Imagery
English Lit: AQA GCSE Poetry - Power & Conflict, topic 5.1.3
Religious Imagery
The photographer is compared to a priest in the poem. Other biblical imagery reflects the idea that human life is temporary.
Stanza 1
- The war photographer is associated with a priest:
- “as though this were a church and he / a priest, preparing to intone a mass”
- “The only light is red and softly glows” (a reference to a continuous red light in Catholic churches that symbolises Christ’s presence).
- This paints the photographer as respectful towards and committed to his work.
- Like a priest, he too is faced with suffering.
Quote: “All flesh is grass”
- This points out the scale of bloodshed and creates a gruesome image in the readers’ head.
- This is also a line from the Bible that means human life is temporary.
Images of Horror
The poet uses horrific images to make the reader understand the intensity of the suffering caused by war. Here are some examples:
“Running children in nightmare heat”
- He refers to children to remind the reader of the innocent lives affected by war.
“A hundred agonies in black and white”
“Spools of suffering set out in ordered rows”
- The photographer is trying to make sense of something so horrific being in order.
- This is emphasised by the sibilance.
Test yourself on Imagery
Which of these quotes is not an example of religious imagery from War Photographer?
What religious figure is the war photographer compared to?
What technique is used to emphasise this horrific image?
“Spools of suffering set out in ordered rows”“Running children in nightmare heat”
What's the effect of referring to children in this quote?