War Photographer Flashcards
“In his dark room he is finally alone”
Sets the scene, at his home - sense of isolation in a figurative sense.
“dark room” - could literally be the dimly lit room where he processes his photographs, or metaphorically, is his mind - full of depressive and dark thoughts.
“Finally” - denotation, at the end. Connotations, sense of relief, something at the end of a long journey. Implies that a lot of time has past since he has been alone.
“Spools of suffering set”
Sibilance, alliteration, slows down speech of speaker, emphasises grave and serious nature of the subject matter.
“Spools” - literally, the spool is the undeveloped film from the camera. Metaphorically, the spiral of the spools suggests ongoing nature of conflict and war.
“Suffering” - denotation, enduring some sort of difficulty. Connotations, extreme pain, hardship, torture.
“Ordered rows”
Like armies, mass graves/cemeteries. Literally, it would help him be organised. Metaphorically, he’s trying to bring order to the chaos of conflict during war.
Has taken great care and precision to make the spools neat and in line.
“Red”
Symbolic of blood, death, danger. Very strong colour, linked with anger suggesting the strong feelings caused by and instigating war.
Literally, the light needs to be red to process his photos. Metaphorically, reference to the death and blood captured in the photos and in his mind.
“Softly glows”
Relaxing and comforting to the photographer, a contrast to the harsh nature of the colour red.
Denotation, a light that’s not too bright nor dim. Connotations, warmth and happiness.
“As though this were a church”
Simile, his place of work is being compared to that of a priest’s. He is being compared to a priest.
“Church” - a place of worship, holiness, place for respect and reverence, a place that is taken seriously, a place of serious business and somber reflection.
Priests educate and deliver messages to others, to preach just as the photographer educates and delivers the messages to the people in his own country about foreign affairs. He believes his job is to send out messages.
“Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh.”
All places of conflict at the time. All of them are cities. These conflicts are affecting the daily lives of ordinary people. Separate sentences, forces the reader to pause, gives each place it’s own importance, makes them stand out, makes them individual. It’s also a list and the power of three is used.
“All flesh is grass”
metaphor. Just as grass is often mowed down and trampled on, although ultimately regress, so too are soldiers and citizens apart of nature that are slaughtered in their masses in conflicts, but ultimately endure as a race. Suggests that even circle of life in inescapable for humans. Quote from the bible, religious theme.
“He has a job to do”
Doesn’t seem like he has a choice, no emotion in the sentence highlighting that this is his inevitable duty. Statement, matter of fact, can’t be argued with. A calling to him, sense of responsibility.
“Solutions slop in trays”
“Solutions” - literally, a chemical solution used for photo processing. Metaphorically, photographer thinks that his pictures hold the solution/answer to world problems and conflict.
“Slops” - literally, the water is moving side to side harshly and making noise. Metaphorically, suggests the chaotic nature of the suffering and war he has captured in his photos.
Denotation, the chemical is moving in a random way in the tray. Connotations, thickness or viscosity of the liquid hints at blood, unruly and chaotic movement hint at the unstable situation in wars.
Alliteration.
“His hands which did not tremble then though seem to now”
In the wars one he is calm and detached, hands steady so he can take a good, clear photo. However, now that he is home he is thinking about and reflecting on the things he’s seen and done.
Contrast between home and away.
Enjambment.
“Rural England”
Word choice, setting.
“Rural” - quiet, countryside, green, grass, farms. In contrast to “Belfast” - grey, industrial place and other places mentioned. Contrast to the dusty, loud, dull war zones.
“Ordinary pain”
Oxymoron. The pain at home that people experience is minor in comparison to the pain faced by people during conflicts.
Contrast to the pain of people abroad.
“Weather can dispel”
A nice day can put minor problems and issues to bed. Contrast to “nightmare heat”
“To fields which don’t explode beneath the feet of running children in a nightmare heat”
“Don’t “ - implies that it doesn’t happen there specifically but does elsewhere. Highlights the peacefulness of Britain in contrast to previous places mentioned.
