War Photographer

Question 1

“spools of suffering set out in ordered rows.” stanza1

Answer 1

Rows of spools compared to rows of graves (war graves). This suggests that the photographer is trying to maintain control over the mess in his head caused by PTSD

Question 2

“All flesh is grass.” stanza 1

Answer 2

The circle of life, we go back to nature when we die. Links to the picture of dead soldiers. ‘Mown down like grass’ - human life is fragile

Question 3

“Solutions slop” stanza 2

Answer 3

Onomatopoeia and alliteration emphasising the sounds - the sound of boots in mud from trenches - sounds he remembers from warzones

Question 4

“which did not tremble then
though seem to now” stanza 2

Answer 4

Photographs are giving him flashbacks. He was very composed and calm taking the photos but he is feeling a delayed traumatic response.

Question 5

“Home again
to ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel,
to fields which don’t explode beneath the feet
of running children in a nightmare heat” stanza 2

Answer 5

home it is peaceful, contrasted with the loud noises and violence of the warzone, ordinary pain suggests he feels spiteful for people in england not having a clue about the extent of what hes seen

Question 6

“half-formed ghost” stanza 3

Answer 6

compares how the face in the photograph is forming as it develops to the way he has watched the life drain from peoples eyes at war

Question 7

“blood stained” stanza 3

Answer 7

Death horror fear and violence suggested by the word blood. Links to the blood red colour of the photographers dark room

Question 8

“The only light is red” stanza 1

Answer 8

the room the photos are developed in is red light, dim, red has connotations of blood and death, suggests the photographer feels uncomfortable/ claustrophobic in the red room

Question 9

“A hundred agonies in black and white” stanza 4

Answer 9

The photographers pictures are black and white and they show painful memories. ‘Black and white’ is when an issue is presented as right and wrong. No in between. ‘Black and white’ also suggests newspaper print.

Question 10

“stares impassively” stanza 4

Answer 10

suggests he feels no connection to the place he lives because they live life not knowing of the horrors that he works with

Question 11

“They do not care.” stanza 4

Answer 11

the photographer feels that all his work to shed light on the war is for nothing if only a select few are being chosen from the hundreds of photos he risked his life to take and the select few might not even show the full horror of thr war scenes