War Photographer Flashcards
What does the quote “The only light is red and softly glows, as though this were a church and he a priest …” show
Duffy employs religious imagery to imbue the photographer’s task with solemnity, likening it to a sacred ritual. The analogy underscores the gravity of bearing witness to human tragedy and the photographer’s role as a mediator between the horrors of war and the public.
What does the quote “Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh. All flesh is grass.” Show
Through the use of place names synonymous with war, Duffy connects specific conflicts to the transient nature of life. The phrase “All flesh is grass” poignantly conveys the fragility and impermanence of human existence amidst the brutality of war.
What does the quote “He has a job to do. Solutions slop in trays beneath his hands, which did not tremble then.” Show
Duffy portrays the photographer’s sense of duty juxtaposed with the emotional toll of his task. The description of “solutions slop in trays” underscores the detachment necessary for the photographer to fulfil his role, contrasting with the vulnerability hinted at by his trembling hands.
What does the quote “Rural England. Home again to ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel,” show
Duffy contrasts the tranquillity of rural England with the chaos of warzones, highlighting the jarring disconnect experienced by the photographer.
What does the quote “a half-formed ghost. He remembers the cries.” Show
Duffy vividly portrays the photographer’s anguish as he witnesses the gradual emergence of haunting images in the darkroom. The imagery of a “half-formed ghost” symbolises the spectral presence of suffering, while the memory of cries underscores the visceral impact of conflict on the photographer.
What does the quote “A hundred agonies in black and white from which his editor will pick out five or six for Sunday’s supplement.” Show
The reference to “a hundred agonies” highlights the extensive impact of war.
What does the quote “From the aeroplane he stares impassively at where he earns his living and they do not care.” Show
Duffy concludes the poem with a stark commentary on the photographer’s detachment from his homeland and the public’s indifference to his work. The use of the third-person pronoun “they” emphasises the photographer’s isolation and alienation from society.
What is the form of the poem
-poem has 4 stanzas of equal length and regular rhyme scheme which shows the care that the photographer takes over his work
-enjambment reflects the gradual revealing of the photo as it develops
What is the structure of the poem
-shift in focus in the 3rd stanza when the photographer remembers a specific death
-in the final stanza the focus shifts to the way the photographers work is received
