Hotel Room 12th Floor

Question 1

I watched

Answer 1

WC of “watched” suggests that the speaker is observing.

Question 2

From here

Answer 2

WC of “here” suggests speaker is not active in the activities below - introduces seperatedness and detachment.

Question 3

A helicopter skirting like a damaged insect

Answer 3

Simile - o It compares the man made helicopter to a damaged insect. Literally a damaged insect is a weak and unflattering, similarly the observer believes that the advanced technology of a helicopter is very weak and futile – showing that the observer believes that the advanced civilisation surrounding him is not as advanced as people believe.

Question 4

That jumbo sized dentist drill

Answer 4

Metaphor compares this symbol of progress to a dentist’s drill. Again the imagery is unpleasant – MacCaig is subtly mocking the symbols of American progress. W.choice “jumbo” – sheer size valued in America. Materialistic country – seen negatively by speaker.

Question 5

But now

Answer 5

Word choice. Use of this conjunction signifies a change/contrast.

Question 6

Midnight has come in

Answer 6

Personification of the midnight suggests that the midnight has consciously travelled there, emphasising the idea of the midnight by giving it humane qualities.

Question 7

From foreign places

Answer 7

Word choice of “foreign”. Something unknown, different, alien, unpredictable. Suggestion of it being something to fear.

Question 8

It’s UNCIVILISED darkness

Answer 8

Word choice – “uncivilised” – lacking manners and morals.

Question 9

It’s uncivilised DARKNESS

Answer 9

“Darkness” – word choice and symbolism. Connotations of evil, danger, death.
There is a clear battle between ‘good’ and ‘evil’, ‘civilised’ and ‘uncivilised’ developing. Darkness is seen as something to fear.

Question 10

Darkness is shot at by

Answer 10

Metaphor compares the light from the windows hitting the darkness to a battle. Echoes the violence/gunfire on the streets below. Suggestion of futility

Question 11

A million lit windows

Answer 11

W.choice ‘million’ – a vast number of windows giving light yet it will not be enough to drown out the darkness. The suggestion is that the darkness will win and our efforts to combat it are futile.
Symbolism of light connotes hope andlife. Clearbattlebetween light/dark, good/evil.

Question 12

But midnight is not so easily defeated

Answer 12

Personification - continued idea of battle

Question 13

between a radio and a television set

Answer 13

Symbolism – radio and television examples of technology/mankind’sprogress. Usedheretodrown out sounds which may frighten them. Items we think make us ‘civilised’ are actually used as modes to broadcast society’s most depraved behaviours. Ironically has potential to frighten speaker more.

Question 14

wildest of warwhoops

Answer 14

Word choice of “wildest” – something uncivilised. Word choice of “warwhoops” – battlecry, fight, non- verbal suggesting primal, uncivilised. Alliteration emphasises the sound of the cry.

Question 15

glittering canyons and gulches

Answer 15

Metaphor/alliteration. Compares streetscape and skyscrapers (seen from above) to the Wild West/American Frontier. Highlights that this place is less ‘civilised’ than it might appear, despite the word choice of “glittering” which makes it sound more appealing.

Question 16

Police cars and ambulances racing

Answer 16

Personification – the vehicles themselves are moving quickly to tend to the injured/reprimand the perpetrators.

Question 17

To broken bones

Answer 17

Synecdoche – “broken bones” used to represent the whole person. Victims are dehumanised as a result. They become statistics in a violent city.

Question 18

harsh screaming

Answer 18

W.choice “harsh” – unpleasant sound and experience. Perhaps the suggestion that the people screaming are themselves uncouth/ unrefined. “Screaming” w.choice/ambiguity – not clear whether it is an antagonist or a victim (or both).

Question 19

coldwater flats

Answer 19

Word choice of “coldwater” – in this so-called developed city people are still living in primitive conditions

Question 20

Blood glazed on sidewalks.

Answer 20

Odd w.choice also emphasised by the enjambment. “Glazed” sounds pleasant – has connotations of ‘finishing’ something in a decorative way (e.g pottery, a cake). Suggestion that there is a large volume of blood and it ‘decorates’ the street in a macabreway. It’s normalised in this violent city, even glamorised.

Question 21

The frontier

Answer 21

Metaphor – comparison of American Frontier (often place of battle) is compared to the ‘civilised’ places we reside in.

Question 22

Is never

no

Answer 22

W.Choice – use of absolutes “no”, “never”. We cannot escape the evil in the world no matter how civilised we try to be as mankind is inherently evil.

Question 23

And no stockades

Answer 23

W.choice “stockades” – defensive walls futile as what we have to fear is on the inside.

Question 24

can keep the midnight out.

Answer 24

Metaphor/clarification of overall message. The darkness represents the evil in our world – we cannot escape it because it is within us/human beings are responsible for creating it.