War Photographer (AQA GCSE English Literature): Revision Notes

War Photographer

"War Photographer" by Carol Ann Duffy

Context

Carol Ann Duffy is a contemporary British poet who often writes about complex emotional and social issues. "War Photographer" explores the emotional and psychological impact of documenting war, focusing on the internal conflict experienced by a photographer as he processes his photographs and reflects on the suffering he has witnessed.

The Poem

In his dark room he is finally alone

with spools of suffering set out in ordered rows.

← Metaphor

The only light is red and softly glows,

as though this were a church and he

← Simile

a priest preparing to intone a Mass.

Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh. All flesh is grass.

He has a job to do. Solutions slop in trays

beneath his hands, which did not tremble then

though seem to now. Rural England. Home again

← Juxtaposition

to ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel,

to fields which don't explode beneath the feet

of running children in a nightmare heat.

Something is happening. A stranger's features

faintly start to twist before his eyes,

a half-formed ghost. He remembers the cries

of this man's wife, how he sought approval

without words to do what someone must

and how the blood stained into foreign dust.

A hundred agonies in black and white

**←**Sy mbolism

from which his editor will pick out five or six

for Sunday's supplement. The reader's eyeballs prick

← Irony

with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers.

From the aeroplane he stares impassively at where

he earns his living and they do not care.

5 quotes + analysis to achieve a grade 9

1. Metaphor: "spools of suffering set out in ordered rows"

• Analysis: This metaphor compares the rolls of photographic film to spools of suffering, highlighting how the war photographer captures and organises images of pain. The "ordered rows" suggest an attempt to bring order to chaos, reflecting the photographer's methodical yet emotional detachment from his work.

2. Simile: "as though this were a church and he / a priest preparing to intone a Mass"

• Analysis: The simile compares the darkroom to a church and the photographer to a priest, emphasising the solemnity of his work. It suggests that the act of developing these photos is almost sacred, reflecting the gravity of the scenes he captures.

3. Juxtaposition: "Rural England. Home again / to ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel"

• Analysis: The juxtaposition between "Rural England" and the war zones he photographs emphasises the stark contrast between the safety of home and the horrors of war. The "ordinary pain" of England seems trivial compared to the suffering he has witnessed, highlighting his alienation from everyday life.

4. Symbolism: "A hundred agonies in black and white"

• Analysis: The "hundred agonies" symbolise the intense suffering captured in the photographs. The use of "black and white" not only refers to the literal colours of the photos but also suggests a moral simplicity that contrasts with the complex emotions involved in witnessing such pain.

5. Irony: "The reader's eyeballs prick / with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers"

• Analysis: The irony here lies in the fleeting emotional response of the readers. While they momentarily feel sadness, their tears are quickly forgotten in the comfort of their daily routines. This highlights the disconnect between the horrors of war and the detached way they are consumed by the public.

Form & Structure Points

• Regular Stanzas: The poem's consistent four-line stanzas reflect the controlled, methodical nature of the photographer's work, in contrast to the chaos of war.
• Enjambment: The use of enjambment reflects the ongoing nature of the photographer's thoughts and the continuous flow of his memories.
• Juxtaposition: The contrast between the safety of home and the horrors of war emphasises the photographer's emotional dislocation and the public's detachment.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "War Photographer," Duffy explores the impact of conflict through metaphor and juxtaposition. The metaphor "spools of suffering set out in ordered rows" suggests the photographer's attempt to impose order on the chaos of war, reflecting his emotional detachment. The simile "as though this were a church and he / a priest preparing to intone a Mass" emphasises the solemnity of his work, likening it to a sacred ritual. The juxtaposition between "Rural England" and war-torn regions highlights the stark contrast between the safety of home and the horrors of conflict. Symbolism in "A hundred agonies in black and white" underscores the intense suffering captured in the photographs, while irony in "The reader's eyeballs prick / with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers" critiques the fleeting emotional response of the public. Through these devices, Duffy conveys the profound and often overlooked impact of conflict on those who document it...