War Photographer

Question 1

‘Spools of suffering set out in ordered rows’

Answer 1

Alliteration describes photos waiting to be developed. Suggests photographer feels his job is to bring order to chaos of suffering. Plurals “spools” and “rows” suggest
there is a lot.

Question 2

‘Blood stained into foreign dust’

Answer 2

A vivid memory of a death photographer witnessed. Word “stained” suggests that conflict, and the memory, cannot be removed. It is a stain that is going to last forever in his mind.

Question 3

‘The reader’s eyeballs prick with

tears between the bath and prelunch beers’

Answer 3

Readers might feel sad for a moment but this is quickly over as they move on to the rest of their day. Suggests
we are indifferent to the pain of the victims

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

Four regular stanzas, each with 6 lines ending in a rhyming couplet. An ordered poem, contrasting with chaos of conflict. Reflects how photographer tries to bring order to the chaos he sees.

Question 5

Idea/Perspective/Context (AO3)

Answer 5

A modern poem – in our world everything is photographed which can mean we become immune to
the horror.

Question 6

Links

Answer 6

Poppies

Remains