War Photographer

Question 1

Why does Carol Ann Duffy present the photographer as relieved to be alone?

Answer 1

Because he needs time to digest what he has witnessed.

Question 2

‘All flesh is grass’ means…

Answer 2

…life is fragile. It can come and go.

Question 3

The photographer arranges the photographs into ‘ordered rows’ because…

Answer 3

…he wants to bring order to the chaos he’s seen.

Question 4

Why does Carol Ann Duffy describe the image of the dying man as ‘a half-formed ghost’?

Answer 4

Because the image is slowly developing in front of him, the man is now dead so seems like a ghost and the photographer finds the image haunting.

Question 5

Why does the photographer describe his job as doing ‘what someone must’?

Answer 5

He feels that the world must learn of the horrors of war.

He feels he has a responsibility.

Question 6

What is the theme of the poem?

Answer 6

Isolation and Suffering

Question 7

What effect does the religious imagery create?

Answer 7

Conveys his dedication to his occupation

Shows how he is too often exposed to life and death

Question 8

Carol Ann Duffy compares the photographer to a priest because…

Answer 8

…she thinks photographs can carry a message like a mass.

Question 9

What is the colour of the light in the darkroom and what does it connote?

Answer 9

Red - connotations of blood and pain

Question 10

Which quote shows our increasing indifference to the victims of conflict?

Answer 10

Which quote shows our increasing indifference to the victims of conflict?

Question 11

He goes home to what?

Answer 11

He goes home to what?

Question 12

What does Duffy mean by ordinary pain?

Answer 12

People out of war have it easy

oxymoron

Question 13

The imagery of ‘fields that don’t explode…running children’ shows

Answer 13

what he has seen is stuck in his memory

Question 14

What are the four focus points of the poem?

Answer 14

1) The photographer
2) The images of war zones
3) The lack of care of those living a safe life
4) Brief reflection of the nonchalance (lack of interest or empathy) towards the suffering

Question 15

What rhyme scheme does the poem follow?

and what does it reflect?

Answer 15

ABBCDD

reflects The photographer’s futile attempt to establish order in a chaotic and distressing situation

Question 16

Give examples of images of pain in the poem:

Answer 16

“Running children in nightmare heat”
“Cries of this man#s wife”
“Blood-stained”
“Fields which don’t explode beneath feet”

Question 17

Give examples of images of comfort in the poem:

Answer 17

“Rural England”
“Ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel”
“Sunday supplement”
“Eyeball’s prick with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers”

Question 18

What poems could you compare to War Photographer on the theme of reality of conflict?

Answer 18

Remains
Bayonet Charge
Poppies

Question 19

What poems could you compare to War Photographer on the theme of conflicting emotions?

Answer 19

Kamikaze
Remains
The Emigree

Question 20

What quote is designed to make the reader understand the intensity of suffering caused by the war?

Answer 20

A hundred agonies in black and white”

Question 21

What quotation uses sibilance and why?

Answer 21

“Spools of suffering set out in ordered rows”

The photographer is trying to make sense of something so horrific, which is emphasised by the sibilance

Question 22

What quotation is also a quote from the bible and means that human life is temporary?

Answer 22

“All flesh is grass”