War Photographer: Stanza One

“War Photographer: Stanza One: Themes”

Conflict and Suffering

  • The subject of the poem is immersed in the ghastly and brutal reality of war, creating a vivid impression of conflict and human suffering.
  • The darkroom where the photographer develops his images is a metaphorical backstage to pain and atrocities of war.

Isolation

  • The photographer’s isolation in his darkroom reflects the emotional disconnection he must maintain to carry out his job, symbolising the disconnection of the viewers of his photographs from the realities of war.
  • As he works alone, the extent of his isolation is juxtaposed with the extensive readership his photos will later have.

Obligation and Responsibility

  • The photographer performs a driver’s gory obligation by documenting the harsh realities of war, highlighting the poet’s critique of the desensitised attitudes towards war.

“War Photographer: Stanza One: Language and Imagery”

Visual Imagery

  • The poem begins with a powerful visual image of the photographer in his darkroom, capturing the solemn and severe atmosphere of the work he performs.
  • Words like “spools of suffering” and “ordered rows” create a stark image of conflict and pain.

Symbolism

  • The darkroom represents a confined space where the harsh realities of war are developed, establishing an intense atmosphere.
  • The use of “solutions” is a clever play on words, referring both to the chemical solutions used in developing photographs and the lack of solutions to the ongoing suffering captured in the images.

Simile:

  • The simile, “as though this were a church,” emphasises the serious, almost religious aspect of the photographer’s work. His darkroom becomes a sanctuary where he confronts the significant conflicts of our world.

“War Photographer: Stanza One: Tone and Mood”

Serious and Reflective

  • The tone is serious, reflecting the gravity of the subject matter. The use of “finally alone” at the end of the stanza evokes a mood of reflection and solitude.
  • The thought-provoking atmosphere asks us to consider the value and purpose of such conflict photography.

Disquieting Atmosphere

  • There’s a pervading gloomy and disquieting atmosphere, created by words and phrases such as “darkroom”, “finally alone”, and “spools of suffering”. This subtly reinforces the morose nature of war and conflict.