Themes & Symbolism

Fragility of Paper/Human Life

As paper, or tissue, acts a symbol for human life, the references to the fragility of paper could also be references to the fragility of human life. Here are the ways in which Dharker emphasises fragility:

Light imagery

“Paper that lets the light shine through”.
This line has religious connotations.
The line also alludes to how thin and fragile paper (/human power) is.

Language relating to thinness or transparency

“Paper that is thinned by age or touching”.

Images of touching

“Pages smoothed and stroked and turned / transparent with attention”.

Repetition

Repetition of the line “paper smoothed and stroked and thinned to be transparent” cements the idea that paper is fragile.

Importance of Paper

Here's a few ways in which Dharker emphasises the importance of paper and her respect for paper:

Recording history

“the back of the Koran, where a hand / has written in the names and histories, / who was born to whom, / the height and weight, who / died where and how on which sepia date.”
This line emphasises the power of paper in recording history.

Images of touching

Gentle, tactile (relating to touch) language reflects the respect shown towards books, particularly religious ones.
- "pages smoothed and stroked".
- "paper smoothed and stroked".

Nature vs Man

Dharker contrasts images of nature and man to show the power of nature. Dharker also contrasts manmade structures with paper to show the ephemeral (short-lasting) nature of human life.

Maps vs the sun

"Maps too. The sun shines through / their borderlines".
There is a contrast between “maps” - man’s attempt to make sense of nature - and the far more permanent, natural power of the “sun”.
This could also be a reference to conflict because conflict often arises over land/territory disputes.

Daylight vs capitals and monoliths

“let the daylight break through capitals and monoliths”.
This natural imagery is contrasted with a description of a manmade structure to highlight how nature will always be more potent than human creations.
“capitals and monoliths” are symbolic of government and human power.

Symbolism

“If buildings were paper, I might / feel their drift, see how easily / they fall away on a sigh, a shift / in the direction of the wind.”
The poet invites us to see how temporary and ephemeral (short-lasting) human structures are through asking us to imagine they were made of paper.

1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

1.1Ozymandias Analysis

1.1.1Summary

1.1.2Key Ideas

1.1.3Themes

1.1.4Irony & Rhythm

1.1.5Key Quotes & Comparisons

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Ozymandias

2London - William Blake (1757-1827)

2.1London Analysis

2.1.1Summary

2.1.2Themes & Structure

2.1.3Themes & Structure 2

2.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

2.1.5Exam-Style Questions - London

3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

3.1Storm on the Island Analysis

3.1.1Summary & Structure

3.1.2Themes

3.1.3Themes 2

3.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Blake & Heaney

4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

4.1Exposure Analysis

4.1.1Summary

4.1.2Personification

4.1.3Themes

4.1.4Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

4.1.5End of Topic Test - Exposure

5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

5.1War Photographer Analysis

5.1.1Summary

5.1.2Themes

5.1.3Imagery

5.1.4Comparisons & Key Quotes

6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

6.1My Last Duchess Analysis

6.1.1Summary

6.1.2Characterisation & Themes

6.1.3Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

6.1.4End of Topic Test - Duffy & Browning

7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

7.1Extract from The Prelude Analysis

7.1.1Summary

7.1.2Personification & Imagery

7.1.3Themes

7.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

7.1.5End of Topic Test - The Prelude

8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

8.1Charge of the Light Brigade Analysis

8.1.1Summary

8.1.2Themes

8.1.3Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons

8.1.4End of Topic Test - Charge of the Light Brigade

8.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Charge of the Light Brigade

9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

9.1Bayonet Charge Analysis

9.1.1Summary

9.1.2Themes

9.1.3Themes 2

9.1.4Structure & Key Comparisons

9.1.5End of Topic Test - Bayonet Charge

10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

10.1Poppies Analysis

10.1.1Summary

10.1.2Theme of Motherhood

10.1.3Imagery

10.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

10.1.5End of Topic Test - Poppies

11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

11.1Tissue Analysis

11.1.1Summary

11.1.2Themes & Symbolism

11.1.3Religion & Conflict

11.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

11.1.5End of Topic Test - Tissue

12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

12.1The Emigree Analysis

12.1.1Summary & Structure

12.1.2Themes

12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

12.1.4End of Topic Test - The Emigree

13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

13.1Kamikaze Analysis

13.1.1Summary & Structure

13.1.2Themes

13.1.3Themes 2

13.1.4Structure, Quotes & Comparisons

13.1.5End of Topic Test - Kamikaze

14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

14.1Checking Out Me History Analysis

14.1.1Summary

14.1.2Themes

14.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

14.1.4End of Topic Test - Checking Out Me History

15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

15.1Remains Analysis

15.1.1Summary

15.1.2Themes: Desensitisation &Trauma

15.1.3Themes: Guilt

15.1.4Themes: Nature of War

15.1.5Structure

15.1.6Key Quotes & Comparisons

15.1.7End of Topic Test - Remains

16Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

Jump to other topics