Visitng Hour Flashcards
“Hospital smell”
Poet engages the reader immediately by mentioning a smell most people are familiar with (disinfectant/antiseptic) we can share his experience.
This is evocative brining to mind the pervasive smell with which we associate with hospitals.
“Combs my nostrils”
Metaphor of “combs” suggests how strong and penetrating the smell is. “Combs” has connotations of being thorough.
The metaphor helps to underline the strength of the smell in the air, by comparing it with a comb. Just as a comb brushes through hair, the odour assaults our sense of small and is overwhelming.
“as they go bobbing along”
The idea of his nostrils bobbing is a ridiculous, amusing one. “bobbing” has a light-hearted tone as if he is trying to keep his spirits up. Synecdoche, it is him who is bobbing along not just his nostrils.
“Green and yellow corridors”
Colours associated with sickness
“What seems a corpse”
Not word choice but shows that the poet’s mind is focused on death as he immediately thinks the body on the trolley is dead.
“Corpse” associated with someone being dead for some time. Unpleasant connotations of a rotting corpse. He does not try to be euphemistic.
“trundled”
Word choice. Connotations are carelessness, quick movement, as if it is goods. Suggests an everyday occurrence for the person wheeling the trolley in contrast with MacCaig who is feeling out of place and uncomfortable.
“vanishes”
Disappears forever. He fears this will happen to his loved one.
“heavenward”
As if the lift is taking the person upwards to heaven. Play on words - ward in hospital called “heaven”.
The use of enjambment in the final line places emphasis on “heavenward” and isolates this word and reinforces the finality of death.
“I will not feel”
Repetition of this emphasises that he is trying to keep his feelings in check. As if this is what he is chanting to himself, over and over.
Enjambment places emphasis on “not” and “feel”
“I have to”
The poet knows he will not be able to avoid his emotions forever. He is trying to be strong for his loved one and himself otherwise he would be overwhelmed by his emotions.
On a line of its own with a pause after “until” this indicates he is thinking of how to phrase it. It is a euphemism for “until she dies”
“Nurses walk lightly, swiftly,
here and up and down and there”
Sense of business and activity. Syntax is mixes up to indicate they are active hurrying, all over the place. Repetition of “and” also suggests this.
“lightly” as well as being light on their feet, this word choice suggests they are not emotionally involved with the illness around them.
“slender waists miraculously
carrying their burden”
Contrasts nurses’ physical appearance (slender) with their ability to cope with the emotional “burdens”
“Miraculously” shows he has great admiration for their ability to cope with the suffering.
“So much pain, so
many deaths, their eyes
still clear after
so many farewells”
Repetition of “so much”, “so many” emphasises the constant, daily hardships they have to deal with illness, suffering and death.
Yet “eyes still clear” suggests they do not cry. They remain emotionally detached, unlike himself who is physically stronger but emotionally weaker as he is personally involved as it is his loved one who is suffering.
“farewells” euphemism for death. Mood of regret and sadness. He dreads she will die and will have to say farewell to his loved one.
“Ward 7.”
Turning point of the poem. Use of caesura reflects the fact that he has come to a stop in his journey. He is pausing at the entrance to the ward.
“She lies”
Use of “She” is impersonal. He does not use her name which indicates the distance he feels there is between them and she is not the person he knows because of her illness.
