Visiting hour- Stanza 1

Question 1

“hospital smell combs my nostrils”

Answer 1

.Personification
.The sensation of the strong hospital smell penetrating his nostrils is being compared to the soft, gentle comb of a hair brush
.Just as a hair brush would gently and repetitively comb and stroke someones hair so too the smell of the hospital is repetitively combing and stroking the speakers nostrils
.This is effective as it makes clear the distinctive smell that is associated with hospitals is powerful, pervasive and overwhelming as it blocks out his other senses and it is almost palpable. It demonstrates that despite the speaker trying to suppress his emotions, the environment roots him into reality.

Question 2

“bobbing”

Answer 2

.Connotations of floating, gentle and lighthearted
.This suggests that the speaker is trying to protect himself from the discomfort he feels towards his current unpleasant reality through gentle and lighthearted movements. The speaker is almost floating as he tries to distance himself from his uncomfortable reality. It highlights that he is attempting to convince himself that his situation will not continue to be as bad as he anticipates.

Question 3

“green & yellow”

Answer 3

.Connotations of sickness, nausea and disease
.This suggests the visual colors which are universally associated with hospitals as they imitate the sickness, nausea and disease present within hospitals. It highlights how the speaker’s environment and senses force him to confront the reality of his situation, and simultaneously mimics the inner turmoil of the speaker as he prepares to face the situation.