hotel room 12th floor Flashcards
“This morning I watched from here”
MacCaig opens the poem at a specific time, just as the title puts us in a specific place. Together with the use of real landmarks, this makes the poem feel like a genuine, real experience. This creates a sense of immediacy that is consolidated later in the opening stanza with But now. With these two quotes, he suggests that the themes of the poem need to be discussed and are relevant to the time of writing.
“helicopter skirtinbg like a damaged insect”
A simile compares the helicopter to an insect, suggesting that it is insignificant - it appears small among the buildings. Insect also suggest something that buzzes around and is annoying. Not only is it annoying, but it seems damaged. A helicopter may commonly be associated with wealth, and MacCaig may be making a comment here: maybe it is society that is ‘damaged’ by the ever-increasing pursuit of technological and material wealth.
“jumbo sized”
MacCaig suggests that a building of this size is pointless. He seems to criticise an (American) view that ‘bigger is better’. On a more aesthetic level, MacCaig is clearly showing his disdain towards the appearance of the building.
“dentist drill”
the empire state building isnt seen as a symbol of man kinds status and success but as something thats frightening and maybe even painful. the dentist drill isnt something many think of fondly.
“Dentist’s drill”- . Makes a point regarding the inequality of society and the suffering of groups of people who are left behind by progress.
“on the roof”
Emphasises height ignores harsh reality “on the ground”.
“Pan Am Skyscraper”
America’s airline- the
country’s connection to the rest of the world. Highlights the wealth and focus on the country.
As well as this, the empire state building and the PanAm Skyscraper are symbols of americas success and mark the progress of civilisation. They are described in not flattering terms but they are recognisable. they give the speaker a sense of place but not a sense of belonging
“but now”
“but” acts as an obvious turning point in the poem. Time shifts from morning to the middle of the night. The mood of the poem changes to something more dark
“Midnight come in from foreign places”
Midnight (with a capital M) becomes a person/entity (personification).
While midnight literally refers to a time, it also metaphorically introduces the idea of the darkness and the unknown and, consequently, fear.
‘foreign places”/uncivilised darkness
This idea of fear and conflict is re-enforced with “foreign places” and “uncivilised darkness” later in the stanza. This could suggest that modern America is in conflict with anything that is “foreign” or that doesn’t tie in with its view of what is civilised.
'’darkness” - what isnt seen is feared.
“shot‘’
‘shot’ has connotations
of violence and crime.
“million lit windows all ups and acrosses”
- image of cross which contains a religious meaning the image suggests the Western Christian image of good fighting evil and darkness.
- defence against violence
- people hiding behind closed doors
Conflict is extended when MacCaig writes that ‘darkness’ is being ‘shot at’ by ‘a million lit windows’. This brings to mind
the USA’s close relationship with guns, such as the place of guns in taming the Wild West. The image suggests the
buildings of the city in battle with the surrounding darkness. This raises questions about humanity’s ability to use its own inventions (electric light in man-made buildings), combat the inevitable return of night and darkness, and possibly humankind’s most instinctive,
perhaps destructive, desires.
“but midnight is not so easily defeated”
the idea that midnight is inevitable and unavoidable. this shows how midnight has become a foe, the speaker sees night as the unknown, a formidable enemy. the sense of helplessness is revealed through the recognition of the situation.
“between a radio and a television set”
suggesting that we are surrounded, perhaps in an intimidating way, by technology. Or it could suggest MacCaig trying to use technology to drown out the sounds of violence from the city outside.
“i lie in bed”
Word Choice shows he is removed from
what is below. He is a passive spectator. He is struggling to sleep as he knows there is commotion below.
“glittering canyons and gulches”
Word Choice- ‘glittering’ suggests the canyons have wealth and natural beauty not present in the city.
“wildest of warwhoops”
Alliteration- ‘warwhoops’ highlights
the brutal culture and war cries associated with Native Americans. Shows the chaos and aggression taking place on the ground below the hotel room.
“ululating”
These warwhoops are described as ululating. Here MacCaig uses onomatopoeia to suggest the repeated stereotypical “woo-woo-woo” sound that Native Americans would be shown making in a Western film or TV show. It compares these repeated noises with the constant howl of sirens in the city streets.
“police cars and ambulances”
Highlights the violence present in the city. Suggests danger and people being hurt in the city below
“racing”
Word Choice- ‘racing’ shows the speed of movement. Intensifies the feeling of emergency and chaos.
“to the broken bones,”/”blood glazed”/”the harsh screaming”
synecdoche- reduces people to body parts, noises and spilled fluids. Suggests the place of humans in this society has been lost. Bones represent the people, the people have been lost it is just the violence which is seen.
“from coldwater flats’’
Literally refers to the more primitive, less
luxurious flats. Shows the poverty and people living the violent lives. Some people have been left behind in poverty.
“never”
Enjambment- focuses on the negativity of ‘never’.
“The frontier is never
somewhere else”
MacCaig is suggesting that uncivilised acts are linked to all human societies. By saying the frontier is never somewhere else, MacCaig suggests that what is seen as ‘uncivilised’ is always with us and always a part of us. it.
” And no stockades
can keep the midnight out. “
Word Choice- ‘stockade’ is a constructed barrier, designed to protect. ‘Midnight’ he repeats this reference to metaphorical danger and distress that it can bring- symbolic of evil. MacCaig is pessimistic
that evil cannot be prevented and kept away from human society. Darkness will always be around
