Visiting Hour Flashcards
“Nostrils as they go bobbing along”
Synecdoche
As not just nostrils moving as image would suggest
Shows overpowering smell and blocked out all his other senses
“White cave of forgetfulness”
Metaphor
Suggests white sheets/curtains are cave like( impenetrable)
Conveys isolation of woman and the poets exclusion from her
“Glass fang”
Metaphor
Suggesting the intravenous drip is vampire like
Shocking imagery conveys poets despair at being unable to help the woman
“Round swimming waves of a bell”
Synaesthesia
As visual image is describing a sound (bell signaling there end of visiting hour)
“Swimming” could suggest poets dizziness(confusion) or tears
This is from woman’s point of view so further portrays her isolation
“Books that will not be read”
Enjambemt and oxymoron
Causes last line to seem like a bitter abendumwhich summarises poets feelings of despair at the hopelessness of the situation
“Fruitless fruits”
Oxymoron
Captures poets despair at the pointlessness of woman’s death being prolonged and his inability to help
Brining fruit has been fruitless, i.e. Pointless
“Corpse”
Word choice
Holds little relation to life
Suggest finality due to harshness of sound with a guttural “c” and plosive “p”
Shoes poets distress
