Class 9 Beehive Poem Chapter 6 Question Answers - No Men Are Foreign

Q1: What does the poet mean when he says “Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign”?
Ans: The poet is urging readers to reject extreme nationalism and perceived differences among people from different nations. He advocates for a sense of universal brotherhood and unity beyond national boundaries.

Q2: How does the poet prove that there are no foreign countries?
Ans: The poet asserts that all humans share the same basic elements such as the sun, earth, and air. He highlights the commonality of human biology and experiences, suggesting that the idea of foreignness is a human construct.

Q3: What is meant by uniforms? What is there beneath all uniforms?
Ans: Uniforms refer to distinct clothing worn by various groups. Beneath all uniforms lies the same human essence, regardless of external appearances or affiliations.

Q4: Bring out the irony in the use of the word “uniform”?
Ans: The irony lies in the fact that while uniforms are meant to create distinct identities, they also contribute to divisions among people, reinforcing the idea of separate nations rather than promoting unity.

Q5: How are all the people of the world brothers?
Ans: All people share the same physical and environmental attributes, such as the same sun, air, water, and Earth. These commonalities make all individuals part of a larger human family.

Q6: How can we be one people though we belong to different nations?
Ans: Despite belonging to different nations, humanity shares a common biology and inhabits the same planet. The shared experiences of life and nature can unite people beyond national borders.

Q7: What are peaceful harvests? What do the peaceful harvests symbolize?
Ans: Peaceful harvests refer to abundant crops grown during times of peace. They symbolize prosperity, contentment, and the positive outcomes of harmonious coexistence.

Q8: What does the poet mean when he says “by war’s long winter starv’d”?
Ans: This line conveys that war creates conditions similar to a harsh winter, causing famine and deprivation. The comparison illustrates the devastating impact of war on a nation's resources and well-being.

Q9: What do you understand by “Their hands are ours”? What are their lines? How can we conclude that their labour is same as ours?
Ans: "Their hands are ours" means that people from other nations have hands like ours that work hard for a living. "Their lines" refer to the lines on their faces, symbolizing shared experiences. We can conclude their labor is similar because they also face struggles, work, and earn their livelihood, just like us.

Q10: The poet says that men from other countries have the same basic requirements as us. Elaborate.
Ans: The poet suggests that all humans, regardless of nationality, share fundamental needs like sunlight, air, water, and sustenance. They experience similar life cycles of work, harvest, and scarcity during war.

Q11: How can we win over the strength of our opponents?
Ans: The poet implies that embracing love and understanding rather than resorting to force or conflict is the key to overcoming the strength of opponents. Love can foster unity and create a powerful bond between individuals.

Q12: What does the poet mean by “In every land is common life That all can recognise and understand”?
Ans: The poet conveys that a universal essence of shared human experiences exists in every nation. This commonality is recognizable and comprehensible to all, emphasizing the underlying unity among people.

Q13: How does the poet bring out in the extract the idea that men are not strangers to one another?
Ans: The poet emphasizes shared human experiences like waking, sleeping, and responding to love. Despite external differences, the universal language of love and brotherhood unites all individuals.

Q14: “ … whenever we are told to hate our brothers …. “ Who ‘tells’ us to hate our brothers? What is the poet’s opinion regarding this?
Ans: The poet suggests that selfish individuals or those with ulterior motives might incite hatred among people for their own gain. The poet advises against following such advice, advocating for a recognition of the common humanity among all.

Q15: What happens when we hate our brothers?
Ans: When we harbor hatred for others, we engage in actions that harm them, leading to betrayal, criticism, and conflict. However, the poet suggests that this hatred ultimately damages ourselves as well.

Q16: What happens when we pick up arms against others?
Ans: When we resort to violence and warfare, we not only destroy lives but also damage the earth itself. The weapons of war create destruction, pollute the environment with fire and dust, and disrupt the natural balance.

Q17: What do you understand by hells of fire and dust?
Ans: "Hells of fire and dust" symbolize the catastrophic consequences of warfare, including explosions, destruction, and environmental pollution caused by bombs and other destructive weapons.

Q18: How do we defile the earth?
Ans: We defile the earth by perpetuating divisions and enmity between human beings based on nationality and creating a war-torn environment that pollutes the air and disrupts the natural order.

Q19: How does air remind us of our sharing the earth? How is air innocent?
Ans: Air is a universal element that transcends national boundaries. Its purity and freedom of movement symbolize the innocence of nature, untouched by the divisions created by humans.

Q20: What does the poet emphasize by beginning and ending the poem with the same line?
Ans: By using the same opening and closing line, the poet underscores the central message of the poem: the interconnectedness of humanity and the universality of brotherhood. This repetition emphasizes the unity that should prevail over divisions.

Q21: What message does the poet want to convey?
Ans: The poet aims to convey a message of global unity, brotherhood, and the rejection of divisive forces like nationalism and hatred. He urges people to recognize the shared humanity that unites all individuals.

Q22: State briefly the theme of the poem.
Ans: The theme of the poem revolves around universal brotherhood, the shared essence of humanity, and the detrimental effects of war and hatred. It emphasizes the need for unity and understanding among people from different nations.

Q23: How are all men our brothers?
Ans: All men are our brothers as the poet emphasizes that no human beings should be considered strange or unfamiliar. Despite external differences in cultures, civilizations, or uniforms, all humans share the same essence. They live on the same earth, eventually rest under the same earth, and rely on the same sun, air, and water for survival. The poet highlights the common experiences of waking and sleeping, and the universal presence of love. Hatred and conflict harm ourselves and others, reinforcing the idea that all human beings are interconnected and should be treated as brothers.

Q24: In the James Kirkup’s poem “No Men Are Foreign” explain the poet’s use of the word uniform.
Ans: The term "uniform" in the poem is used both literally and metaphorically. Literally, a uniform is a distinct clothing worn by members of an organization or country, allowing for identification and differentiation. However, metaphorically, the poet employs the term to underscore the shared humanity and oneness of all people. The word "uniform" paradoxically points out the contradiction that while uniforms are meant to differentiate and distinguish, they highlight the superficial differences among people. The use of uniforms as a metaphor serves to emphasize the irony that while people may wear different uniforms, they are fundamentally uniform in their human nature and experiences.