Exposure vs War photographer

Question 1

What is the overall comparison between these two poems?

Answer 1

Both are about the impact of war on soldiers and the trauma you bring back from it, however War photographer focuses more on guilt of not being able to stop it and Exposure focuses on the harsh conditions of WW1. Additionally both of them use cyclical structures to make war seem never ending.

Question 2

Which two quotes show the impact of war on the psychological state of the speakers?

Answer 2

“All flesh is grass” — Biblical references to show his nihilistic and hopeless outlook on life and his insignificance.
“Our brains ache” — describes PTSD the soldier is suffering

Question 3

Which two quotes show the physical and mental challenges of war?

Answer 3

“Blood stained into foreign dust” — Focuses on the guilt of the soldiers and how that affects them
“The merciless iced east winds knive us…” — Uses personification of the wind and sibilance of the cutting slicing sound of wind to present it as cruel and murderous. Instead focuses on the physical challenges

Question 4

Which two quotes show the never ending cycle of war?

Answer 4

“But nothing happens” — Is repeated at the end of stanzas, showing the never ending cycle of war and death
“He earns a living and they do not care” — similar to the beginning with him leaving to war, showing the futile never ending cycle, similar to Exposure.

Question 5

What is similar about Exposure and War Photographers structure?

Answer 5

Both use cyclical structures to portray the never ending nature of war

Question 6

What is different about the form of the two poems?

Answer 6

War photographer is a dramatic monologue and more of a reflection whilst Exposure is a soldiers thoughts as he lies in the trenches