Visiting Hour Flashcards
“The hospital smell”
Opening line of the poem “The hospital smell” is a statement with a
blunt and matter-of-fact tone, defining the odour universal to all
hospitals-he conveys this through the use of the definite article, “The”
as if it is a smell we could all instantly recognise. The sensory
description straight away shows that the first thing he is aware of in
his surroundings is the odour. (1)
“combs my nostrils”
Unusual imagery/personification of “combs my nostrils” combines the
senses of touch and smell to convey the pungent nature of the odour.
It is so strong it is almost palpable-it gets into every crevice of his
nose; an invasive, unpleasant smell. (1)-either this or 1st
point
“nostrils/bobbing”
The disembodied nature of “nostrils/bobbing”-through his use of
synecdoche- indicates how dislocated he feels as he enters the
hospital. It also shows how the sense of smell is overpowering and
shutting out everything else at that moment. The humorous image
created is perhaps a way for MacCaig to avoid thinking about his
reason for being there. (1)
“green and yellow”
Reference to unpleasant colours, sensory description, “green/yellow”
connote sickness and illness; they make us think of bodily fluids,
being sick. This begins to suggest his inner turmoil as he prepares to
face the reason for being here in these surroundings-visiting a very ill
loved one. (1)
“corpse”
Word choice of “corpse” hints at the seriousness of the patient’s
position/his preoccupation with death. Introduces a key theme of the
poem-our mortality. The impersonal term creates a darker tone, thus
foreshadowing the inevitable thought of his loved one dying. (1)
“vanishes”
Word choice of “Vanishes” has connotations of magic/make-believe/
disappearing forever, suggesting that there is no afterlife and that, for him, (MacCaig is an atheist) death is final. Could also hint at the
confusion we feel when someone we love is no longer with us. (1) However, the use of religious imagery of “vanishes/heavenward”
introduces the hoped-for final destination for those, unlike him, who
believe in an afterlife. Enjambment separates these two words leaving
“heavenward” on its own line. (1)
“trundled into a lift”
Word choice of “trundled into a lift” suggests he feels the body is
being treated with disrespect, a lack of care. This could suggest an
angry, worried response from him. (1)
“I will not feel”
Repetition in stanza 3 “I will not feel” emphasises the sharp contrast
between the acuteness of his senses in his previous observations and
his endeavours to keep his emotions entirely contained, to numb
himself-like a mantra he is using to repress his feelings in case they
overwhelm him. (1)
“until/I have to”
Climax of “until/ I have to” shows his acknowledgement of his own
avoidance-he realises he has to face up to this but doesn’t want to
just yet. He doesn’t want to cry or appear overly-emotional (1)
“lightly, swiftly”
Adverbs “lightly, swiftly” suggest the tactful/sensitive/
deliberate/professional way in which the nurses work-they’re not
weighed down by feelings, unlike him. This contrasts with his feelings
of inadequacy. (1)
“here… there”
Inversion/altered word order/syntax of “here … there” echoes the busy
and varied nature of the nurses’ demanding jobs- yet they remain
focused, he is finding it hard to (1)
“miraculously”
Word choice of “miraculously” has connotations of wonder and awe,
suggesting he finds it inconceivable/amazing that the nurses could
withstand so much emotional suffering on a daily basis-unlike him. (1)
“burden/pain”
Word choice of “burden/pain” echoes the emotional and physical
responsibilities of their job highlighting how difficult and demanding it
is. Suggesting he could not cope with this (1)
“so much/so many”
Repetition of “so much/so many” illustrates his observations that a
large proportion of a nurse’s job is dealing with death and the dying
i.e. it is a regular occurrence which he would struggle with (1)
“white cave of forgetfulness”
Metaphor “white cave of forgetfulness” suggests that the patient’s reduced mental
capacity offers her some protection/refuge from the horrors of her
situation OR diminishes her insight into her own situations/lessens her
ability to communicate OR suggests the isolated state she is in-far from
life and from her husband (1)
