#War photographer

• What is the main subject of the text?

  War photographer
• Where is the war photographer in the beginning?

  In his dark room alone
• What does the war photographer feel surrounded by?

  Spools of suffering set out in ordered rows
• What is the only light in the photographer's dark room?

  Red and softly glowing
• What does the red light symbolize in the context of the photographer's work?

  It suggests a somber, serious atmosphere
• What does the photographer prepare to do?

  To develop his photographs
• What does the phrase "all flesh is grass" imply?

  Life is temporary and fragile
• What does the photographer have to do?

  He has a job to do
• What do the solutions slop in trays represent?

  They represent the process of developing photos
• What does the phrase "did not tremble then" suggest about the photographer's feelings?

  He was emotionally detached from the suffering
• What does "Rural England" contrast with in the text?

  Urban war zones
• What does the photographer face in his work?

  pain and suffering
• What does the phrase "simple weather can dispel" imply?

  Ordinary conditions can clear the mind
• What does the phrase "fields which don't explode" suggest?

  Peaceful areas untouched by war
• What do the running children symbolize?

  Innocence amidst chaos
• What is happening in the photographer's surroundings?

  Something strange is occurring
• What do the stranger's features represent?

  They evoke a sense of unease
• What does the photographer remember about the cries?

  They belong to a man's wife
• What does the phrase "sought approval without words" imply?

  Desire for validation through actions
• What does the phrase "blood stained into foreign dust" suggest?


  Violence and suffering in war zones
• How many agonies are mentioned?

  One hundred agonies
• What colors are used to describe the photographs?

  Black-and-white
• What does the editor do with the photographs?

  Picks out five or six for publication
• What do the reader's eyeballs do?

  Prick with tears
• What do the tears symbolize in the context of the text?

  Emotional response to suffering
• What does the phrase "between bath and pre-lunch beers" suggest?

  Casual, everyday life contrasts with war
• What do the stars symbolize in the text?

  Indifference of the universe
• What does the phrase "they do not care" imply about the stars?

  They are indifferent to human suffering
• What does the phrase "the ear earns" suggest about the photographer's experience?

  He feels disconnected from the suffering
• he is finally ...

  alone
• spools of ...

  suffering
• all flesh is ...

  grass
• Ordinary pain where ...

  simple weather can dispel
• A half ...

  formed ghost
• Blood stained into ...

  foreign dust
• ... with tears

  prick
• A hundred ...

  agonies in black and white
• Analyse of "finally alone"

  1. he is away from the warzone
  2. he can get emotional
  3. he can process things
  4. word choice
• Analyse of "spool of suffering"

  1. spools are the solution and finalise the photo
  2. each one of the solutions is a picture of havoc and pain
  3. metaphor
• Analyse of "To ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel"

  1. ordinary pain like minor inconveniences
  2. change in scenery or difference in it rain or sun can determine your mood
  3. warzone don't care about that because of bigger things - real pain