War Photographer

• What is the key quote that shows mediation in action?


  "The picture showed the little Mother, the almost smile"
• What does the metaphor "The reassurance of the flame is flexible" suggest about a photographer's work?


  It implies that a photographer captures a moment in time but does not convey the entire story.
• How does the metaphor about responding to 'happy' pictures affect our perception of truth?


  It convinces us that the happy images represent the truth.
• What do the images of "sun-gilded girls rolling, silk crumpled on the grass in champagne giggles" represent?


  They represent happiness, wealth, and ignorance of suffering elsewhere in the world.
• How does the juxtaposition of the small girl in a devastated street contrast with the previous images?


  It highlights the inequality and suffering in contrast to the carefree lives of the sun-gilded girls.
• What does the ambiguous ending "blood stain on the wall" allow readers to think about?


  It allows readers to contemplate the fate of the child and the violence of war.
• What is the significance of the juxtaposition of the "small girl" and "first bomb of the morning"?


  It contrasts the innocence of the child with the violence of war.
• What do the simple verbs in "people eat, sleep, love normally while I seek out the tragic and absurd" convey?


  They illustrate the ease of life for some and their ignorance of global suffering.
• What does the image of the girl's instinct to survive taking over her sibling duties signify?


  It signifies the harsh realities of war forcing children into adult roles.
• How does the phrase "mouth too small for her dark scream" create a horrific image?


  It suggests that the child has witnessed too much death and destruction.
• What does the poet's voice convey about the nature of war in "But hell, like heaven, is untidy, like boundaries arbitrary"?


  It conveys the senselessness of war and the randomness of suffering.
• Who is the writer of the poem discussed?

  Carole Satyamurti
• In what year was the poem written?

  1987
• What is the context of the poem?

  • War correspondents capture the truth, but it is often 'managed' before public release.
  • The poem reflects on a photographer's experience in conflict zones.
• What is the perspective of the poem?

  • The persona is a war photographer questioning the morality of their work.
  • It highlights the contrast between the beauty of photographs and the brutality of war.
• How is the poem structured?


  • Five stanzas of free verse create an impression of natural speech.
  • Juxtaposition between contrasting images enhances the message.
• What is the meter of the poem and its effect?


  The poem has a varied meter that reflects the unpredictability of war.
• What is the rhyme scheme of the poem and its effect?

  The poem has an irregular rhyme scheme that emphasizes the chaos of war.
• What is the form of the poem?

  The poem is written in free verse.
• What is the effect of the ellipsis at the end of stanza 4 ("Began to run..")?


  It creates a sense of uncertainty about the child's fate.
• What is the effect of the statement "first bomb"?


  It shows that bombs are a routine occurrence, evoking fear and pity.
• What is the effect of the poignant final image of a "blood stain on a wall"?


  It symbolizes the senseless violence of war and its impact on innocent lives.
• What is the effect of joining the end of stanza one, stanza two, and three in one sentence?


  It emphasizes the contrast between different lives and experiences.
• What is the effect of "to make a subject" standing on its own line?


  It highlights the burden of the subject in the persona's mind.
• What is the effect of "this is how things are" standing on one line?


  It challenges the reader's perception of reality and certainty.
• What is the effect of the repetition of "as" at the beginning of stanzas one and two?


  It shows the contrast between different circumstances and experiences.
• What is the effect of the comparison between "Ascot" and "some devastated street"?


  It highlights the stark contrast between privilege and suffering.
• What is the effect of the full stop at the end of stanza two: "my finger pressed."?


  It signifies the finality of the moment captured in the photograph.
• What is the effect of setting the poem out as if it is in photographs?


  It emphasizes the limitations of photographs in capturing the full reality of war.
• What does the phrase "the reassurance of the frame is flexible" imply?


  It suggests that photographs can mislead viewers about reality.
• What does the phrase "if the picture's such as lifts the heart the firmness of the edges can convince you" convey?


  It conveys that people are drawn to uplifting images, ignoring the harsh realities.
• What do the images of "peach, sun-gilded girls rolling, silk crumpled in champagne giggles" suggest?


  They suggest a shallow, carefree existence in contrast to the suffering depicted elsewhere.
• How does the phrase "small girl staggering down some devastated street" create a contrast with the previous images?


  It emphasizes the fatigue and struggle of the girl compared to the carefree girls.
• What does the ellipsis in "she dropped her burden and mouth too small for her dark scream began to run..." signify?


  It creates a sense of foreboding about the child's fate.
• What does the phrase "first bomb of the morning shattered the stones" imply about war?


  It implies that war is a continuous and destructive cycle.
• How does the phrase "she dropped her burden" reflect the impact of war on children?


  It shows the instinct for survival overtaking familial responsibilities.
• What does the phrase "the picture showed the little mother the almost-smile" reveal about the nature of photographs?


  It reveals that photographs capture only a partial and often misleading narrative.
• What does the phrase "even in hell the human spirit triumphs over all" suggest about the photographer's perspective?


  It suggests an optimistic view that overlooks the harsh realities of war.
• What does the phrase "but hell, like heaven, is untidy, its boundaries arbitrary as a blood stain on a wall" convey about the nature of war?


  It conveys the senselessness and indiscriminate nature of violence in war.
• What is the context of the poem regarding specific conflicts?

  • Not related to a specific conflict.
  • Written during the Iran/Iraq War, various wars in South Africa, and the 'Troubles' in Ireland.
  • Focuses on a photographer's experience capturing vulnerable children in conflict zones.