By Norman McCaig
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To become familiar with poetic techniques
you will need to identify in ‘Visiting Hour’
To begin to analyse key poetic techniques at
Higher level
To identify the key themes and central
concerns of ‘Visiting Hour’
On your own, read over ‘Visiting Hour’ and
begin to form your first impressions. As a
group, fill out your I See, I Think, I Wonder
sheets.
I See = write down what you can see in the poem.
For example: different poetic techniques etc.
I Think = write down what you think is happening
in the poem. For example: what is being
described? Who do you think the speaker is?
What emotions does this poem describe? Etc.
I Wonder = write down any questions you have
about the poem. Is there something you don’t
understand? What issues does this poem raise in
you?
The poet is visiting a dying friend or relative in
hospital, and tries to avoid his emotions on
his way to the ward. When he arrives, he is
overcome by grief and anguish, and leaves
the visit feeling it has been pointless.
What is a theme?
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What a speech, piece of writing, or artistic work is
about
An implicit or recurrent idea; a motif
A salient abstract idea that emerges from a literary
work's treatment of its subject‐matter; or a topic
recurring in a number of literary works. While the
subject of a work is described concretely in terms of
its action (e.g. ‘the adventures of a newcomer in the
big city’), its theme or themes will be described in
more abstract terms (e.g. love, war, revenge, betrayal,
fate, etc.).
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Facing Death (either the dying person, or the
relative)
Isolation surrounding death/emotion
At Higher, you must be able to identify and
analyse a range of poetic techniques. These
may be unfamiliar to you but you will need to
know these for your Textual Analysis NAB and
critical essays.
In groups, try to match the different techniques
with examples from the poem.
A part is used for the whole or a whole for the
part e.g. hired hands for workmen.
A figure of speech in which an implied
comparison is made between two unlike
things that actually have something in
common.
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The description of one kind of sensation in
terms of another condition in which one type
of stimulation evokes the sensation of
another, as when the hearing of a sound
produces the visualization of a colour.
A sensation felt in one part of the body as a
result of stimulus applied to another, as in
referred pain.
The description of one kind of sense
impression by using words that normally
describe another.
The running on of the thought from one line,
couplet, or stanza to the next without a
syntactical break.
Emotive words the writer has chosen on
purpose due to their connotations.
The repetition of a particular word or phrase to
add emphasis.
Grammatical arrangement of words.
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A complete stop in a line of poetry.
A grammatical pause or break in a line of
poetry (like a question mark), usually near
the middle of the line.
A figure of speech that combines contradictory
terms. E.g. old news, open secret.
A simile is a figure of speech that directly
compares two different things, usually by
employing the words "like", "as",
To compare two things that are different to
highlight their opposition.
In your groups, try to match the ten poetic
techniques with examples in the poem. Be
prepared to report back your ideas and self
assess.
A part is used for the whole or a whole for the
part e.g. hired hands for workmen.
“… nostrils/ as they go bobbing along”
Synecdoche is used, since not just his nostrils
are moving along, as the image would
suggest. This emphasises the overpowering
nature of “the hospital smell”, since it has
blocked out his other senses.
A figure of speech in which an implied
comparison is made between two unlike
things that actually have something in
common.
Lots of examples within the poem! “white cave
of forgetfulness”, “withered hand/ trembles
on its stalk”, “glass fang” etc.
The description of one kind of sensation in terms of another
condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation
of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the
visualization of a colour. A sensation felt in one part of the body
as a result of stimulus applied to another, as in referred pain.
The description of one kind of sense impression by using words
that normally describe another.
“the round swimming waves of a bell” – Synaesthesia,
as a visual image describes a sound (signalling the
end of the Visiting Hour?). “swimming” could
suggest the poet’s dizziness (confusion) or tears.
This is from the woman’s point of view, so further
shows her isolation, and the poet’s isolation from
her
The running on of the thought from one line, couplet,
or stanza to the next without a syntactical break.
“What seems a corpse/ is trundled into a lift and
vanishes/ heavenward” –
Enjambment is used here to emphasise the last words
of the lines, carefully chosen to suggest a finality in
death; “corpse” containing very little connotation of
life, and “vanishes” further stressing the poet’s view
that death is absolute. “heavenward” therefore seems
incongruous, although this is simply an example of
MacCaig trying to avoid the seriousness of the visit by
creating whimsical images.
Emotive words the writer has chosen on
purpose due to their connotations.
Again, lots of examples within the poem e.g.
“combs my nostrils”, “corpse”, “miraculously”
etc.
The repetition of a particular word or phrase to
add emphasis.
“so much pain, so/ many deaths …/ so many
farewells” – Repetition of “so” stresses the
frequency of the nurses’ unpleasant dealings,
which supports the high esteem, perhaps
envy, with which he regards the ability of the
nurses to cope.
Grammatical arrangement of words.
“here and up and down and there” – the
unusual syntax (word order) is another
example of the poet trying to lighten the
mood, while also emphasising the number of
nurses he sees. It suggests MacCaig is
looking all around to find a distraction from
his thoughts.
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Complete stop in a line of poetry
A grammatical pause or break in a line of poetry
(like a question mark), usually near the middle of
the line
“Ward 7.” – The abruptness of this non-sentence
jolts the reader, just as we can imagine it
affected MacCaig; this effect is heightened by the
caesura it causes. This is the turning point of the
poem, as he has now reached his relative and
must face his emotions.
A figure of speech that combines contradictory
terms. E.g. old news, open secret.
 “fruitless fruits” – the final words are an
oxymoron: how can a fruit be fruitless? This
captures the poet’s despair at the
pointlessness of the woman’s death being
prolonged, and his inability to help – bringing
fruit has been “fruitless”, i.e. pointless.
To compare two things that are different to
highlight their opposition.
“Nurses walk lightly, swiftly/here and up and
down and there,/their slender waits
miraculously/carrying their burden/of so
much pain.” – Nurses seem delicate/care free
in contrast to their “heavy” burden of dealing
with emotional weight of grief and death.
A simile is a figure of speech that directly
compares two different things, usually by
employing the words "like", "as",
“What seems like a corpse/is trundled into a
life…” – speaker clearly preoccupied with
death and interprets patient in a negative
way.
On your exit card, write down the technique
you feel most confident in identifying and the
technique you feel least confident with.