Hotel Room, 12th floor Flashcards
” helicopter skirting like a damaged insect”
The helicopter is compared to an damaged insect which gives the connotations annoying, constant insignificant and broken - just like America’s society
“Empire state building”
This represents America’s power and wealth
“Jumbo size dentist drill”
Comparing the empire state building which connotations of fear and pain
The metaphor of jumbo is mocking the building
“roof of the PanAm skyscraper”
Represents the power in America
“but now midnight has come in from foreign places”
‘midnight’ shows danger fear and not been invited
Also highlights turning point in the poem
“uncivilised darkness”
plunged into darkness symbolising violence and danger
“shot at by million lit windows”
clear connotations of violence that happens just the same amount of windows on a skyscraper
Word ‘shot’ shows gun violence
“All ups and crosses”
mental image
“midnight is not so easily defeated”
shows violence
also is an enjambment
also is the struggle against darkness
which is meaning violence
“the wildest of warwhoops continually uluating through the glittering canyons and gulches”
referring to society in America today and back the in the wild west (native American’s) connotations of violence
“glittering” comparing it to new York skyscraper skyline Extended metaphor to the wildwest.
“ululating” loud screeching noise that’s continually is appeaing
“Police cars and ambulances racing to the broken bones, the harsh screaming from coldwater flats”
It changes the scene to nowadays from the wild west and that its basically still the same place
fear and screaming comparing to the warwhoops back in the west
poverty no hot water in the buildings and this is America one of the wealthiest countries.
“The frontier is never somewhere else. And no stockades can keep the midnight out.”
Frontier is the front line of war back in the wildwest
nothing can stop violence in America and America was built on violence, killing has not changed since the wildwest.
