Question 1: In the line 'spools of suffering set out in ordered rows,' what is the significance of the word 'rows,' and how does it contrast with the subject matter?

Answer: The word 'rows' suggests order and control, contrasting with the chaos of suffering depicted, highlighting the photographer's attempt to impose structure on chaos.

Question 2: Describe how Duffy's use of the phrase 'a hundred agonies in black and white' conveys the emotional impact of the photographs.

Answer: It emphasizes the suffering captured in the photographs, with 'agonies' highlighting pain and 'black and white' suggesting bleakness and starkness.

Question 1: Find and explain the metaphor in the line 'a half-formed ghost.' What effect does this have on the reader?

Answer: The metaphor 'a half-formed ghost' suggests the photographer’s inability to fully process or release the images, evoking haunting memories and emphasizing the lingering trauma.

Question 2: Identify a simile used in the poem and discuss its purpose.

Answer: An example is 'as though his hands were money and his fingers were the coins.' This simile emphasizes the commodification of suffering and the detachment of the photographer from the human tragedy.

Question 3: Highlight an instance of personification in the poem and analyze its effect.

Answer: The line 'the reader's eyeballs prick with tears' personifies the reader's eyes, making the emotional response feel immediate and visceral, emphasizing the poem’s impact on the audience.

Question 1: Discuss how the imagery of 'blood stained into foreign dust' contributes to the theme of conflict.

Answer: It evokes the violence and chaos of war, emphasizing the lasting physical and emotional scars, and the foreignness of conflict zones.

Question 2: How does the poem portray the power of photography through its imagery?

Answer: The imagery shows photographs as frozen moments of suffering, capable of evoking strong emotional responses and bearing witness to the horrors of war.

Question 1: Outline key points for comparing how 'War Photographer' and 'Ozymandias' depict the theme of power, focusing on imagery and language.

Answer: Both poems depict the transient nature of power through imagery—'Ozymandias' uses ruined statues and deserts to show the decay of power, while 'War Photographer' shows suffering and trauma as the enduring effects of conflict. Language in 'Ozymandias' emphasizes arrogance and decay, whereas 'War Photographer' highlights emotional trauma and the power of images to evoke empathy.

Question 1: Analyze the quote: 'A hundred agonies in black and white.' Discuss the significance of the keywords and how they contribute to the overall tone.

Answer: The phrase 'a hundred agonies' emphasizes the scale of suffering, with 'agonies' highlighting intense pain. 'Black and white' suggests starkness and emotional coldness, reinforcing the bleak tone of the poem. The combination evokes a sense of overwhelming trauma captured in photographs, making the reader confront the human cost of war.

Question 1: Plan or write an analytical paragraph discussing how Duffy's use of imagery and language devices creates a powerful commentary on the role of the war photographer and the emotional toll of war.

Answer: Students should discuss how Duffy employs stark imagery like 'blood stained into foreign dust' and metaphors such as 'a half-formed ghost' to evoke trauma and memory. They should analyze how language choices like 'agonies' and 'ordered rows' highlight the contrast between control and chaos. The paragraph should conclude by reflecting on how these devices evoke empathy and critique the detachment of war reportage.