NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Poem No Men Are Foreign

The poem No Men Are Foreign by James Kirkup delivers a strong message of universal brotherhood and peace. Included in the Class 9 English syllabus, the poem reminds students that all human beings are the same, regardless of nationality, race, or religion.

NCERT Solutions Class 9  English Poem Chapter 6 helps students understand the poet’s message, poetic expressions, and textbook questions in a clear and simple way. These solutions are especially useful for writing value-based answers in exams.

Class 9 English Poem No Men Are Foreign Question Answer

The Class 9 English Poem No Men Are Foreign Question Answer section explains all NCERT textbook questions clearly. The poet stresses that no country or people are strangers because everyone shares the same earth, air, and sun.

Class 9 English No Men Are Foreign Question Answers help students understand the deeper meaning of unity, peace, and the harm caused by hatred and war. The explanations are written according to the CBSE marking scheme.

Question 1. (i) “Beneath all uniforms…” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about?

(ii) How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?

Answer: (i) The poet is speaking about the various kinds of dresses and outfits people wear.

(ii) The poet says that the uniforms (outfits) must be different but there is a human body beneath those uniforms and all of us will lie in the same earth when we die.

Question 2. In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike. Pick out the words.

Answer: The poet points out five ways in which we are all alike. Here are the words from the poem:

• no men are strange

• no countries foreign

• a single body breathes

• the land our brothers walk upon (the same planet)

• (the same earth) in which we all shall lie

Question 3. How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words.

Answer: Following are the common features which we can find in stanza 2:

• aware of sun and air and water – which means all humans have the need and awareness of the sun, water and air)

• fed by peaceful harvests – all humans are fed by peacefully harvested food and grains

• Their hands are ours, – they too have hands similar to ours

• in their lines we read a labour not different from our own – their hands also show the hard work and labor they perform

Question 4. “…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: We are told to hate other humans from different countries, religions or social groups during wars and fights. These are told by selfish people who want wars and revenge instead of peace. They instil bad thoughts and feelings for other humans for their own benefit and cause riots. No, we should not do as told at such times. We should try to make the world more peaceful.

The poet says that we should always remember that the people we are told to fight against are also human beings like us. We are all the same. There is no foreign land and there are no ‘foreign’ men.

No Men Are Foreign Poem Summary

The poem explains that all human beings are equal. People across the world breathe the same air, walk on the same earth, and depend on nature for survival. The poet warns against hatred, as harming others ultimately means harming ourselves.

The poem strongly condemns war and violence, stating that war destroys humanity and the planet. Through simple language, the poet appeals for love, understanding, and global unity.

Stanza-wise Summary of No Men Are Foreign

The poet begins by clearly stating that no human being should be considered a stranger and no country should be called foreign. He reminds us that all people live on the same earth. This stanza establishes the central idea of equality and universal brotherhood, rejecting divisions based on nationality or borders.

In the second stanza, the poet explains that people across the world share the same natural resources. Everyone breathes the same air, walks on the same land, and depends on sunlight and water to survive. By highlighting nature’s equality, the poet shows that all humans are connected and interdependent.

In the third stanza, the poet points out that people everywhere work hard to earn a living. Farmers grow crops, workers labour, and families struggle to survive just like we do. This stanza emphasises that human experiences, i.e., work, struggle, and hope are the same across nations.

In the four stanza, the poet warns against hatred and war. He explains that when we hate or fight others, we harm our own humanity. War not only destroys lives but also pollutes the earth and weakens moral values. This stanza strongly criticises violence and nationalism based on hatred.

In the final stanza, the poet makes a powerful appeal. He reminds us that killing others in war is like killing our own brothers because all humans belong to one family. The stanza urges readers to choose peace, understanding, and compassion over hatred and conflict.