War Photographer Flashcards
What is the poem about?
About a war photographer who has arrived back from an experience in a war zone. We learn about his emotions about what he experienced and watch him reflect about it
Why do you think the poem was written?
To create awareness about war for the general public and because Duffy spoke to an actual war photographer and learnt about his personal experiences
“spools of suffering”
Metaphor and sibilance. Reminder of the harsh conditions. Also a reminder of the horrors he saw while in the war zone and how he watched people suffering. Sibilance draws attention to developing photos and creates a harsh sound reflecting on a sense of pain
“as though this were a church and he a priest”
Simile. Connects to how he sees his job as being of such big importance. How his job is to show people the truth and make them understand the horrors of war - significance of his job and how it is essential
“fields which don’t explode beneath feet of running children”
Emotive language. Perhaps describing how the innocent always suffer - creates a sense of pity/sympathy for the people in the war zone, which is what the war photographer is trying to achieve with his job
“blood stained into foreign dust”
Imagery. Describing that blood is almost always spilled here and that it is a regular happening. “Foreign” reflects on the uncaring behaviour of the general public about war
“the only light is red”
Colour symbolism. Symbolises passion for his work. Also reflects on violence and blood. “Red” is the only light which shows it is perhaps a significant part of the poem
“Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh.”
Plosives and holophrastic. Duffy isolates war, conflict, violence and turmoil into single words - perhaps reflecting on how the general public do not really care about any of these things. Plosives indicate violence
“solutions slop”
Alliteration. Could be referencing the actual solution to ending war and conflict
“his hands which did not tremble then though seem to now”
“Hands” could represent him as a whole - how big of an affect his experience in the war zone has on him. “Tremble” as he remembers these horrible experiences
“a half-formed ghost”
Metaphor. Describes the stranger that appears in the developing photos. Suggests the man looks so scared to the war photographer that he is almost a “ghost”. Compound adjective - “half-formed” could symbolise the war photographer himself because he is just starting to remember this particular man - a stranger.
Cynical tone
Duffy comments on the way media portrays war and the uncaring view of the general public, which makes us reflect on the effect of war
Solemn tone
Attitude that comes across is that people do not fully understand the horrors of war unless they have been through it themselves. Also, that people especially in the general public like to read about war and learn new facts, but do not genuinely care about it
ABBACC rhyme scheme
Creates a regular pattern - emphasising the monotony of the situation and how the war photographer develops the pictures
Minor sentences
Abrupt sounding - reflecting on the war photographers feelings as he remembers his time in the war zone and as he develops the pictures carefully
