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Hotel Room, 12th Floor National 5 PPT
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Context Is an autobiographical poem, written in 1966.
It documents a personal experience of MacCaig’s like ‘Aunt Julia’ and ‘Basking Shark’. Like both of these poems, it’s concerns are not limited to MacCaig – he uses the poem, and his own experiences described, to pose broader questions about humanity. Looks at the balance between light and dark, good and evil and humanity’s role in a developing today’s society. MacCaig makes reference to the technological advances and achievements of modern-day America, such as the Empire State Building and the PanAm skyscraper. However, he also considers the violent past of America (the Wild West), and compares this past aggression to the aggression felt in the country at present. By tracing the thread of violence throughout American history to the present MacCaig suggests that technological progress has not resulted in good society. In this sense, this is a bleak + negative poem that predicts that evil will always exist.
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Mood/Atmosphere The poem begins with light-hearted imagery, with the Empire State Building compared to a ‘jumbo size dentist’s drill’. The mood gradually becomes more serious (sombre) and reflective, with the ominous conclusion that ‘no stockades can keep the midnight out’ as humans seek shelter from the ‘uncivilised darkness’ that night brings.
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Form/Structure ‘Hotel Room, 12th Floor’ is written in free-verse (poetry that doesn’t have a regular rhyme/rhythm) Free-verse often enabled MacCaig to explore themes without a restrictive, defined structure – ‘Hotel Room 12th Floor’ is a good example of this, as is ‘Visiting Hour’. 3 stanzas – no rhyming scheme. It takes the reader through chronological parts of the day, starting in the morning, moving to evening at the close of stanza one before exploring night-time in stanza two.
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Title: Hotel Room, 12th Floor
“Hotel Room” = He is only staying for a short time, passing through. Not permanent. “12th Floor” = he is in an elevated position – high above the city. This allows him a different perspective on the city.
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Stanza One This morning I watched from here a helicopter skirting like a damaged insect the Empire State Building, that jumbo size dentist’s drill, and landing on the roof of the PanAm skyscraper. But now midnight has come in from foreign places. Its uncivilised darkness is shot at by a million lit windows, all ups and acrosses
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Sense of time passing. “I watched” shows he is passive – not involved. “This morning” + “from here” – specific time + location makes feel more realistic. This morning I watched from here a helicopter skirting like a damaged insect the Empire State Building, that Simile Helicopter = symbol of technological advancement Compared to “damaged insect” – connotations of something insignificant, unsteadiness, annoying and broken Word choice “skirting” – is going around in circles like an insect with a broken wing would. It is aimless and broken just like society is. Historical context! The Empire State Building, was the world’s tallest building when poem written. It therefore represents America’s power and progress.
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“come in” suggests midnight is not invited, has turned up.
MacCaig compares iconic landmark – tourist attraction + symbol of America’s power and dominance – to a machine that connotes fear and pain. Symbolises the suffering of people left behind by progress. Suggests that a building of this size is pointless. He seems to criticise an (American) view that ‘bigger is better’. MacCaig also showing his dislike of the appearance of the building. jumbo size dentist’s drill, and landing on the roof of the PanAm skyscraper. But now midnight has come in PanAm – Pan American Airlines, a major airline that connected America to the rest or the world. Symbolic and iconic America’s power and progress. The skyscraper – [imagery/word choice] was their Headquarters in New York connotes freedom and escape. “But” – turning point. No longer morning + TP in atmosphere will become more sinister. “come in” suggests midnight is not invited, has turned up. “Midnight” = connotations of darkness, fear, the unknown
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“foreign” – unfamiliar, unknown, strange, not understood
Something that is not understood is seen as being strange and frightening. Links to the extended metaphor of the “Wild West” –Native Americans seen as savages (“uncivilised”) because were not like the settlers. “darkness” - what cannot be seen is to be feared. Links to a central theme of the constant battle between light and darkness. Suggests a crossword puzzle –visual image of a grid of contrasting squares Suggests that the city is a puzzle with no clues. Connotes business/unpredictability within the structure. from foreign places. Its uncivilised darkness is shot at by a million lit windows, all ups and acrosses 1st sign of violence – links to extended metaphor of Wild West. Assonance (internal rhyme) of ‘million lit windows’ adds impact and scale – suggests strength in numbers against the dark. Darkness in battle with artificial light, alongside its connotations of life, knowledge and progress. Raises questions about humanity’s ability to use its own inventions (electric light in man-made buildings) to combat the inevitable return of night and darkness.
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Stanza Two But midnight is not so easily defeated. I lie in bed, between a radio and a television set, and hear the wildest of warwhoops continually ululating through the glittering canyons and gulches— police cars and ambulances racing to the broken bones, the harsh screaming from coldwater flats, the blood glazed on sidewalks.
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Struggle against the darkness is futile.
Enjambment “not” suggests negativity = pessimistic tone. The use of ’But’ at the start of the sentence links back to “but” used as TP in Stanza 1. Continues the image of battle between good and evil. Extended metaphor portrays the violence of the city as a fight in the Wild West. But midnight is not so easily defeated. I lie in bed, between a radio and a television set, and hear Struggle against the darkness is futile. “I lie in bed” = he is still passive, though now no longer seeing the city outside He is “in” bed, suggesting he is trying to sleep trying to block out violence? Suggesting we are surrounded by technology. Or could suggest MacCaig trying to use technology to drown out the sounds of violence from the city outside.
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The war cries of the Native American warriors charging into battle now suggest a battle of a different kind. “wildest” connotations of uncivilised, brutal culture Sound techniques – alliteration and assonance = flow and rhythm to the line. Suggestion may be hearing “warwhoops” from a Western film on the T.V. Means howl/wail Onomatopoeia repeated stereotypical sound that Native Americans would be shown making in a Western film or TV show. It compares these repeated noises with the constant howl of sirens in the city streets. the wildest of warwhoops continually ululating through the glittering canyons and gulches— police cars and ambulances racing The desert landscape of the Old West has now become the 1960’s New York skyline. Links to the extended metaphor of the ‘Wild West’. “glittering” – refers to lights still fighting against the darkness The war cries of old are now alarming cries of a modern age – sirens “racing” suggests urgency.
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