War Photographer

• Who is the author of the poem "War Photographer"?

  Carol Ann Duffy
• What does the war photographer contemplate while developing photos?

  The public's indifference to suffering
• What is the mood in the darkroom where the photographer works?

  • Calm
  • Somber
• What locations are mentioned as experiencing conflict in the poem?

  Belfast, Beirut, Phnom Penh
• How does the photographer feel about being in England?

  Relieved to be away from violence
• What does the photographer remember as his photos come into focus?

  The suffering of his subjects
• What does the photographer realize about the impact of his photos on the public?

  They affect the reader only momentarily
• What does the change of setting from darkroom to aeroplane signify?

  Reflection on public indifference
• When was the poem "War Photographer" published?

  1985
• What does the line “running children in a nightmare heat” reference?

  A famous photo from a napalm attack
• How does the religious simile in the poem affect its interpretation?

  It highlights the photographer's solemn duty
• What does the phrase "All flesh is grass" imply?

  Life is transitory and fleeting
• What does the choice of the word 'eyeballs' suggest about the readers' reactions?

  They have a mechanical, superficial response
• What are the key themes in "War Photographer"?

  • Response to conflict
  • Suffering
  • Impact on civilians
  • The extensive scale of conflict
  • Futility
• What does the photographer's job involve according to the poem?

  Documenting the suffering of war victims
• How does the poem's structure reflect the photographer's work?

  It shows meticulousness and order
• What does the cyclical structure of the poem suggest?

  Futility and repetition of past mistakes
• How does Duffy use language to convey internal conflict?

  By contrasting rural England with war zones
• What does the use of asyndetic listing in the poem achieve?

  Highlights the extensive scale of conflict
• What does the phrase "spools of suffering" imply?

  True nature of war is often ignored
• How does the poem contrast the photographer's experiences with those of the English public?

  Public lives frivolously, unaware of suffering
• What does the photographer's tone reveal about his feelings towards the public?

  He feels anger and disappointment
• How does Duffy depict the readers' superficiality in their response to war photography?

  Through the juxtaposition of 'tears' and 'beers'
• What is the significance of the photographer's solitude in the poem?

  It emphasizes his emotional burden
• How does the poem "War Photographer" compare to "Charge of the Light Brigade"?

  Both show a sense of duty to others
• How does Tennyson's portrayal of war differ from Duffy's?

  Tennyson glorifies war, Duffy critiques it
• What is the rhyme scheme used in "War Photographer"?

  ABBCDD
• What does the photographer's trembling hands signify?

  His agitation and emotional turmoil
• What does the phrase "blood stained into foreign dust" suggest?


  Violence and suffering in conflict zones
• How does the poem depict the relationship between the photographer and his subjects?

  He feels a sense of duty to document them
• What does the use of auditory imagery in the poem achieve?

  It enhances the horror of the memories
• What does the phrase "he stares impassively" indicate about the photographer's feelings?

  His emotional detachment from the situation
• How does the poem's title "War Photographer" reflect its themes?

  It highlights the role of documenting suffering
• What does the phrase "the reader's eyeballs prick with tears" imply about their emotional response?

  It suggests a mechanical, insincere reaction
• How does the poem's rigid structure contrast with its themes?

  It reflects order amidst chaos of conflict
• What does the phrase "he has a job to do" convey about the photographer's mindset?

  His sense of duty despite emotional turmoil
• How does the poem's ending reflect the photographer's realization?

  It emphasizes the public's indifference to suffering
• What does the phrase "the only light is red and softly glows" symbolize?

  The foreboding atmosphere of the darkroom
• How does the use of sibilance contribute to the poem's tone?

  It creates a harsh, unsettling atmosphere
• What does the phrase "he sought approval without words" suggest about the photographer's experience?

  His internal struggle with his role