War Photographer, Carol Ann Duffy Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Meaning

A
  • Photographer returns home from war zone & develops photos to be published in Sunday news supplement
  • Lack of care from western society about harshness of war
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Themes 2x

A
  • Impossibility of presenting true horror of war/conflict
  • People refuse to acknowledge beyond very superficial level of what war is like
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

3rd person why?

A

Sense of detachment to atrocities = what photographer himself experiences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Imagery #1

A

“fields which don’t explode beneath the feet of running children in a nightmare heat”

  • “explode” & “nightmare” = negative connotations
    • Showcases hardships of war
    • Highlights how safe our world is
  • Historical allusion
    • Reminds reader difference between lives of
      children in war zones and those in rural England
  • “running children”
    • Barefoot children running in grass for fun
    • Running from war
      • End of innocence/possibly life
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Imagery #2

A

“suffering set out in ordered rows”

  • Paradox
    • Suffering cannot be ordered
    • Tries to make sense of what he’s seen
      • Foreshadows sinister atmosphere
  • Alludes to war graves
    • Everything sanitised / structured
  • Shows photographer observes pain of war but not part of it
    • Tries to organise it in a calm and controlled way
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Tone #1

A

Passive, removed, serious: takes work seriously

Semantic field of religion: “church” , “priest” , “Mass”

  • “as thought this were a church and he was a priest”
    • Catholic churches = “red” light burns continuously
      • Symbolises presence of blood of Christ
      • Places photographer in religious and evangelising role
      • = Meant to bring suffering of world to our attention
  • “intone a Mass”
    • Reminding congregation (society) of terrible deaths while they sit comfy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Tone #2

A

Frustrated

“tears … beers”

  • Mid line rhyme
    • Quickens pace in final stanza
    • Represents speed of which people forget horrors of war
  • Mentioning of routine = lives of readers don’t change
    • Upset only briefly
    • Don’t want to change the world
  • “they do not care.”
    • Ambiguity
      • Could be anyone & everyone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Structure #1

A

Repetitive and regular in rhyme & stanza (sestets)

  • Tightly/neatly controlled structure but theme = chaos of war
    • Juxtaposition
      • War photographer efforts are futile = nothing changes
    • What we think VS reality of war = impossible to understand
  • Reflects war photographer’s job = tries to impose order on chaos of war
    • Make it palatable (acceptable/pleasant)
      • Move & forget
    • Tries to make sense of scenes of confusion and slaughter
  • Regular rhyme scheme abbcdd
    • = Predictability of horror and violence of war
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Structure #2

A

Cyclical structure

  • Links to fate
    • Everything predetermined & no escaping it
    • Futility of war photographer’s job
      • People sanitise horrors = carry on with ordered life
      • Futile endeavour (goal)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Comparisons 3x

A
  • ‘Prayer Before Birth’
  • ‘Blessing’
  • ‘The Tyger’
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

‘The Tyger’

A

Both about relentless nature of cruelty in world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

‘Prayer Before Birth’

A

Both about cruelty of world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

‘Blessing’

A

Contrasted with moment of joy within a context of poverty and suffering

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly