Question 1: Describe how the theme of conflict is presented in the opening stanza. What words or phrases suggest the chaos of war?

Answer: The opening stanza uses words like 'darkroom', 'images', and 'spools' to evoke the dark and invasive nature of war photography, highlighting the chaos and intensity of conflict.

Question 2: Analyze the line 'Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh.' What is the effect of listing these locations?

Answer: The listing emphasizes the global scale of war, making the reader aware of the widespread suffering and the photographer’s exposure to multiple conflicts.

Question 1: Find and explain the metaphor in the line 'a half-formed ghost.' How does this metaphor affect the reader’s understanding of the photograph?

Answer: The metaphor 'half-formed ghost' suggests that the photograph captures a haunting, incomplete image that lingers in the mind, emphasizing the ghostly, unresolved trauma of war.

Question 2: Identify a simile used in the poem and discuss its impact on conveying the emotional tone.

Answer: An example is 'as though his hands, which had been 'roughened' by war, 'were the only things left untouched by the horror,' highlighting the contrast between human vulnerability and the brutality of war.

Question 3: Quote explosion: 'His hands, which did not tremble then,'. Analyze the significance of the word 'tremble' in terms of the photographer’s emotional state.

Answer: The word 'tremble' indicates the photographer's inner emotional turmoil and the lasting impact of witnessing horror, contrasting with his outward professional composure.

Question 1: How does Duffy explore the theme of power through the imagery of the photograph and the subject?

Answer: Duffy shows that the photograph holds power over viewers, capturing and freezing moments of suffering, which grants a form of visual authority over the victims’ stories.

Question 2: Discuss how the theme of memory is represented in the poem, particularly in the closing lines.

Answer: The closing lines suggest that memory is haunting and persistent, with the photograph serving as a reminder of the horror that cannot be erased, emphasizing the lasting impact of war.

Question 1: Identify key similarities and differences in how 'War Photographer' and 'Ozymandias' depict the theme of power.

Answer: Both poems explore the corrupting and transient nature of power; 'Ozymandias' shows the inevitable decline of rulers' authority through the ruined statue, while 'War Photographer' highlights the power of images to influence viewers' perceptions of war. Differences include the focus on political authority versus personal trauma.

Question 1: Outline your ideas for a structured response, including key points about language, structure, and themes.

Answer: Introduction highlighting the importance of emotional impact; analysis of imagery and metaphors conveying trauma; discussion of structure emphasizing the contrast between the photographer's calm exterior and inner turmoil; conclusion on how these elements evoke empathy and understanding.