does the poet criticise uniforms?
🟢 Answer: Uniforms represent different armies, but beneath them, soldiers are all the same human beings.
8️⃣ Question: What harm do wars cause to mankind?
🟢 Answer: Wars destroy peace, cause suffering, kill innocent lives, and betray the unity of humanity.
9️⃣ Question: What lesson does the poet want readers to remember?
🟢 Answer: To remember that all humans are alike, and hatred or violence against others is violence against oneself.
🔟 Question: What tone does the poet use in the poem?
🟢 Answer: The tone is persuasive, compassionate, and didactic, urging peace and harmony.
1️⃣1️⃣ Question: How does the poem promote the idea of peace?
🟢 Answer: It stresses universal equality, condemns wars, and reminds us of our shared humanity.
1️⃣2️⃣ Question: What role do natural images play in the poem?
🟢 Answer: Sun, air, water, and earth are used as symbols of shared existence, proving unity of mankind.
1️⃣3️⃣ Question: What is the message of No Men Are Foreign?
🟢 Answer: The message is that all humans are one, divisions are artificial, and peace can be achieved only through brotherhood and compassion.
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