War Photographer Flashcards
Who is the poet? What is she like?
Carol Ann Duffy
Known for being outspoken and controversial, and has been national poet for 10 years.
She likes to use simple words to explore complex ideas - accessible writing style.
Context?
Duffy has two war photographer friends.
Intended to explain how we (the reader) fail to grasp the reality of war.
Describe the structure?
Very tight and controlled structure
4 stanzas with 6 lines
Rhyme scheme follows ABB CDD
1. Reflects the photographer’s job, the logical controlled steps of developing photos
2. Also suggests the way the photographer is dealing with trauma, trying to control his emotions.
Contrasts the topic of the poem which is messy and confusing.
Methods used to force the reader to pause? (Stanza 1)
‘Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh.’
Caesura:
Forces reader to slow down, brings attention to the places mentioned
Plosive consonants:
Stops airflow, harsh sounding words.
When said at a quick fore pace it sounds like gunfire and is an unavoidable reminder to the conflict in this world.
Use of caesura in Stanza 2?
‘.Rural England. ‘
Completely separated from the descriptions of war zones
What is the purpose of the cyclical structure?
Begins when he’s come home from war, ends when he’s going back out to do his job.
War is NON STOP
‘From the aeroplane he stares impassively at where he earns his living and they do not care’
Suggests his efforts are futile, and everything just carries on as normal.
The identical stanza suggest he makes no difference.
What line suggests that the war photographer feels guilt?
‘How he sought approval…to do what someone must’
Photographing a dead man - can’t intervene.
But it is a necessary job in his pointless efforts to show the public what war is like.
What does ‘the reader’s eyeballs prick with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers.’
Midline rhyming, quickens the pace of the final stanza
Represents the speed at which people pass over the atrocities of war in newspapers
