Question 1: Read lines 1-4: 'In his darkroom he is finally alone, / With spools of suffering set out in ordered rows. / The only light is red and softly glows, / As though this were a church and he a priest.' How does Duffy establish the setting and tone here? What effect does this create?

Answer: Duffy uses religious imagery ('church', 'priest') and sensory details ('red glow') to create a solemn, reverent atmosphere, emphasizing the photographer's solitary, contemplative state.

Question 2: Examine lines 5-8: 'He has a job to do. / Solutions slop in trays / beneath his hands, which did not tremble then / though seem to now.' What does this reveal about the photographer’s emotional state and professional detachment?

Answer: It shows he maintained composure during the work, but the mention of trembling hints at emotional strain or guilt surfacing later, contrasting his outward calm with internal conflict.

Question 3: Quote explosion: Focus on lines 9-12: 'Beling out in the darkroom, he is finally alone, / With spools of suffering set out in ordered rows.' How does Duffy use imagery and structure here to emphasize the theme of suffering?

Answer: The imagery of 'suffering set out in ordered rows' personifies pain as something organized and cataloged, highlighting the way the photographer processes trauma. The structure mirrors the order of the physical and emotional work involved.

Question 4: Analyze lines 13-16: 'He has a job to do. / Solutions slop in trays / beneath his hands, which did not tremble then / though seem to now.' What poetic devices are used here, and what do they suggest about the photographer's internal conflict?

Answer: The use of 'solutions slop' and the contrast between his steady hands and the trembling now evoke the dissonance between professional detachment and personal guilt. The imagery and contrast highlight the emotional toll of bearing witness.

Question 5: Identify and explain the significance of the metaphor in lines 17-20: 'A hundred agonies in black-and-white / from which his editor will pick out five or six / for Sunday's supplement.' How does this comment on the media's portrayal of conflict?

Answer: The 'hundred agonies' metaphor emphasizes the vast suffering reduced to a few images for media consumption, critiquing how the media trivializes human trauma and desensitizes viewers.

Question 6: Quote explosion: Examine the line 'He remembers the cry of this man’s wife, / how he sought approval without words.' What does the word 'approval' reveal about the photographer's internal conflict?

Answer: The word 'approval' suggests the photographer's desire for moral validation or empathy from others, highlighting feelings of guilt or helplessness about his role in documenting suffering.

Question 7: Discuss the imagery in lines 21-24: 'He must, in some distant, sunless, inland / and in his darkroom he is finally alone, / with spools of suffering set out in ordered rows.' How does this imagery contribute to the poem's overall mood?

Answer: The imagery of 'distant, sunless, inland' and the darkroom reinforces themes of isolation and moral darkness. It creates a somber, reflective mood, underscoring the emotional distance between the photographer's work and the outside world.

Question 8: Compare the portrayal of conflict in 'War Photographer' with that in 'Ozymandias.' How does each poem explore the theme of power or loss?

Answer: While 'War Photographer' depicts conflict through the lens of individual moral struggle and emotional trauma, 'Ozymandias' explores the impermanence of power and human achievement. Both poems highlight the transient nature of human influence, but from different perspectives.

Question 9: Extended writing: Plan an analytical paragraph discussing how Duffy uses poetic devices to evoke empathy for the war photographer. Include references to specific lines.

Answer: Students should outline their ideas, noting the use of religious imagery ('church', 'priest') to evoke reverence, contrast between calm and trembling to show internal conflict, and imagery of suffering to generate empathy. They should plan how these devices build an emotional response.

Question 1: Identify examples of how the poem addresses the theme of memory. How does Duffy suggest memory impacts the photographer?

Answer: Duffy shows that the photographer's memories are painful ('agonies') and persistent, affecting his emotional state even in solitude, emphasizing the lasting impact of witnessing trauma.