1. The hospital corridors
Analysis 1
The hospital corridors

2. The hospital corridors
Technique
Line
Quotation
Effect
Word choice 2 3
This emphasises just how powerful the smell is. The "nostrils" come to represent the whole of him. 4 5 6 7
‘trundled’
‘heavenward’
Enjambment
Highlights the finality and uncertainty of death – where do they go?
Repetition
8-9
‘here and up and down and there’
repetition
15-18

3. The hospital corridors
Technique
Line
Quotation
Effect
Word choice 2
‘combs my nostrils’
The word“combs” makes clear to the reader how strong the unpleasant smell is. It is completely filling the persona’s nostrils
Synecdoche 3
“nostrils as they go bobbing along”
This emphasises just how powerful the smell is. The "nostrils" come to represent the whole of him. It is also a light-hearted, comic image which contrasts strongly with what is to come. 4 5 6 7
‘green and yellow’
‘corpse’
‘trundled’
‘heavenward’
suggests pus, urine and vomit
Harsh and dehumanising term
onomatopoeic and therefore suggests the sound that the trolley makes. It is also a word that suggests very ordinary, everyday activity
The corpse is literally going up in the lift, but again the persona’s pre-occupation with death is revealed.

4. Enjambment 6 ‘vanishes’ Repetition 8-9 ‘I will not feel’
Highlights the finality and uncertainty of death – where do they go?
Repetition
8-9
‘I will not feel’
trying to convince himself that he can control his emotions
Repetition of “I will not feel” emphasises how difficult his struggle is.
Enjambment emphasises ‘ not’ and “I have to”. The poet is certain that a time will come when his emotions will have to come out. He is certain that he will have to face emotional trauma but not until he has no choice left.

5. inversion 12 Word choice 13 miraculously repetition 15-18
‘here and up and down and there’
The use of inversion and repetition of “and” in the line “here and up and down and there” emphasises their busyness. They are constantly moving.
Word choice 13
miraculously
the writer believes it is incredible that the nurses, who are so physically small and light are able to bear the great emotional weight of their work, the “burden” of it.
repetition
15-18
Repetition of “so” emphasises the huge number of seriously ill patients that they must cope with in their work