Discuss how Carol Ann Duffy uses contrast in this poem (Originally) and at least one

other to highlight the poems’ main concerns.

General comment

* In “Originally”, we are shown the contrast between a young Duffy, unwilling to accept her new life in a
foreign community, and this contrasts with an older Duffy, a woman who accepts that change is a natural
part of life and believes it must be embraced.

* In “War Photographer”, we are shown the contrast between the calm, dutiful photographer in the war
zone and then the vulnerable, troubled man back home in peaceful England. And also the compassion of
the photographer and the apathy of the rest of the public.

Exam Poem

“I stared at the eyes of a blind toy, holding its paw.”

* Clear contrast between Duffy as a child and as an adult. As a young girl, Duffy was afraid to move city as she
disliked the change and felt she would never fit in. This toy represents Duffy herself: blind to the road ahead
and seeking someone to comfort her and hold her hand. Duffy uses this contrast to explore the theme of
childhood as we see a clear change in her; she has gone from uncertainty to acceptance that things must
chance and we must leave things in our childhood behind.

“All childhood is emigration”

* This metaphor compares childhood to moving to another country. This shows contrast as in some ways
growing up is a huge change that has an extreme and unavoidable impact on our personalities and yet it is
also an ordinary and every day experience. Therefore Duffy shows a contrast as she shows that while we
change as we grow its impact can be variable.

Other Poems

” Home again to ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel, to fields which don’t explode beneath the feet.”

* Through this word choice he notes the contrast between home and the war zones - our problems are sorted
by good weather - no idea of real suffering. “ordinary pain” suggests that the suffering in rural England is not
severe and can be easily overcome. This contrasts to “explode which suggests danger and life threatening
situations. Our children don’t have to worry about landlines whilst playing –Duffy emphasises the injustice
through this contrast.

“All flesh is grass.”

* He appears to be determined to remain detached from the horrors witnessed by accepting that all bodies
must return to the ground eventually. Biblical reference/word choice again ties him to the image of a priest,
hinting that he remains unaffected by what he sees, however this is a contrast with reality as he cannot
remain detached as this is a part of his life and just like nature cannot be stopped nor can his memories.
“Solutions slop in trays beneath his hands, which did not tremble then though seem to now.”

* We see the clear contrast to this strong facade when the alliteration draws our attention to his weakness
while developing pictures. Clearly, the horror of what he has witnessed affects his mentality. After holding it
together for so long, he allows himself to have a moment of weakness when reflecting. Therefore showing a
contrast between his desire for action and his inability to cope. Duffy use the photographer to explore the
theme of apathy as he feels the need to do this job to inform people of the horrors others are experiencing
while we enjoy the comforts of our home.

“A hundred agonies in black and white from which his editor will pick out five or six”

* This hyperbole of “hundred agonies” illustrates connotations of extreme pain and highlights the suffering of
these people that the photographer has experienced and how much he cares about this issue. This contrasts
with the careless indifference of editor shows how little we care for the people suffering far away as he is
able to minimise the issue and select photos for entertainment.

“In his dark room he is finally alone with spools of suffering set out in ordered rows.”

* The word choice of “finally alone” creates an intimate and tranquil setting of his dark room. He’s normally
surrounded by chaos and values this time alone - enjambment creates sense of reflection. This contrasts to
his experience in the war zones as illustrated through the alliteration of “spools of suffering” which draws
attention to the horrific images and the fact he tries to restore order to the chaotic images.

“From the aeroplane he stares impassively at where he earns his living and they do not care.”

* The use of the word choice “impassively” suggests the contrast between the photographer and the English
public. He does not feel as if he belongs in this society as he constantly engages with the suffering abroad
and while he remains detached he does so because it is his job and he cannot understand how the general
public can be so unfeeling as to not care about the problems around the world.