VISITING HOUR - annotated Flashcards
The hospital smell combs my nostrils
synecdoche - nostrils come to represent the whole of him - suggests quite an invasive act, overwhelming - highlights the strength of the small - unpleasant to
MacCaig Word ‘hospital’ has connotations of sickness, discomfort - sets negative tone for beginning of poem.
bobbing along
word choice - connotations of pace, happiness - creates a comic image to lighten mood as it’s strange that MacCaig should use such positive language
green and yellow
word choice - connotations of illness, sickness, decay - suggests uncomfortable environment of hospital.
corridors.
connotations of narrow, elongated spaces - highlights idea of patients being unable to escape - long sentence adds to this.
What seems
word choice - suggests MacCaig is unsure of what he’s seeing - could be struggling to make sense of the
situation - maybe doesn’t want to look too closely - afraid of death or doesn’t want to disrespect the
person.
corpse
word choice - connotations of death - quite harsh way of referring to the body - no dignity no death.
trundled into a lift
word choice - connotations of speed, clumsiness - suggests they are in a hurry or are so used to
this that they have become desensitised and take less care - highlights the reality of what happens to us after death
vanishes heavenward.
euphemism shows MacCaig’s happens to us after death determination to show respect to those who have died - could also reflect his unwillingness to confront idea of death. He wants to give the person a more positive destination than where they’re really going.
I will not feel, I will not feel,
repetition highlights MacCaig’s unwillingness to allow his emotions to overcome him - he could be trying to
appear strong for his friend but could also be showing his weakness as he struggles to cope with reality of death.
until I have to.
enjambment of “until/I have to” reflects MacCaig’s desire to put off the inevitable. line break creates a
pause as though he is waiting for that moment when he must confront these feelings.
walk lightly, swiftly,
connotations of relaxed, slow pace - they are moving with a purpose but not in a frantic way - they’re so
experienced that they can handle the pressure. Also, connotations of gracefulness again stresses nurses calm approach
here and up and down there
repetition of ‘and’ reflects MacCaig’s calm approach. desire to show how busy and impressive the nurse are. this is backed up by his use of opposites.
slender waists
connotations of thin, elegance - could highlight how thin the nurses are due to their busy schedule
miraculously
connotations - something astounding, a spectacle - MacCaig can’t believe they manage this.
carrying their burden
word choice - connotations of heaviness, emotional stress - feels sorry for the nurses for having to witness this much trauma on a daily basis.
so much pain, so many deaths,
repetition stresses the level of suffering the nurses witness, also shows MacCaig struggling to
process this idea.
eyes still clear after so many farewells.
word choice of ‘still clear’ expresses his surprise that they can withstand this level of pain. Revisits the use of ‘so’ to show his upset at the idea of so many people
dying and leaving loved ones behind.
ward 7
short sentence adds drama as this is where the main action takes place and where he has been trying to
reach. Highlights significance of this for him. The number also shows that there are many more wards - level of suffering.
in a white cave of forgetfulness.
metaphor - compares bed with curtains to a cave - claustrophobic, idea of her being isolated, hidden away from the real world. ‘forgetfulness’ could
be people forgetting about her, her memory due to the illness or the idea that she’s been there so long, she’s forgotten what it’s like to be out.
A withered hand trembles on its stalk.
metaphor - compares her hand to a dying flower, once beautiful but now at the end of its life.
‘withered’ suggests lack of life, no use left. ‘trembles’ suggests fragility, weakness.
too heavy to raise.
stresses her illness, can’t maintain consciousness. enjambment of heavy reflects the time spent trying
to raise them.
a glass fang is fixed
metaphor and alliteration - compares drip to vampire’s fang. Instead of sucking life force out of
her, it’s trying to save her - idea of relying heavily on it to stay alive, it will never be taken out, can’t
escape
not guzzling but giving
connotations of drinking thirstily - vampire reference but positive, medicines trying to keep her alive but aren’t woking
distance shrinks
connotations of becoming smaller than before, could refer to her with her illness or the fact he’s moving closer to her. shows he has been standing at a
distance to observe her - uncomfortable with the sight.
