Class 9 English - ODISHA
Poetry: No Men Are Foreign
Poetry: No Men Are Foreign by James Kirkup is a powerful peace poem prescribed for Class 9 students under the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha. The chapter emphasizes universal brotherhood and oneness of all human beings, regardless of nationality, race, or religion. It teaches that beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes, and people across the world share the same earth, sun, air, and water. For board exams, students must understand the central theme of global peace, the poetic devices used, and the underlying message against war and hatred, which frequently appear in comprehension and long-answer questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Universal Brotherhood
The core message that all human beings are equal members of one global family, and no person is a stranger or foreigner.
Shared Humanity
The poem highlights that people of all countries share common physical traits, breathing the same air and walking upon the same earth.
Futile Nature of War
Kirkup argues that waging war means defiling the earth and harming our own brothers, as soldiers on both sides share the same humanity.
Common Cycles of Nature
The dependence of all humans on common natural elements like sunlight, air, water, and peaceful harvests during times of peace.
Poetic Device - Metaphor and Imagery
The poet uses powerful imagery such as 'uniforms', 'harvests', and 'hells of fire' to convey deep moral and political truths.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Odisha (BSE) Class 9 English examination, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 8 marks. Questions usually include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short-answer questions testing the meaning of specific lines, and long-type questions based on the central theme of universal peace.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means that no human being is a stranger or outsider. Everyone belongs to the same human race and shares the same planet.
It means that no human being is a stranger or outsider. Everyone belongs to the same human race and shares the same planet.
How are we all alike according to the poet?
We are alike because we have the same physical body, breathe the same air, walk on the same earth, and depend on the same sun and water.
Why does the poet say that when we hate our brothers, we dispossess ourselves?
The poet means that by hating people of other countries (whom we consider enemies), we actually destroy our own humanity, peace, and the shared earth.
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