No Men Are Foreign
Poet: James Kirkup
Summary (English)
"No Men Are Foreign" is a beautiful poem by James Kirkup that conveys the message of universal brotherhood. The poet says that all human beings are equal regardless of their nationality, religion, language or colour. Beneath different uniforms and appearances, every person has the same body and feelings.
All people breathe the same air, walk on the same earth and depend on nature for their survival. They all experience happiness, sorrow, love and pain. Therefore, there is no reason to hate or fight one another.
The poet warns us against war and violence. Those who encourage hatred only harm humanity. By fighting others, we actually destroy our own environment and future. The poem ends with a powerful appeal to love one another and live together in peace.
সাৰাংশ (Assamese)
"নো মেন আৰ ফৰেইন" কবিতাটো জেমছ কিৰ্কাপে লিখিছে। কবিতাটোৱে বিশ্ব ভাতৃত্ববোধ আৰু মানৱতাৰ বাৰ্তা দিয়ে। কবিৰ মতে পৃথিৱীৰ সকলো মানুহ সমান। জাতি, ধৰ্ম, ভাষা বা দেশৰ পাৰ্থক্য থাকিলেও সকলো মানুহৰ শৰীৰ, অনুভূতি আৰু প্ৰয়োজন একেই।
সকলো মানুহে একেই বায়ু শ্বাস লয়, একেই পৃথিৱীত বাস কৰে আৰু প্ৰকৃতিৰ ওপৰত নিৰ্ভৰশীল। সকলোৰে সুখ-দুখ, আনন্দ-বেদনা একে ধৰণৰ।
কবিয়ে যুদ্ধ, ঘৃণা আৰু হিংসাৰ বিৰোধিতা কৰিছে। তেওঁ কৈছে যে আনক ঘৃণা কৰিলে শেষত নিজৰেই ক্ষতি হয়। সেয়ে সকলো মানুহে একেলগে শান্তি, ভাতৃত্ব আৰু ভালপোৱাৰ সৈতে বাস কৰিব লাগে।
Word Meanings (English → Assamese)
| Word | Meaning (Assamese) |
|---|---|
| Foreign | বিদেশী |
| Uniform | ইউনিফৰ্ম / পোছাক |
| Beneath | তলত |
| Brothers | ভাই-বোন / সহমানৱ |
| Harvest | শস্য চপোৱা |
| Peace | শান্তি |
| Hate | ঘৃণা কৰা |
| Betray | বিশ্বাসঘাতকতা কৰা |
| Condemn | নিন্দা কৰা |
| Defile | অপবিত্ৰ কৰা |
| Hell | নৰক |
| Humanity | মানৱতা |
| Strength | শক্তি |
| Earth | পৃথিৱী |
| Awaken | জগাই তোলা |
Thinking about the Poem
Q1. (i) “Beneath all uniforms ...” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about?
Answer: The poet refers to the uniforms worn by soldiers of different countries. These uniforms represent different nations, but beneath them all human beings are the same.
Q1. (ii) How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?
Answer: The poet says that all people have the same body, breathe the same air, walk on the same earth and experience the same emotions such as love, joy, sorrow and pain. Therefore, all human beings are equal.
Q2. In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike. Pick out the words.
Answer:
- We all have a body.
- We all breathe.
- We all walk upon the same earth.
- We all live.
- We all die.
Q3. How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words.
Answer:
Some common features mentioned in stanza 2 are:
- Sun
- Air
- Water
- Peace
- Labour
- Harvests
These show that all human beings depend on the same natural resources and work in similar ways.
Q4. “...whenever we are told to hate our brothers ...” When do you think this happens? Why? Who ‘tells’ us? Should we do as we are told at such times? What does the poet say?
Answer:
This happens during wars, political conflicts, communal violence or whenever hatred is spread in society. Sometimes selfish leaders, politicians or people with personal interests encourage others to hate fellow human beings.
We should never follow such hateful ideas. The poet advises us to remember that all people are our brothers. Hatred, war and violence only destroy humanity and harm everyone. Instead, we should promote peace, love and universal brotherhood.
No Men Are Foreign – Important MCQs with Answers
1. Who is the poet of "No Men Are Foreign"?
A. Robert Frost
B. James Kirkup
C. W.B. Yeats
D. Leslie Norris
Answer: B. James Kirkup
2. What is the central theme of the poem?
A. Nature
B. Universal Brotherhood
C. Patriotism
D. Adventure
Answer: B. Universal Brotherhood
3. According to the poet, beneath all uniforms there is ______.
A. Wealth
B. Strength
C. One human body
D. Pride
Answer: C. One human body
4. Which uniform does the poet mainly refer to?
A. School uniform
B. Soldiers' uniform
C. Police uniform
D. Doctor's uniform
Answer: B. Soldiers' uniform
5. According to the poet, all people breathe the same ______.
A. Oxygen cylinder
B. Fresh air
C. Air
D. Wind
Answer: C. Air
6. We all walk upon the same ______.
A. Road
B. Earth
C. Country
D. Village
Answer: B. Earth
7. Which season is mentioned in the poem?
A. Rainy season
B. Summer
C. Winter
D. All seasons
Answer: D. All seasons
8. The poet says that all people are ______.
A. Enemies
B. Foreigners
C. Brothers
D. Strangers
Answer: C. Brothers
9. What should we not do according to the poet?
A. Work hard
B. Hate others
C. Help others
D. Respect nature
Answer: B. Hate others
10. What do we destroy by hating others?
A. Buildings
B. Humanity
C. Rivers
D. Crops
Answer: B. Humanity
11. The poet says war brings ______.
A. Happiness
B. Peace
C. Destruction
D. Progress
Answer: C. Destruction
12. Which natural resources are common to everyone?
A. Gold and silver
B. Air, water and sunlight
C. Coal and oil
D. Electricity
Answer: B. Air, water and sunlight
13. What does "No Men Are Foreign" mean?
A. Everyone belongs to a different country.
B. No human being is a stranger.
C. Nobody travels abroad.
D. Only soldiers are equal.
Answer: B. No human being is a stranger.
14. Who encourages people to hate others?
A. Parents
B. Selfish people and leaders
C. Teachers
D. Friends
Answer: B. Selfish people and leaders
15. What does the poet ask us to remember?
A. Wealth is important.
B. We all belong to one human family.
C. Only our nation matters.
D. War is necessary.
Answer: B. We all belong to one human family.
16. The tone of the poem is ______.
A. Humorous
B. Patriotic
C. Peaceful and persuasive
D. Sad
Answer: C. Peaceful and persuasive
17. What does the poet condemn?
A. Kindness
B. Brotherhood
C. War and hatred
D. Nature
Answer: C. War and hatred
18. What lesson does the poem teach?
A. Love all human beings.
B. Become rich.
C. Fight bravely.
D. Live alone.
Answer: A. Love all human beings.
19. Which literary device is mainly used in the line "No men are foreign"?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Repetition
D. Personification
Answer: C. Repetition
20. The poem ends with a message of ______.
A. Revenge
B. Brotherhood and Peace
C. Competition
D. National Pride
Answer: B. Brotherhood and Peace
Additional Questions and Answers
Q1. Why does the poet say that no men are foreign?
Answer: The poet says that no men are foreign because all human beings are equal. We share the same earth, breathe the same air and have the same feelings and emotions.
Q2. What does the poet mean by "Beneath all uniforms"?
Answer: The poet means that although people belong to different countries and wear different uniforms, all human beings are alike beneath their outward appearance.
Q3. Why does the poet call all people our brothers?
Answer: The poet calls all people our brothers because everyone belongs to one human family and deserves love, respect and equality.
Q4. Why should we not hate others?
Answer: We should not hate others because hatred leads to violence, war and suffering. It destroys peace and humanity.
Q5. What does war do to mankind?
Answer: War causes death, destruction and misery. It damages the environment and creates hatred among people.
Q6. What message does the poet give to the world?
Answer: The poet gives the message of universal brotherhood, peace, love and mutual respect among all human beings.
Q7. How are all people alike according to the poet?
Answer: All people have the same body, breathe the same air, live on the same earth and experience the same joys, sorrows and needs.
Q8. Who teaches people to hate one another?
Answer: Selfish leaders, politicians and people with narrow-minded ideas often encourage hatred and division among people.
Q9. What does the poet say happens when we hate others?
Answer: When we hate others, we actually harm ourselves because hatred destroys human values, peace and our common future.
Q10. Why is peace important according to the poet?
Answer: Peace helps people live together happily. It promotes love, unity, progress and harmony among nations.
Q11. What is the central idea of the poem?
Answer: The central idea of the poem is that all human beings are equal and should live together with love, peace and brotherhood.
Q12. What lesson do we learn from this poem?
Answer: We learn that we should never hate people because of their nationality, religion, race or language. Love and humanity are greater than all differences.
Q13. Why is the poem relevant in today's world?
Answer: The poem is relevant today because the world still faces wars, violence and discrimination. It reminds us to promote peace and unity.
Q14. What literary value does the poem promote?
Answer: The poem promotes the values of humanity, equality, tolerance, compassion and universal brotherhood.
Q15. Why is the title "No Men Are Foreign" appropriate?
Answer: The title is appropriate because the poem teaches that no person is a stranger or foreigner. Every human being belongs to one universal family.
Q16. What does the poet say about nature?
Answer: The poet says that nature treats everyone equally. All people enjoy the same sunlight, air, water and earth.
Q17. How does the poet oppose discrimination?
Answer: The poet opposes discrimination by reminding us that all humans are physically and emotionally the same, regardless of nationality or religion.
Q18. What should we remember whenever we are told to hate others?
Answer: We should remember that all people are our brothers and that hatred only destroys humanity and peace.
Q19. Why is James Kirkup called a humanist poet?
Answer: James Kirkup is called a humanist poet because he believes in equality, peace, love and respect for every human being.
Q20. Write the moral of the poem.
Answer: The moral of the poem is that all human beings are equal. We should avoid hatred, respect everyone and work together to build a peaceful world.
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