A key concept is implemented in both texts: 'Despair'. Despair is presented in both poems through the oppression of the Jewish people; in both poems they manage to create a feeling of alienation along with isolation by manipulating their imagery and tone. 'Refugee Blues' has its roots in the 1930s before World War II, when Jewish communities were punished for countless mistakes they hadn't even made. If we break down the title of both texts we can already begin to interpret the different tones, as well as the emotions that will be present in the songs. "Refugee" comes from the word refuge, which means safety, safety for people who have been forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution or natural disasters. It's almost ironic how Auden uses this as a title, given that the Jews were far from "safe." "Blues" is a musical genre; typically offers a slow, calm pace but creates an uplifting atmosphere. Developed by African American communities, originating in the 19th century, around the "Deep South" of the United States. Furthermore, 'The Last Night' is set in France during World War II, when the Nazis occupied and controlled France. If we begin to break down “The Last Night,” we can immediately understand once again that the poem will involve the death or end of someone/something. If we look at the second line of the poem, "the deportees could write a final message", the word "final" already gives us a clue that this could be the last chance for the deportees to write a message before dying. it's difficult to interpret exactly who is talking to whom, but at the end of each verse a key phrase is said: "My dear." This suggests that perhaps there is a man who turns to his wife or a love... in the center of the paper... towards the end as they are sent to the concentration camp. Another significant contrast is where we see “the familiar thud of a Parisian bus. Five white and green municipal buses had entered through the main entrance.” Faulks manages to make one of the most devastating events in history seem like any other day in France, when the locals catch the bus in the morning. The "Five Green and White Municipal Buses" are made to appear ordinary, when in reality these vehicles would transport thousands of Jews to their deaths and, for most of them, it would be their last journey. Faulks also writes that "he was now shaking in the fenced corner". 'Shaking' is a human action, caused by emotional pain or distress, which is also a form of suffering, just as bus shaking ironically also applies to Jews and the way they feel.