War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

• The speaker describes a war photographer developing photos in his dark room.

• The pictures depict huge suffering.
• But the speaker describes how most people will glance over a few of them in the newspaper from the comfort of their safe home.
• The speaker says they won't understand fully or do anything about, what they see.

• Carol Ann Duffy is a Scottish poet who was appointed Britain's Poet Laureate in 2009.
• She has won several awards, including an OBE for services to poetry.

• Duffy’s own friendship with a war photographer is the inspiration behind the poem.
• She explores the complex and potentially controversial role of a war photographer, who is so close to horrific events but can do nothing to help.

• Carol Ann Duffy highlights how people in the West are isolated from the horrors of war in other parts of the world.
• We are therefore desensitised to the suffering and only read about it before turning the page to something else.

The poem follows an ABBCDD rhyme scheme. The focus of the poem is constantly changing to show different perspectives on war.

• The focus of the poem moves from:
• • The photographer.
  • To the images of war zones he developed.
  • To the lack of care of those living a safe life in the West.
  • To a brief reflection of the nonchalance (lack of interest or empathy) of the photojournalist towards the suffering.

• The ABBCDD rhyme scheme in each stanza, with most lines being 10 syllables, seems a bit muddled.
• It could reflect the photographer’s futile (useless) attempt to establish order in a chaotic and distressing situation.

The contrast between the comfortable and safe lives of those in countries unaffected by war, and the indescribable horror of those living in war-torn countries is a running theme throughout the poem.

• “Rural England”
• “Ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel”
• “Sunday supplement”
• “Eyeball’s ***** with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers”.

• “Running children in nightmare heat”
• “Cries of this man’s wife”
• “Blood-stained”
• “Fields which don’t explode beneath the feet”

One of the biggest contrasts in the poem is the uncaring attitude of people at home compared to the terrible suffering going on in war.

• “Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh.”
• These one-word sentences/caesura (breaks in the line) give the poem a stop-start feel.
• This could reflect the casual and dismissive tone of those unaffected by suffering.

• The editor in the poem and those who browse the images on a Sunday morning represent these uncaring attitudes.
• They represent the lack of empathy or thought that some people have for those affected by war.

Carol Ann Duffy uses War Photographer to explore the complex and potentially controversial role of a war photographer. A war photographer is close to horrific events but can do nothing to help.

• The poem has a generally neat and ordered form on the page.
• This could mimic the way war photographers have to have a practical, emotionless approach to their work as they face the chaos of war.
• It could also signify the photographer’s serious and careful approach to his work.

• The opening phrase “finally alone” indicates a sense of relief. The photographer is able to separate himself from what he has seen and begin to process it.

• Carol Ann Duffy lets us see the horrors of war through the war photographer.
• “Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh.”
  • The caesura (breaks in the line) and one-word sentences could reflect the photographer slowly considering each country suffering from war and respecting them.

The photographer is compared to a priest in the poem. Other biblical imagery reflects the idea that human life is temporary.

• 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.

• 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.

The poet uses horrific images to make the reader understand the intensity of the suffering caused by war. Here are some examples:

• He refers to children to remind the reader of the innocent lives affected by war.

• The photographer is trying to make sense of something so horrific being in order.
• This is emphasised by the sibilance.

Here are some quotations you might want to remember for your exam:

• Imagery/metaphor.
• This quote hints at the photographer’s efforts to make sense of and order something so horrific.
• There is a contrast between what the photographer tries to do and the reality of conflict.

• This quote is designed to make the reader understand the intensity of the suffering caused by war.
• Duffy refers to children to remind the reader of the innocent lives affected by war.

• Biblical imagery and a metaphor.
• This quote 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.

• “The reader’s eyeballs ***** / with tears, between the bath and pre-lunch beers”
• This quote shows the comfort of those at home who are not directly affected by war.
• This image contrasts with the images of pain that run throughout the poem.

This quote is designed to make the reader understand the intensity of the suffering caused by war.

Here are some themes that come up in War Photographer and other texts.

• On the theme of the reality of conflict, you might want to compare War Photographer to:
  • Remains.
  • Bayonet Charge.
  • Poppies.

• On the theme of conflicting emotions, you might want to compare War Photographer to:
  • Kamikaze.
  • Remains.
  • The Emigree.