Hotel Room 12th Floor Quotes Flashcards
“a helicopter skirting like a damaged insect”
(Simile) Here the helicopter seen by MacCaig is being compared to a damaged insect. Just as a damaged insect flies lopsided, so too the helicopter is flying erratically. The writer is suggesting that for a technological advancement, this helicopter is surprisingly underdeveloped as it is not flying in a smooth motion.
“the Empire State Building, that/jumbo size dentist’s drill,” (metaphor)
Here, MacCaig compares the Empire State Building to a dentist’s drill. Just as a dentist’s drill is a mundane, normal and boring object, so too is MacCaig saying that the Empire State Building is not exciting or interesting. He is making fun of it, diminishing its grandeur, reducing it to nothing more than a boring tool we see at the dentist. This adds to his idea that the technological achievements we are so proud of are not always meaningful. The writer is suggesting that he thinks the Empire State Building should not be admired as highly as people are not looking at a bigger picture -a struggling and violent society.
“But now Midnight has come in/from foreign places.”
Here midnight is being personified as it is being compared to a stranger coming in from “foreign places”. Just as foreign places are unknown and unnerving, so too midnight is associated with negative things; darkness increases chances of bad/mysterious things happening. Just as a stranger from a foreign country will scare some people as they don’t know anything about this person and their history so too is midnight bringing in the unknown. This adds to the poet’s idea that midnight is a time to be feared: a time when violence is more likely to erupt.
“It’s uncivilised darkness”
The word “uncivilised” has connotations of primitive and lawless behavior. The writer is suggesting that Midnight’s darkness is associated with violence and the risk of danger. This adds to the poet’s idea that violence happens late at night.
“is shot at by a million lit windows, all/ups and acrosses.”
Here the light from the windows of the buildings of New York is being compared to a weapon. Just as a weapon will kill its target by shooting, so too is the light (associated with civilised behaviour) trying to destroy the darkness (associated with primitive behaviour). The writer is suggesting that there is a battle between light versus dark which symbolises the idea of good versus bad in New York.
“wildest of warwhoops continually ululating through/the glittering canyons and gulches—” (metaphor)
Here the streets of New York where violence happens at night are being compared to canyons and gulches in the wild west. Just as canyons and gulches are tight crevices between land so too do the narrow, brightly lit up streets lie between the buildings of New York in which sirens are continually ululating through. The writer is suggesting that lawless violence at night is constantly experienced in the streets.
“wildest of warwhoops continually ululating through/the glittering canyons and gulches—” (word choice)
The phrase “Wildest of warwhoops” has connotations of an Indian war cry signalling attack. This adds to the writer’s idea that the city is a battleground where violence has to be dealt with.
“Police cars and ambulances racing”
The word “racing” has connotations of something moving rapidly to get to its destination. MacCaig is suggesting that the police cars and ambulances are trying to get to the crime scene as quick as possible, suggesting a sense of urgency as people are in trouble. This adds to the poet’s idea that the city is filled with fear and violence.
“to broken bones, the harsh screaming/from coldwater flats,”
The words “coldwater flats” have connotations of an area of poverty and deprivation. The writer is suggesting that violence mainly occurs in the rough ends of New York which contrasts to the advanced technology mentioned. This adds to his idea that the technological advancements humans are so proud of are pretty useless if our society cannot look after its poor and stop people harming each other.
“The blood/glazed on the sidewalks”
The word “glazed” has connotations of a permanent, thick and shiny coating over something. MacCaig is suggesting that when violence happens in New York (which can be anywhere, including on sidewalks), blood is smeared everywhere to the point that it becomes a thick layer which is hard to get rid of. This adds to the idea that violence is constantly occurring and it is difficult to stop it from happening.
“The frontier is never/somewhere else”
The word “frontier” has connotations of a boundary or border. The writer is suggesting that there is a border between the civilisation and wildness of New York. However, the fact that it is not somewhere physical that can be avoided suggests that violence is always lurking and cannot be escaped as it exists within people themselves, not places.
“And no stockades/can keep the midnight out”
The word “stockade” has connotations of a barrier or barricade. The writer is suggesting that no barrier can stop the violence that comes from midnight from getting to you. This adds to his idea that violence and uncivilised behaviour occurs in people (not avoidable places) therefore can happen anytime and anywhere.
“Jumbo size dentist’s drill”
The word “jumbo-sized” has connotations of unnecessarily big. This also makes fun of the oversized building and adds to his idea that we may have got carried away with our desire to make everything bigger and better.
