War Photographer

Question 1

What is the form

Answer 1

• Tightly Controlled structure reflects war photographer’s job. He tries to impose order on the chaos of war to make it palatable for us to be temporarily moved.
• Unchanging structure echoes unchanging perceptions – his efforts are futile, and spectator is still desensitized and passive

Question 2

A quote from the opening

Answer 2

“In his dark room, he is finally alone”
* “Darkroom” suggests had to go to darkest lengths to hide from memories. He is being haunted constantly. Also shown by “finally” as if it constantly affects him wherever he is.

Question 3

2 Quotes from SOAPAIMS

Answer 3

“He has a job to do.”
* Simple short sentence suggesting its purely his job and not supposed to feel anything, so he is also numbing the pain.

“Beneath his hands, which did not tremble then”
* Didn’t consider of pain and misery back then
* “Did not tremble then” so is remembering of all the pain and suffering.

Question 4

What is the structure

Answer 4

• Enjambment to develop the poem just like the photo
• Cyclical structure – starts with him taking the photo and ends at him taking a photo. Could mean the cycle of pain and how no one will ever understand him.

Question 5

3 Quotes in Ending

Answer 5

“A hundred agonies in black and white”
* “hundred” shows unaccountable pain
* It’s plain, the photograph doesn’t give any justice, they failed to give sympathy
* They are history just to be appreciated

“Pick out five or six for Sunday’s supplement”
* Suffering is the upper-class entertainment
* Plosive language suggests the anger he has while he says this.

“Tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers”
* Juxtaposition showing, they are sad for a moment, but they drown it out by their joy by drinking their beers. The upper class have all the luxury
* “tears/beer” is half rhyme which increase pace of stanza to show how easily it is forgotten.