📘 No Men Are Foreign
By James Kirkup (Class 9 – Beehive)
✅ 1–40: Short Question-Answers (2–3 lines)
- Who is the poet of “No Men Are Foreign”?
🔵 James Kirkup is the poet of this inspiring poem. - What does the poet mean by “No men are foreign”?
🟢 It means all humans are equal and there should be no discrimination based on nationality. - What does the poet want us to remember?
🟡 That harming others is like harming ourselves, as we are all one. - What message does the poem give about war?
🔴 War is destructive and meaningless because we fight our own brothers. - How are people from other countries like us?
🔵 They breathe, eat, sleep, and feel joy and pain like us. - Why does the poet mention “uniforms”?
🟣 To show that despite different appearances, we share the same humanity. - What do we share with all people?
🟢 The sun, air, water, food, and the same emotional needs. - How does the poem promote peace?
🟡 By reminding us that we are all part of one human family. - What literary device is used in “uniforms”?
🔴 Symbolism—it represents national identity and division. - What does the poet mean by “peaceful harvests”?
🔵 It means the rewards of peaceful labor, which benefit all people. - Why is the poet against borders?
🟣 Because they create separation among people who are otherwise alike. - What does “a single body breathes” suggest?
🟢 That all humans are the same at their core. - What can pollute the innocence of the earth?
🟡 Hate, war, and narrow thinking. - What makes people “strange” or “foreign”?
🔴 Only our thinking and prejudices. - Why does the poet stress remembering these ideas?
🔵 So that we learn to live with love, not hatred. - What is the tone of the poem?
🟣 The tone is calm, persuasive, and universal. - Why is the earth described as “innocent”?
🟢 Because nature has no hatred or divisions—it welcomes all equally. - What causes suffering and death in the poem?
🟡 Hatred and war between people who are actually alike. - How does the poet describe other nations’ people?
🔴 As brothers who live, love, and work just like us. - What does the line “They, too, aware of sun and air and water” mean?
🔵 It means we all depend on the same natural resources. - What does the poet advise us against?
🟣 Against hatred, violence, and dividing people by borders. - How can we avoid harming ourselves?
🟢 By not treating others as enemies or strangers. - Why is war foolish, according to the poem?
🟡 Because it harms everyone—including those who start it. - What does “labour not different from our own” imply?
🔴 People everywhere work hard to survive and thrive, just like us. - What is the poet’s dream for the world?
🔵 A peaceful world without divisions or hatred. - Why is humanity called “a single body”?
🟣 Because we all are part of one human family. - How is “harvest” symbolic in the poem?
🟢 It symbolizes the results of peace, love, and unity. - Why does the poet say “We all shall lie”?
🟡 Because death is the same for all; we all return to the earth. - What is meant by “their hands are ours”?
🔴 We all work, create, and live in the same way. - What is the poet’s view on differences?
🔵 That they are superficial and man-made. - What idea does the poet repeat often?
🟣 The unity of mankind across all nations. - Why are men not truly “foreign”?
🟢 Because our lives are interlinked in every way. - What spoils the earth, according to the poet?
🟡 Narrow thoughts and hatred. - What is the role of nature in the poem?
🔴 Nature connects all people equally—it has no boundaries. - What does “condemn” mean in the poem?
🔵 To disapprove of or judge harshly. - How are war and pollution linked in the poem?
🟣 War leads to both moral and physical pollution of earth. - What does “hells of fire and dust” mean?
🟢 It refers to the destruction and death caused by war. - What is the poet’s message about death?
🟡 We all die the same way—so why hate each other? - What do “their hands are ours” and “lines of labor” suggest?
🔴 That everyone works and lives in the same manner. - What is the key message of the poem?
🔵 That love, unity, and understanding can end all divisions.
✅ 41–45: Long Question Answers (100–120 words each)
- What is the central idea of the poem “No Men Are Foreign”?
🟦 The central idea is that all human beings are essentially the same, no matter their nationality, culture, or language. The poet argues that the idea of “foreign” people is created by humans and leads to hatred and war. He reminds us that we all share the same sun, air, water, and emotions. Differences in appearance, dress, or customs do not make people different inside. We should not hate or harm others, because in doing so, we hurt ourselves. The poem promotes peace, love, and global brotherhood, encouraging people to rise above divisions and recognize their shared humanity. - How does the poem “No Men Are Foreign” teach the message of peace and unity?
🟩 The poem conveys the message of peace and unity by emphasizing the commonalities among all people. The poet urges us to see that we are all alike in our needs, emotions, and relationship with nature. He discourages war, hatred, and narrow nationalism, as they bring pain and destruction to everyone. The poet reminds us that when we harm others, we actually harm ourselves because we are all connected. The idea that “no men are foreign” shows that differences are superficial and created by human minds. The poem encourages universal brotherhood, peace, and mutual respect. - What does the poet mean by “Remember, no men are strange, and no countries foreign”?
🟥 This line urges us to reject the idea that people from other nations are different or alien. The poet means that we should not see people of other countries as strangers. Despite living in different parts of the world, all humans share the same experiences, needs, and feelings. By saying “remember,” the poet emphasizes the importance of this truth, especially in times of war or conflict. Forgetting this idea can lead to hatred, violence, and war. Therefore, we must always remember that every human is like us, and we should live with love and understanding. - How are the uniforms symbolic in the poem? What do they represent?
🟨 In the poem, “uniforms” symbolize the outward appearances that divide people—such as nationalities, armies, or identities. Though people wear different clothes or belong to different countries, underneath those uniforms, they are just like us. They have the same body, breathe the same air, and feel the same emotions. The poet uses this symbol to break the illusion of difference created by physical or political boundaries. By showing the similarity beneath the uniforms, the poem promotes the idea that we should not see others as enemies but as brothers. - What poetic devices are used in “No Men Are Foreign”?
🟧 The poem uses several poetic devices to strengthen its message.
- Repetition: The phrase “Remember” is repeated to stress the importance of the idea.
- Symbolism: “Uniforms” symbolize national identity and division; “harvests” represent peace.
- Metaphor: “Hell of fire and dust” symbolizes the destruction of war.
- Alliteration: Seen in lines like “They, too, aware…”
These devices add rhythm, emotion, and deeper meaning, helping the reader feel connected to the poem’s universal message of peace and unity.
✅ 46–50: Value-Based Question
- What moral value does the poem promote?
🟦 The poem promotes universal brotherhood, equality, and peace. - What does the poem say about hatred and violence?
🟩 That they harm not only others but also ourselves and destroy peace. - How can we make the world better as per the poem?
🟥 By removing boundaries in our minds and treating everyone with love. - What values should we learn from “No Men Are Foreign”?
🟨 Unity, compassion, equality, and a deep respect for all human life. - How does the poem inspire students?
🟧 It teaches students to be global citizens who respect and love all people equally.