Refugee Blues, wwII Poetry

1.    As you read in the introduction, the poem was written half a year before the outbreak of World War II. However, the reader can pinpoint the three major protagonists whose paths will cross tragically in the course of the war. Complete the following sentences:

a.    The victims are the: Jews,

b.    The perpetrators are the: Hitler, and his army

c.    The bystanders are the: German People

2.    What particular factors led an individual to be defined as belonging to this or that group?

The social background, religious believes, nationality

3.    Of the three groups, which was the largest? Is their any connection between your answer and the term ‘The Silent Majority’?

Bystanders were the largest group, which were the silent majority

4.    What possible relationships could have developed between the victims and the bystanders?

In my opinion they didn’t have possibilities to have relationship because the army didn’t let the Germans and Jews talk between each other’s and communicate.

5.    Auden presents different situations in which prohibitions against the victims multiply and effectively turn them into refugees. Identify and list some of these prohibitions. What does it mean to have these things taken away from you?

a)    Couldn’t have their passport renew

b)    They didn’t have homes

c)    They couldn’t live in the country

6.    State bureaucracies are crucial in the lives of ordinary citizens, not to mention threatened population groups like the homeless or people evicted from their homes. Identify the different functionaries or objects that represent bureaucracies for Auden.

Politicians and old passports

7.    In your opinion, who is a refugee? Can one become a refugee in one’s own home?

A refugee is a person who is outside of their country od origin because they suffered a persecution. A refugee can’t be in their own home because a refugee needs to leave the place they live in because they suffer of a persecution because of their race, religion, etc.

8.    How can state bureaucracies help refugees or hinder efforts to help?

Give them a place where to eat ad make sure they are not being persecuted because of their race, religion, country, etc.

9.    In your opinion, should governments today have the responsibility to take care of refugees in their country?
Alternatively, what is the role of society in absorbing refugees? Think of schools, sports clubs, the scout movement and other organizations in your country´

The governments have the responsibility to take care of refugees because they are people which are in danger of getting hurt or probably die. Society should absorb refugees in their life as they really are the same as us.