Key quote:
"I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said -"
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Key quote:
"I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said -"
Analysis:
Shelley uses a detached speaker to distance himself from the political message of his sonnet to freely comment on the monarchy through an allegory.
Key quote:
"Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert ... Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,"
Analysis:
The ruined statue creates irony, as all that remains of the powerful ruler is broken fragments, contrasting with his arrogance and desire for immortality.
Key quote:
"And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,"
Analysis:
The facial features and use of textual language portray the ruler's cruelty and contempt for his subjects, reflecting Shelley's anti-monarchy stance.
Key quote:
"Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,"
Analysis:
The poet captures the ruler's passionate rage and desire to impose his will on the world through the symbolism of the statue.
Key quote:
"The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;"
Analysis:
The use of contrasting diction ("hand"/"heart", "fed"/"mocked") reveals the ruler's cruelty and true nature.
Key quote:
"My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Analysis:
The arrogant inscription ironically contrasts with the statue's decay, showing the impermanence of power.
Key quote:
"Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare"
Analysis:
The isolated ruins symbolise the temporary nature of human constructions against the ultimate power of nature.
Key quote:
"The lone and level sands stretch far away."
Analysis:
The alliteration and sibilance convey the sense of endless desert sands, which represent the passing of time and the impermanence of human achievements.
Key quote:
"I wander thro each charter'd street,
Near where the charter'd Thames does flow,"
Analysis:
The speaker wanders aimlessly through London's streets, suggesting a feeling of melancholy and a lack of purpose. "Charter'd" implies order imposed on nature and society.
Key quote:
"And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe."
Analysis:
The speaker observes misery and despair on every person's face, emphasised by the use of alliteration, suggesting the widespread, permanent impact of London's problems.
Key quote:
"In every cry of every man,
In every infant's cry of fear,"
Analysis:
The use of repetition suggests the suffering is universal, affecting even innocent infants, eliciting readers' sympathy — as if all are destined for misery.
Key quote:
"The mind-forg'd manacles I hear:"
Analysis:
Blake suggests that people are socially and emotionally shackled by the metaphor of "mind-forg'd manacles", representing their repression and imprisonment.
Key quote:
"How the chimney-sweeper's cry
Every black'ning church appalls,"
Analysis:
The church, meant to care for the poor such as chimney sweeps, is instead appalled by their presence, exposing its hypocrisy and tarnished reputation.
Key quote:
"And the hapless soldier's sigh
Runs in blood down palace walls."
Analysis:
Blake offers a social and political critique of wars waged by the monarchy and elite and the effect of this violence, with the emotive description of "runs in blood" conveying the impact on innocent people.
Key quote:
"How the youthful harlot's curse
Blasts the new-born infant's tear,"
Analysis:
Blake's description of a young prostitute cursing her newborn offers a stark contrast between innocence and brutality, and implies the moral decay of society.
Key quote:
"And blights with plagues the marriage hearse."
Analysis:
The oxymoron of "Marriage hearse" and the diction associated with disease ("blights" and "plague") suggests the destruction of marriage, a pillar of society.
Key quote:
"midnight streets"
Analysis:
Blake's reference to prostitution highlights the social issues and moral corruption present in London at the time that the poem was written.
Key quote:
"One summer evening (led by her) I found
A little boat tied to a willow tree"
Analysis:
Wordsworth contrasts nature's power with human actions as nature, personified, guides the speaker to a boat, symbolising the nurturing and guiding role of nature.
Key quote:
"Straight I unloosed her chain, and stepping in
Pushed from the shore. It was an act of stealth"
Analysis:
The speaker steals the boat, suggesting a moment of rebellion against societal norms, yet finds pleasure in the act, hinting at the allure of nature's freedom.
Key quote:
"Like one who rows, proud of his skill"
Analysis:
The speaker's pride in rowing reflects human confidence, but also foreshadows the impending confrontation with nature's overwhelming power.
Key quote:
"She was an elfin pinnace; lustily
I dipped my oars into the silent lake"
Analysis:
Describing the personified boat as "elfin" adds a magical, supernatural quality to the poem. The speaker believes he can control nature.
Key quote:
"... a huge peak, black and huge,
As if with voluntary power instinct,
Upreared its head ... "
Analysis:
The mountain's emergence portrays nature as a sentient force, heightening tension and fear. Wordsworth shifts from a tranquil depiction of nature to one of ominous foreboding.
Key quote:
"With trembling oars I turned"
Analysis:
The trembling oars signify the speaker's fear and the shift in power dynamics as nature becomes threatening. Wordsworth illustrates nature's unpredictability and the speaker's awe.
Key quote:
"There in her mooring-place I left my bark"
Analysis:
Returning the boat signifies the end of the encounter, but the speaker is left with a troubled mind, indicating the profound impact of his encounter with nature and his understanding of his place within it.
Key quote:
"... my brain
Worked with a dim and undetermined sense
Of unknown modes of being"
Analysis:
The encounter with nature alters the speaker's worldview, leading to introspection and a sense of unease about the unknown aspects of existence.
Key quote:
"Huge and mighty forms, that do not live
Like living men ..."
Analysis:
The speaker's thoughts are consumed by powerful yet lifeless images, symbolising the overwhelming presence of nature in his mind.
Key quote: "
"... No familiar shapes
Remained, no pleasant images of trees,
Of sea or sky, no colours of green fields;"
Analysis:
The speaker's perception shifts from innocence to vulnerability, symbolising the loss of childhood security and the realisation of nature's capacity for both beauty and danger.
Key quote:
"That's my last Duchess painted on the wall"
Analysis:
The Duke introduces the painting of his former wife, displaying possessiveness and pride. Browning sets the tone for the Duke's controlling nature and objectification of women.
Key quote:
"Will't please you sit and look at her?"
Analysis:
The Duke commands the visitor to view the painting, asserting his control. Browning illustrates the Duke's dominance and manipulation over the conversation in this dramatic monologue.
Key quote:
"But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I"
Analysis:
The Duke reveals his exclusive access to the painting, demonstrating his control over who sees it. Browning portrays the Duke's possessiveness and desire to maintain power over his wife.
Key quote:
"— Sir, 'twas not
Her husband's presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the Duchess' cheek; —"
Analysis:
The Duke suggests that the Duchess's blush was caused by others, insinuating her flirtatious nature with the euphemism "spot of joy". Browning highlights the Duke's jealousy and possessiveness towards his deceased wife.
Key quote:
"A heart — how shall I say? — too soon made glad"
Analysis:
The Duke's menacing criticism of the Duchess' nature implies her lack of discernment. Browning exposes the Duke's belief in his superiority and his desire for complete control.
Key quote:
"She thanked men — good! but thanked"
Somehow — I know not how"
Analysis:
The Duke condemns the Duchess' gratitude towards men as Browning underscores the Duke's disdain for her judgment through the use of exclamations and interruptions, revealing his repressed anger.
Key quote:
"Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt,
When'er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile?"
Analysis:
The Duke recalls the Duchess's smile, revealing his frustration at her perceived lack of devotion. Browning suggests the Duke's growing resentment and eventual violent action against his wife through his use of repetition and sibilance.
Key quote:
"— I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together."
Analysis:
Browning describes the Duchess' murder implicitly as “all smiles stopped" at his "command". This conveys the Duke’s absolute power over his wife.
Key quote:
"Will't please you rise? We'll meet
The company below, then ..."
Analysis:
The Duke abruptly turns from the conversation about his former wife, with the courtly formality of his language reflecting his manipulative nature and desire for power.
Key quote:
"Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity"
Analysis:
The Duke directs attention to an artwork, suggesting his authority and control. Browning reinforces the Duke's narcissism and his desire for admiration and exclusive ownership.
Key quote:
"Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,"
Analysis:
Tennyson opens the poem with repetition to emphasise the distance and peril faced by the Light Brigade.
Key quote:
"'Forward, the Light Brigade!'"
Analysis:
The commander's order highlights the soldiers' obedience and duty-bound mindset despite knowing the potential error in command. Tennyson showcases the soldiers' loyalty and selflessness.
Key quote:
"Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.”
Analysis:
Marching into the valley of Death is a biblical reference, which underlines their sacrifice and bravery. Tennyson's use of references to the number of men arguably emphasises the futility of war.
Key quote:
"Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:"
Analysis:
The use of anaphora, a type of repetition, emphasises the solidiers' sense of duty, their heroism and unquestioning loyalty.
Key quote:
"Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them"
Analysis:
Tennyson's use of anaphora reiterates the overwhelming danger faced by the Light Brigade, emphasising their resilience in the face of such adversity and underscoring their valour.
Key quote:
"Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash’d as they turn’d in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army ... "
Analysis:
The depiction of the soldiers' bravery in the face of overwhelming odds reinforces their heroism. Tennyson uses repetition and the poem's rhyme scheme to celebrate their courage and martial prowess against insurmountable challenges.
Key quote:
"When can their glory fade?"
Analysis:
Tennyson's use of a rhetorical question reminds the reader of the enduring legacy of the Light Brigade's valiant charge, highlighting their immortality.
Key quote:
"All that was left of them,"
Analysis:
Tennyson reflects on the devastating toll of the battle, underscoring the magnitude of the sacrifice made by the Light Brigade. The poignant, simple phrase emphasises the enormity of their loss and heroism.
Key quote:
"O the wild charge they made!"
Analysis:
Tennyson celebrates the audacity and fearlessness of the Light Brigade's charge, immortalising their daring feat. The exclamatory tone captures the "wild" intensity of their action.
Key quote:
"Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade"
Analysis:
Tennyson's imperative urges recognition and reverence for the bravery and sacrifice of the Light Brigade. The repetition of "Honour" underscores the poet's call for remembrance.
Key quote:
"Noble six hundred!"
Analysis:
Tennyson concludes with an epithet honouring the soldiers' sacrifice and immortalising their valour in the collective memory. The adjective "Noble" encapsulates their heroic stature and dignity.
Key quote:
"Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knive us ..."
Analysis:
The soldiers endure both physical and mental strain, symbolised by the chilling winds, reflecting the harsh reality of war.
Key quote:
"Worried by silence, sentries whisper, curious, nervous,"
Analysis:
This line indicates the conflicting emotions the soldiers experience, who are constantly on edge and watchful as the use of sibilance suggests.
Key quote:
"Watching, we hear the mad gusts tugging on the wire,"
Analysis:
Nature, represented by the wind, appears hostile, echoing the soldiers' struggle against external forces beyond the enemy.
Key quote:
"The poignant misery of dawn begins to grow..."
Analysis:
The cyclical misery of war is portrayed through the daily rising of the sun, highlighting the endless suffering and futility of conflict.
Key quote:
"Sudden successive flights of bullets streak the silence.
Less deadly than the air that shudders black with snow,"
Analysis:
Even amidst gunfire, nature's elements, like snow, pose greater danger, reflecting the soldiers' vulnerability to the environment.
Key quote: "Pale flakes with fingering stealth come feeling for our faces-"
Analysis:
The snow symbolises an ominous threat, intensifying the soldiers' fear and sense of impending doom, paralleling their inner struggle.
Key quote:
“Slowly our ghosts drag home: glimpsing the sunk fires, glozed
With crusted dark-red jewels; ..."
Analysis:
The soldiers, described as metaphorical "ghosts" to convey their exhaustion, find solace only in fleeting memories, highlighting their detachment from reality.
Key quote:
"Since we believe not otherwise can kind fires burn;"
Analysis:
The soldiers lose faith in a hopeful future, resigned to their fate, as the warmth of life seems distant and unattainable amidst the cruelty of war.
Key quote:
"Tonight, His frost will fasten on this mud and us,"
Analysis:
The poem's despair culminates as nature's frost seals the soldiers' fate, symbolising their entrapment and the inevitability of death.
Key quote:
"The burying-party, picks and shovels in their shaking grasp,
Pause over half-known faces. All their eyes are ice,"
Analysis:
Even in death, the soldiers face cold indifference, with metaphorically frozen eyes reflecting the numbing effect of war's horrors, reinforcing its futility.
Key quote:
"But nothing happens." (Repeated throughout)
Analysis:
The refrain underscores the poem's central theme of futility, echoing the soldiers' resigned acceptance of their grim reality and the unchanging nature of war.
Key quote:
"We are prepared: we build our houses squat,
Sink walls in rock and roof them with good slate."
Analysis:
These lines show the resilience of the islanders who have built sturdy homes to withstand the power of nature. The alliteration reinforces how solid the structures are, and the caesura suggests they are prepared to stop the oncoming storm.
Key quote:
"This wizened earth has never troubled us
With hay, so, as you see, there are no stacks
Or stooks that can be lost."
Analysis:
The earth is described as "wizened" or aged, and the lack of crops suggests the harsh, barren landscape the islanders must endure. The personification of the earth shows its age and wisdom, demonstrating the theme of the power of nature.
Key quote:
"— Nor are there trees
Which might prove company when it blows full
Blast: you know what I mean — leaves and branches
Can raise a tragic chorus in a gale"
Analysis:
The absence of trees removes any potential "company" during the storm, as trees would create an eerie, chorus-like sound, reminding the islanders of the storm's intensity. The storm is referred to as "it", which could indicate that it is an abstract threat.
Key quote:
"So that you can listen to the thing you fear
Forgetting that it pummels your house too."
Analysis:
Nature's power is personified as a violent force "pummelling" the islanders' homes. The second person pronoun "you" is inclusive, drawing the reader into the danger.
Key quote:
"... spits like a tame cat
Turned savage."
Analysis:
The sea, which could be "company", becomes a threat during the storm, as the simile of an angry cat conveys the power of its spray. Nature is untamed.
Key quote:
"We just sit tight while wind dives
And strafes invisibly ..."
Analysis:
Heaney describes the wind with military imagery, "diving" and "strafing" like fighter planes, bombarding the islanders with its invisible force. The power of nature is similarly destructive.
Key quote:
"Strange, it is a huge nothing we fear."
Analysis:
Despite the storm's intensity, the poet comments on the strangeness of fearing something as intangible as "empty air" or "nothing".
Key quote:
"Space is a salvo,
We are bombarded by the empty air."
Analysis:
The use of military terms like "salvo" and "bombarded" personify the storm as a violent, aggressive force attacking the islanders. By using this technique, the poet makes the attack seem personal.
Key quote:
"Exploding comfortably down on the cliffs"
Analysis:
The oxymoron "exploding comfortably" highlights the islanders' ambivalent relationship with the sea, which can be both comforting and dangerous.
Key quote:
"Suddenly he awoke and was running — raw"
Analysis:
The abrupt awakening of the soldier in media res signifies the sudden immersion into the chaos of war. It portrays the rawness of fear and the disorientation experienced in battle.
Key quote:
"Bullets smacking the belly out of the air —
He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm;"
Analysis:
Hughes personifies the bullets as violent and terrifying, attacking the air, suggesting that nature is also a victim in war. The increasing weight of the soldier's rifle, described with a powerful simile, symbolises his changing feelings towards war.
Key quote:
"The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye
Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest,—”
Analysis:
Hughes explores the idea of the loss of patriotism via the "patriotic tear", suggesting that the sense of loyalty and idealism the soldier previously is now felt painfully, metaphorically "molten ore".
Key quote:
"In bewilderment then he almost stopped —"
Analysis:
Hughes illustrates the soldier's existential crisis amidst the chaos of battle. The soldier's momentary halt reflects his confusion as he questions his purpose in the war.
Key quote:
"Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame
And crawled in a threshing circle, its mouth wide
Open silent, its eyes standing out."
Analysis:
The image of the terrified hare symbolises the innocent victims of war, highlighting the brutality and devastation inflicted upon both humans and the natural world.
Key quote:
"His terror’s touchy dynamite.”
Analysis:
The soldier's anxiety is likened to volatile dynamite, emphasising the explosive nature of fear in combat. It underscores the psychological toll of war on individual soldiers.
Key quote:
"Was he the hand pointing that second?"
Analysis:
The soldier questions his role in the grand scheme of war, pondering the arbitrary nature of his actions and the forces that dictate them. Hughes critiques the dehumanisation of soldiers.
Key quote:
"King, honour, human dignity, etcetera
Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm"
Analysis:
Hughes portrays the soldier's abandonment of lofty ideals in the frantic pursuit of survival. This highlights the harsh reality of war, where ideals crumble in the face of immediate peril.
Key quote:
"... his foot hung like
Statuary in mid-stride ..."
Analysis:
The soldier's halted movement, likened to a statue, symbolises the profound existential crisis he faces in the midst of battle. Hughes critiques the senselessness of war and the loss of agency experienced by soldiers.
Key quote:
"To get out of that blue crackling air"
Analysis:
The soldier's desperate desire to escape the chaos of battle is vividly depicted by Hughes. The imagery of "blue crackling air" conveys the visceral intensity and danger of warfare.
Key quote:
"On another occasion, we get sent out
to tackle looters raiding a bank.
Analysis:
The colloquial opening in the middle of a conversation suggests the speaker's weariness with the regularity of such events, highlighting the lack of glory in war.
Key quote:
And one of them legs it up the road,
probably armed, possibly not."
Analysis:
The use of the colloquialism "legs it" suggests the soldier's youth. The uncertainty over whether the looter was armed foreshadows the speaker's later guilt.
Key quote:
"Well myself and somebody else and somebody else
are all of the same mind, so all three of us open fire. "
Analysis:
The speaker's inability to recall specifics reflects a trauma-induced haze, while the phrase "all of the same mind" implies a loss of individuality within the group.
Key quote:
"I see every round as it rips through his life —
I see broad daylight on the other side. "
Analysis:
The soldier's focus on each bullet's impact portrays his growing awareness of the consequences of his actions. The gruesome description marks a shift to greater emotional depth, symbolising a loss of innocence.
Key quote:
"One of my mates goes by
and tosses his guts back into his body.
Then he's carted off in the back of a lorry."
Analysis:
The nonchalant, dehumanising treatment of the looter's injuries and body and casual use of language reflects the soldiers' coping mechanisms in war and highlights the devaluation of life in conflict.
Key quote:
"End of story, except not really.
His blood-shadow stays on the street,..."
Analysis:
The persistence of the looter's blood stain symbolises the indelible mark of trauma on the soldier's psyche.
Key quote:
"and he bursts again through the doors of the bank.
Sleep, and he's probably armed, possibly not.
Dream, and he's torn apart by a dozen rounds."
Analysis:
The recurring intrusion of the looter's image reflects the soldier's inability to escape the trauma. The use of stream of consciousness highlights the relentless nature of PTSD.
Key quote:
"but near to the knuckle, here and now,
his bloody life in my bloody hands."
Analysis:
The immediacy of the memory's impact is conveyed through the phrase "near to the knuckle", highlighting the persistent anguish. The repetition of the stain of blood signifies the enduring guilt and trauma haunting the soldier.
Key quote:
“Then I’m home on leave. But I blink”
The use of the connective "but" and caesura interrupts the speaker's sentence, just as his mind and life are interrupted by the trauma he experienced.
Key quote:
“he’s here in my head when I close my eyes,..."
"not left for dead in some distant, sun-stunned, sand-smothered land
or six-feet under in desert sand,”
Analysis:
The poet suggests that the memory is embedded in the mind of the speaker and the hazy, dream-like description of a foreign land reflects the impact of the trauma.
Key quote:
"Three days before Armistice Sunday
and poppies had already been placed"
Analysis:
The mention of Armistice Sunday and use of reported speech alerts readers to the poem's themes of conflict and remembrance.
Key quote:
"on individual war graves. Before you left,
I pinned one onto your lapel, crimped petals."
Analysis:
Weir vividly describes the intimate act of a mother pinning a poppy on her son's lapel, highlighting the personal sacrifice made by families in war. The intimacy of tone is reflected in the use of "I" and "you" pronouns, highlighting how war affects individuals.
Key quote:
"Sellotape bandaged around my hand,
I rounded up as many white cat hairs
as I could ..."
Analysis:
Mundane details like cat hairs on clothing convey a sense of familiarity, enhancing the poignancy of the speaker's grief and memories.
Key quote:
"Upturned collar, steeled the softening of my face.
I wanted to graze my nose across the tip of your nose."
Analysis:
Weir portrays the mother's struggle to contain her emotions with intimate detail. The oxymoron "Steeled the softening" suggests a poignant internal conflict, subverting typical ideas of bravery in war.
Key quote:
"to run my fingers through the gelled
blackthorns of your hair. All my words
flattened, rolled, turned into felt,"
Analysis:
The tactile imagery of grooming highlights the loss of physical connection. Weir's metaphor of words becoming felt symbolises the depth of the parent's grief and their struggle to articulate it.
Key quote:
"After you'd gone I went into your bedroom,
released a song bird from its cage."
Analysis:
Weir employs metaphor, with the release of a bird symbolising the son's departure. This signifies the parent's act of letting go and the journey towards acceptance.
Key quote:
"skirting the church yard walls, my stomach busy
making tucks, darts, pleats,..."
Analysis:
The repeated reference to clothes-making links parenthood to the formation of something new, but with the use of "tucks", "darts" and "pleats" suggesting containment, echoing the repressed grief the mother feels.
Key quote:
"On reaching the top of the hill I traced
the inscriptions on the war memorial,
leaned against it like a wishbone."
Analysis:
Weir uses sensory imagery to evoke the experience of visiting the graveyard. The comparison to a wishbone conveys the parent's fragility in their grief-stricken state (and seems ironic as a traditional symbol of luck).
Key quote:
"The dove pulled freely against the sky,
an ornamental stitch, I listened, hoping to hear
your playground voice ..."
Analysis:
The speaker uses the image of a dove and of a stitch coming loose to symbolise feelings of loss and frustration. The speaker is stuck in the past and unable to resolve their grief, still listening for their voice on the wind.
Key quote:
"...without
a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf, gloves."
Analysis:
Weir juxtaposes domestic imagery with military terms, emphasising the lack of comfort and support felt by the parent. This highlights the sacrifice made by families in times of conflict.
Key quote:
"In his dark room he is finally alone
with spools of suffering set out in ordered rows."
Analysis:
Duffy portrays the solitude of the war photographer as he confronts the harrowing images captured in conflict zones. The orderly rows symbolise the systematic nature of human suffering, emphasising its presence everywhere.
Key quote:
"The only light is red and softly glows,
as though this were a church and he
a priest ..."
Analysis:
Duffy employs religious imagery to imbue the photographer's task with solemnity, likening it to a sacred ritual. The analogy underscores the gravity of bearing witness to human tragedy and the photographer's role as a mediator between the horrors of war and the public.
Key quote:
"Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh. All flesh is grass."
Analysis:
Through the use of place names synonymous with war, Duffy connects specific conflicts to the transient nature of life. The phrase "All flesh is grass" poignantly conveys the fragility and impermanence of human existence amidst the brutality of war.
Key quote:
"He has a job to do. Solutions slop in trays
beneath his hands, which did not tremble then."
Analysis:
Duffy portrays the photographer's sense of duty juxtaposed with the emotional toll of his task. The description of "solutions slop in trays" underscores the detachment necessary for the photographer to fulfil his role, contrasting with the vulnerability hinted at by his trembling hands.
Key quote:
"Rural England. Home again
to ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel,"
Analysis:
Duffy contrasts the tranquillity of rural England with the chaos of warzones, highlighting the jarring disconnect experienced by the photographer.
Key quote:
"a half-formed ghost. He remembers the cries."
Analysis:
Duffy vividly portrays the photographer's anguish as he witnesses the gradual emergence of haunting images in the darkroom. The imagery of a "half-formed ghost" symbolises the spectral presence of suffering, while the memory of cries underscores the visceral impact of conflict on the photographer.
Key quote:
"A hundred agonies in black and white
from which his editor will pick out five or six
for Sunday's supplement."
Analysis:
The reference to "a hundred agonies" highlights the extensive impact of war.
Key quote:
"From the aeroplane he stares impassively at where
he earns his living and they do not care."
Analysis:
Duffy concludes the poem with a stark commentary on the photographer's detachment from his homeland and the public's indifference to his work. The use of the third-person pronoun "they" emphasises the photographer's isolation and alienation from society.
Key quote:
"Paper that lets the light
shine through, ..."
Analysis:
Dharker uses light as a symbol of enlightenment and truth, suggesting the potential for knowledge and power inherent in even the simplest of materials.
Key quote:
"... this
is what could alter things."
Analysis:
The poet hints at the transformative power of paper, suggesting its ability to influence change and shape destinies, highlighting the significance of seemingly mundane objects.
Key quote:
"the kind [of paper] you find in well-used books,"
Analysis:
Dharker draws parallels between the ageing of paper and the passage of time in human life, implying that experience and wisdom are gained through both.
Key quote:
"If buildings were paper, I might
feel their drift,..."
Analysis:
Through the hypothetical scenario of paper buildings, Dharker critiques the rigidity of human constructions, advocating for adaptability and fluidity.
Key quote:
"Maps too. The sun shines through
their borderlines,..."
Analysis:
The poet uses the image of sunlight penetrating maps to underscore the overpowering force of nature, suggesting that human boundaries and divisions are ultimately meaningless in the face of natural forces.
Key quote:
"Fine slips from grocery shops
that say how much was sold"
Analysis:
Dharker critiques the dominance of consumerism and material wealth, suggesting that the pursuit of monetary gain can lead to a loss of autonomy and control over one's life.
Key quote:
"An architect could use all this,
place layer over layer, ..."
Analysis:
Through the metaphor of architectural design, Dharker explores the transient nature of human creations, advocating for a more fluid and adaptable approach to life rather than rigid structures.
Key quote:
"the kind you find in well-used books,
the back of the Koran, ..."
Analysis:
The poet suggests that even though paper grows older and thinner, it does not lose its importance. Paper is powerful, and Dharker uses the example of a religious book to demonstrate this.
Key quote:
"Find a way to trace a grand design
with living tissue, ..."
Analysis:
Dharker suggests that true beauty and significance lie in the brief and transient aspects of life, advocating for a deeper appreciation of the impermanent and ever-changing nature of existence.
Key quote:
"of paper smoothed and stroked
and thinned to be transparent,
turned into your skin."
Analysis:
The poet concludes by equating the fragility of paper with the vulnerability of human life, urging readers to embrace the transient and delicate nature of existence, finding beauty in its impermanence.
Key quote:
"There once was a country ... I left it as a child
but my memory of it is sunlight-clear"
Analysis:
Rumens' opening line establishes a fairy-tale quality to highlight the fact that the speaker's home is described as a memory rather than reality. The memory is "sunlight clear" but is romanticised by the idealism of youth, and establishes the key theme of the unreliability of memory.
Key quote:
"The worst news I receive of it cannot break
my original view, the bright, filled paperweight."
Analysis:
The speaker claims nothing can diminish the innocence, child-like memories of home, a metaphorical "bright paperweight", but accepts there may be a disconnect between her memory and her home country's present reality.
Key quote:
"That child's vocabulary I carried here
like a hollow doll..."
Analysis:
The poet explores the speaker's struggle to reconcile her past with her present, highlighting the internal conflict between the innocence of childhood memories and the complexities of adulthood. The language she left with had nothing of substance, as the simile "like a hollow doll" suggests.
Key quote:
"I have no passport, there's no way back at all
but my city comes to me in its own white plane."
Analysis:
The speaker has travelled from her home city and has no way of returning, but instead her city comes to her in the form of innocent memories and nostalgia, represented by the colour white.
Key quote:
"I comb its hair and love its shining eyes."
Analysis:
Through personification, the poet portrays the speaker's deep affection for her homeland, transforming it into a cherished companion, symbolising the longing for connection and belonging amidst feelings of alienation and displacement.
Key quote:
"They accuse me of absence, they circle me.
The accuse me of being dark in their free city."
Analysis:
The speaker feels trapped, persecuted and different in her new city, and Rumens uses the pronoun "they" to signify "otherness". No specific cities or countries are mentioned, creating a sense of the universality of the conflicts and difficulties emigrants can experience when forced to leave their homes.
Key quote:
"My city hides behind me. They mutter death,
and my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight"
Analysis:
Through symbolism, the poet illustrates the speaker's protective stance towards her homeland, portraying it as a source of strength amidst external threats and hostility.
Key quote:
"Her father embarked at sunrise
with a flask of water, a samurai sword
in the cockpit, a shaven head"
Analysis:
The poem is told from a daughter's perspective, introducing the ritual her father undergoes before embarking on a suicide mission he is bound to for his country. The narrative perspective conveys the impact on family members, creating distance between the daughter and father.
Key quote:
"and enough fuel for a one-way
journey into history"
Analysis:
Garland starts the line with a conjunction "and" and uses enjambment to convey both his journey and the resolve of the pilot. The completion of his military duty is the ultimate act of patriotism.
Key quote:
"he must have looked far down
at the little fishing boats"
Analysis:
The daughter imagines her father feeling nostalgia for home as he looks down, contrasting signs of ordinary life with the drama of his mission.
Key quote:
"and remembered how he
and his brothers waiting on the shore
built cairns of pearl-grey pebbles"
Analysis:
Vivid childhood memories of family resurface, reminding the pilot of priorities beyond duty. The "cairns of pebbles" are small graves of stones, linking the theme of death.
Key quote:
"the loose silver of whitebait and once
a tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous"
Analysis:
The father's vibrant recollections culminate in the use of powerful sea creature imagery, with the metaphor of the "dark prince" tuna and "silver" whitebait suggesting nature's dominance and beauty. By linking power to nature rather than the pilot, the poet subverts ideas relating to military strength and power.
Key quote:
"And though he came back
my mother never spoke again
in his presence, nor did she meet his eyes"
Analysis:
The dramatic family consequences of the pilot's decision to return and not complete his mission are shown through the cold rejection of his wife, revealing the shame attached to abandoning duty. The poet conveys the extreme responses of some individuals when a soldier defies cultural values and duty to one's country.
Key quote:
"and the neighbours too, they treated him
as though he no longer existed,
only we children still chattered and laughed"
Analysis:
Society's harsh judgement of the pilot is juxtaposed with the innocence of his children, highlighting how cultural ideals of honour are learned, not innate.
Key quote:
"was no longer the father we loved"
Analysis:
The poignant simplicity of this line demonstrates that, in the eyes of his family and his culture, the pilot is now a changed and lesser man, no longer able to receive love or acceptance.
Key quote:
"till gradually we too learned
to be silent, to live as though
he had never returned, ..."
Analysis:
The simplicity of language underlines the tragic nature of the children's actions, as they copy the behaviour of their elders and disown their own father.
Key quote:
"And sometimes, she said, he must have wondered
which had been the better way to die."
Analysis:
The poem's powerful final lines suggest the pilot's unresolved torment over whether sacrificing his life or his family was the greater tragedy, and the daughter's reflection demonstrates that she, too, is left without resolution.
Key quote:
"Dem tell me
Dem tell me
Wha dem want to tell me"
Analysis:
The speaker of the poem is introduced via their voice and dialect, repeating "dem" which refers to his white teachers, teaching him only what they want to teach him. This highlights how the colonial English curriculum was biased towards white history.
Key quote:
"Bandage up me eye with me own history
Blind me to me own identity"
Analysis:
The speaker uses an extended metaphor of blinding to suggest how the education system covered up the history of colonised people, and the frustrated tone establishes the start of the speaker's journey to find his own identity.
Key quote:
"dem tell me bout Dick Whittington and he cat"
Analysis:
Each quatrain of the poem contrasts white historical figures or events with a black historical figure who is not covered in the curriculum.
Key quote:
"Toussaint de beacon
of de Haitian Revolution"
Analysis:
The deliberate change of font highlights the difference between white and black history, and the metaphor of a beacon suggests that Toussaint illuminates the speaker's true identity and history.
Key quote:
"Dem tell me bout de man who discover de balloon
and de cow who jump over de moon
Dem tell me bout de dish run away with de spoon"
Analysis:
Agard juxtaposes references to simple childhood nursery rhymes with the compelling stories of powerful figures from Black history to show the cultural dominance of colonial education.
Key quote:
"Dem tell me bout Lord Nelson and Waterloo
but dem never tell me bout Shaka de great Zulu
Dem tell me bout Columbus and 1492
but what happen to de Caribs and de Arawaks too"
Analysis:
The repetition of "Dem tell me" illustrates the speaker's frustration at being denied access to his history. The colonial control which has dominated his life is also reflected in the dominant stanzas in the poem.
Key quote:
"a healing star
among the wounded
a yellow sunrise
to the dying"
Analysis:
Agard repeats the imagery of illumination and light in the descriptions of Mary Seacole, and the use of natural imagery suggests the longevity and power of these historical figures, like nature itself.
Key quote:
"But now I checking out me own history
I carving out me identity"
Analysis:
The speaker changes from "dem" to "I", showing that he is now taking ownership of his own identity. The use of the present continuous "I carving" suggests that this is an ongoing process, which could still be both difficult and painful.