war photographer Flashcards
“in his dark room he is finally alone”
ambiguity as “dark room” is literally place where photos are developed but also a place where he finds refuge. a huge sense of relief as “finally alone” suggests that he finally has some time to himself. “dark” has connotations of depression, evil, sinister so it also suggests something about his mental state and the fact that he is haunted by the memories he has gained from his job as a war photographer
“spools of suffering”
imagery emphasises pain and anguish in war. repetition of “s” creates a soft sound - sibilance - which emphasises anguish and pain the soldiers suffered abroad
“set out in ordered rows”
ambiguity - could literally mean he set them out in ordered rows which contradicts the messiness of war that he cannot control but can only take photos of. putting the photos in neat rows allows him to create order amongst chaos. also reminds us of mass war graves - coffins and graves lines up for those who have died. religious imagery could also suggest people sitting in pews in a church
“the only light is red and softly glows, as though this were a church and he a priest preparing to intone a mass”
religious imagery suggests that he takes his job very seriously. “red” reminds us of a confession box in a church where you confess your darkest sins to a priest in the same way that he knows the darkest sins of the world through his job. “red” also signifies bloodshed which reminds us of the events of war. as a priest gives a eulogy, a war photographer has power over how victims are remembered
“he has a job to do”
short sentence emphasises how he feels he has a great sense of responsibility. he doesn’t have time to process his feelings, he just has to get the job done
“solution slop in trays”
ambiguity - literally liquid used to develop photos but also refers to the decisions are leaders make for us high can have horrible, messy consequences. “trays” emphasise how many photos are being taken and developed. sibilance and onomatopoeia of slop sound
“beneath his hands which did not tremble then though seem to now”
gives us a sense that the memories of war are really affecting him. “then” highlights when he has really good self control but “now” suggests that the memory of war is making him shake and feel upset which highlights the difference in time
“rural England” compared to “to fields which don’t explode beneath the feet”
short sentence emphasises peace and tranquility. contradictive as it describes a setting of people dying and being terrified of the hand made bombs hidden underground.
“ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel” compared to “running children in a nightmare heat”
idea that people generally complain bout mundane things like the weather. contradictive as “running children” usually refers to children playing but here they are running for their lives. “nightmare heat” refers to explosions and temperature. parents can usually soothe a childs nightmare but they cannot in this circumstance as everything won’t be alright and they are in real danger
“a strangers features faintly start to twist”
ambiguity as he is picturing what has happened as well as the photo literally being developed. “twist” has connotations of pain and suffering which suggests that is a very painful memory
“a half-formed ghost”
imagery suggests that he is haunted by the events he has seen as a war photographer which causes him pain and agony. ambiguity also
