Hotel Room, 12th Floor Flashcards
“a helicopter skirting like a damaged insect”
Word choice of “helicopter” symbolises America’s technological advancement however it is compared to a “damaged insect” which has connotations of something insignificant, annoying and broken. This forces the reader to consider if it these things truly make America great or if it is just a cover to what America is truly like. Word choice of “skirting” suggests it is going around in circles like an insect with a broken
“Empire State Building”
At the time this was the worlds tallest building which represented America’s greatness and power.
“jumbo size dentist’s drill”
This building is a potent symbol of America’s power and dominance yet it is compared to a machine that connotates fear and pain. This forces the reader to consider the pain and lengths went by America in order to achieve this power and question whether America’s people are in as much fear and pain.
“from foreign places”
Word choice of “foreign” highlights the strangeness and unfamiliarity of where this darkness has come. Creates a sense of darkness and panic
“Its uncivilised darkness”
Links to the central theme of how civilisation considers something that is not understood as being strange and frightening. Word choice of “darkness” also highlights that what is not seen is also feared. Links to the central theme of the constant battle, metaphorical and literal, between light and darkness
“shot at by a million lit windows”
First sign of violence within the poem and also links to the extended metaphor of the Wild West. The word choice of “million” has connotations of impact and scale which suggests strength in number against darkness
“ups and acrosses”
Word choice has connotations of a crossword puzzle which highlights that the city is like a puzzle with no clues
“between a radio and television set”
Word choice of “between” has connotations
“broken bones”
Word choice of “bones” dehumanises the injured and highlights that because of the vast amount of violence in the city the police and ambulances just see the people as “bones” because they are so use to these sights
“blood glazed on sidewalks”
Word choice of “glazed” has connotations of a permanent feature highlighting that the violence in the city cannot be prevented
“coldwater flats”
Word choice of “coldwater” has connotations of poverty which highlights that despite America boasting about having the tallest building in the world it still allows deprivation. Forces reader to consider if the city is really civilised?
