War Photographer

Question 1

Summary:

Answer 1

1. Man is in a darkroom developing photos
2. He remembers the suffering of his subjects
3. He realises that the photo will only affect the reader for a moment

Question 2

Context:

Answer 2

1. Was the UK’s Poet Laureate
2. Was friends with 2 famous war photographers
3. Written 10 years after Vietnam War
4. Contemporary reader would be aware that “running children in a nightmare heat.” is a reference to a famous photo of a girl in a napalm attack
5. Heavily campaigned after, contrast

Question 3

1.”spools of suffering set out in ordered rows.”

Answer 3

1. Mechanical
2. Highlights the detachment and emotional distance
3. Contrast emphasises the disconnect between mundane work and profound suffering
4. Mechanical imagery as if he is processing data than seeing tragedy
5. Rows could also show his desire for structure amid chaos
6. Tension between documenting tragedy and risk of desensitisation

Question 4

2. “ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel.”

Answer 4

1. Contrasts everyday problems and excruciating suffering
2. Mundane and trivial grievances
3. Easily alleviated compared with enduring trauma
4. Isolation of the photographer because in England people are largely unaffected by it
5. Photographer’s struggle to reconcile his two worlds.

Question 5

3 “start to twist before his eyes, a half-formed ghost.”

Answer 5

1. Visceral experience and harrowing aftermath
2. Disturbing transformation, shows his disorientation and shock
3. Confronted with the physical manifestations of violence
4. A single photo cannot capture their suffering, is acutely aware of the limitations of photos

Question 6

4. “reader’s eyeballs prick with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers.”

Answer 6

1. They are moved by the photos
2. It is fleeting and superficial
3. Empathise but move on with their lives, with no real meaningful effort
4. Triviality of the viewers’ concerns
5. Detachment and apathy
6. Challenges the readers to confront their own complicity in perpetuating conflict

Question 7

Structure:

Answer 7

1. Tight 6 lines per stanza
2. At odds with the chaos caused by conflict
3. The structure not changing at all could reflect the photographer’s lack of power to change anything

Question 8

Comparisons:

Answer 8

1. Remains-traumatic experience but different perspectives
2. Poppies- same perspective but trauma vs grief
3. COTLB- sense of duty but glorified vs criticised