5.1.1

Summary

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Summary of War Photographer

Here's a summary of what happens in Carol Ann Duffy's War Photographer:

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Photography

  • The speaker describes a war photographer developing photos in his dark room.
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Pictures

  • The pictures depict huge suffering.
  • But the speaker describes how most people will glance over a few of them in the newspaper from the comfort of their safe home.
  • The speaker says they won't understand fully or do anything about, what they see.
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Poet

  • Carol Ann Duffy is a Scottish poet who was appointed Britain's Poet Laureate in 2009.
  • She has won several awards, including an OBE for services to poetry.
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Inspiration

  • Duffy’s own friendship with a war photographer is the inspiration behind the poem.
  • She explores the complex and potentially controversial role of a war photographer, who is so close to horrific events but can do nothing to help.
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Purpose

  • Carol Ann Duffy highlights how people in the West are isolated from the horrors of war in other parts of the world.
  • We are therefore desensitised to the suffering and only read about it before turning the page to something else.

Structure and Rhythm of War Photographer

The poem follows an ABBCDD rhyme scheme. The focus of the poem is constantly changing to show different perspectives on war.

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Changing focus

  • The focus of the poem moves from:
    • The photographer.
    • To the images of war zones he developed.
    • To the lack of care of those living a safe life in the West.
    • To a brief reflection of the nonchalance (lack of interest or empathy) of the photojournalist towards the suffering.
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Abbcdd rhyme scheme

  • The ABBCDD rhyme scheme in each stanza, with most lines being 10 syllables, seems a bit muddled.
  • It could reflect the photographer’s futile (useless) attempt to establish order in a chaotic and distressing situation.

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7.1Extract from The Prelude Analysis

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End of Topic Test - Exposure

Themes