Today, in this post, ‘No Men Are Foreign Summary, Central Idea, Explanation’, we are going to learn everything about the Class 9 English poem “No Men Are Foreign” by James Kirkup in a structured way.
In this post, we will cover everything you need to know about this poem ‘No Men Are Foreign’, starting with About the Poem, About the poet, the Theme, a Short & Detailed Summary, the Central Idea, Poetic Devices used in the poem, stanza-wise explanation, and finally, a Mind Map drawing to recall this chapter before the exam. Let’s begin!
No Men Are Foreign About the Lesson
The poem “No Men are Foreign” by James Kirkup emphasises the unity of humankind. It reminds us that despite differences in language, culture, or nationality, all human beings share the same earth, body, and emotions. The poem appeals for peace, brotherhood, and an end to discrimination and war.
No Men Are Foreign About the Poet
James Kirkup (1918–2009) was an English poet, translator, and writer. He is known for his simple, touching, and humanistic poetry that promotes peace, harmony, and universal brotherhood. His works often highlight the oneness of mankind and oppose war and violence.
No Men Are Foreign Theme
The central theme of the poem is universal brotherhood and equality. The poet conveys that all humans are alike, regardless of nationality, race, or religion. War and hatred are useless, as they harm humanity itself. The poem strongly advocates peace, love, and unity.
Short Summary of No Men Are Foreign
The poet tells us not to think of others as strangers or enemies because beneath external differences, we all share the same human qualities. We all breathe, eat, sleep, and live under the same sun, sky, and earth. Hatred and war only pollute the environment and harm everyone. Instead of fighting, we should spread peace and realise that harming others is equal to harming ourselves.
No Men are Foreign Summary
The poem “No Men are Foreign” by James Kirkup highlights the idea that all human beings are essentially the same, no matter which country they belong to. The poet urges us not to treat people from other nations as strangers or enemies. He explains that beneath outward differences like language, clothing, and customs, we all share the same human qualities.
The poet emphasises that every person on this earth breathes the same air, sleeps and wakes just as we do, and lives under the same sun, moon, and stars. Farmers everywhere cultivate and reap from the same kind of land, which shows that human needs and labour are universal. We all share the same planet, and when we die, we all return to the same earth.
The poet also warns us about the consequences of hatred and war. When we fight against each other, we are harming our own brothers. Wars lead to destruction of crops, pollute the air we breathe, and fill the world with fire, smoke, and dust. In reality, when we hate or kill others, we are destroying ourselves because humanity is one.
The message is clear: divisions of country, race, or religion are man-made illusions. At the core, all humans are equal, and we should live with love, peace, and unity instead of hatred and violence.
No Men Are Foreign Central Idea
The poem’s central idea is that no men are foreign and no countries are strange. All people are connected through humanity, and divisions are man-made. By recognising this oneness, we can avoid war and live in peace.
View all Chapter: Class 9th English Solutions
No Men Are Foreign Poetic Devices
The poem uses several poetic devices:
- Repetition: “No men are foreign, and no countries strange” (for emphasis).
- Imagery: Descriptions of common human activities like breathing, sleeping, sowing, and reaping.
- Metaphor: War pollutes the earth (“Hell of fire and dust”).
- Alliteration: “Sleep and strength,” “war’s waste.”
- Antithesis: Contrasting ideas of unity vs. division, peace vs. war.
- Symbolism: Earth, sun, air, and water symbolise common bonds of humanity.
No Men Are Foreign Explanation
Below is the stanza-wise explanation with reference to context and difficult word meanings for the poem No Men Are Foreign by James Kirkup:
Stanza 1
Text:
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.
Difficult Word Meanings:
- Strange – unfamiliar, unknown
- Foreign – belonging to another country
- Uniforms – military or national dress
- Lie – here means “be buried after death”
Explanation with Reference to Context:
The poet tells us to remember that no man is a stranger and no country is foreign because all humans are the same. Though soldiers may wear different uniforms, they are human beings like us, with the same body and breath. They live and walk on land just like we do. Finally, when we die, we all return to the same earth. This stanza emphasises the idea of equality and brotherhood.
Stanza 2
Text:
They, too, aware of sun and air and water,
Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starv’d.
Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read
A labour not different from our own.
Difficult Word Meanings:
- Harvests – crops gathered after cultivation
- Starv’d – made to suffer from hunger
- Labour – hard physical work
Explanation with Reference to Context:
In this stanza, the poet explains that people everywhere are dependent on the same natural resources—sun, air, and water. They also enjoy peaceful harvests when there is no war, but during war, they too suffer from hunger and deprivation. The lines on their hands show the same hard work and labour as ours. The poet reminds us that the struggles and work of people in other lands are no different from our own.
Stanza 3
Text:
Remember they have eyes like ours that wake
Or sleep, and strength that can be won
By love. In every land is common life
That all can recognise and understand.
Difficult Word Meanings:
- Strength – power, energy
- Recognise – identify, realize
Explanation with Reference to Context:
Here, the poet stresses that people everywhere are alike in their emotions and daily lives. They have eyes like us that open to wakefulness and close in sleep. Their strength, like ours, can be increased through love and kindness. The life they live in their lands is the same as ours, a life of ordinary joys and sorrows that every human can understand. This stanza emphasises human similarities and the power of love.
Stanza 4
Text:
Let us remember, whenever we are told
To hate our brothers, it is ourselves
That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.
Remember, we who take arms against each other
Difficult Word Meanings:
- Dispossess – deprive, take away
- Betray – to be unfaithful, deceive
- Condemn – declare guilty or punishable
- Take arms – pick up weapons to fight
Explanation with Reference to Context:
In this stanza, the poet warns against hatred and violence. When we are taught to hate people from other nations, we are actually betraying ourselves because all men are brothers. By fighting against them, we harm our own humanity. When we pick up weapons, we are not only hurting others but also condemning ourselves.
Stanza 5
Text:
It is the human earth that we defile.
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.
Difficult Word Meanings:
- Defile – pollute, make dirty
- Outrage – violate, cause harm
- Innocence – purity, harmlessness
Explanation with Reference to Context:
The poet concludes by saying that war pollutes the human earth. The fires, destruction, and dust of war spoil the purity of the environment, which belongs to all of us equally. By waging war, we not only destroy others but also ourselves. The poem ends by repeating the opening idea that no men are foreign and no countries are strange, reminding us of the universal brotherhood of humanity.