The Bright Lights of Sarajevo - Tony Harrison

• “ Muslim, Serb or Croat “

  • In the darkness, race doesn’t not matter - everyone is equal
• “ a girls dark shape is fancied by the boys “ + “ she approves his choice “

  • the young go about their lives
  • Love still shines through
• “ check in her eyes “

  • represents the spark between them
  • Romantic notion - making eye contact
• “ away from where they stand “

  • they want to escape and go somewhere more peaceful / romantic than the war - torn street. This symbolises forever, not just this one meeting.
• “ splintered Pleiades “

  • It is a constellation visible from every inhabited part of the globe.
  • This is symbolic as it is Harrison’s way of reminding us there is hope in all situations
• “ he holds her hand “

  • Alliteration - the importance of a simple gesture.
• “ boy-shape … girl shape “

  • Dehumanizing the couple - what war does to people
• “ the smallest clouds have cleared away “

  • Pathetic fallacy - shows that love can conquer hatred/war
• “ Broken dead “

  • Hyperbole - emphasizes the violence