Visiting Hourby Norman MacCaig is a poignant exploration of... Show more
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
803
•
31 Aug 2022
•
Visiting Hour by Norman MacCaig: Poem Analysis, Summary & Themes
Visiting Hour Poem Analysis
Norman MacCaig's "Visiting Hour" is a deeply personal and emotionally charged poem that takes readers through the experience of visiting a terminally ill loved one in a hospital. The poem's structure and language choices effectively convey the speaker's inner turmoil and the stark reality of the situation.
Highlight: The poem is autobiographical, drawing from MacCaig's own experience of visiting a dying relative.
The opening lines immediately immerse the reader in the hospital environment:
Quote: "The hospital smell / combs my nostrils"
This powerful sensory image sets the tone for the entire poem, emphasizing the overwhelming and invasive nature of the hospital atmosphere.
MacCaig employs various poetic techniques to enhance the emotional impact:
- Sensory imagery: The poet vividly describes the sights, smells, and sounds of the hospital, creating a palpable sense of unease.
- Metaphors: Throughout the poem, MacCaig uses metaphors to convey complex emotions and ideas.
Example: The patient's room is described as a "white cave of forgetfulness," suggesting isolation and a disconnection from the outside world.
- Personification: The hospital smell is personified as it "combs" the speaker's nostrils, emphasizing its pervasiveness.
- Repetition: The line "I will not feel, I will not feel, until / I have to" demonstrates the speaker's attempt to suppress his emotions.
- Enjambment: The poet uses enjambment to create a sense of unease and to emphasize certain words or phrases.
Vocabulary: Enjambment - The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause.
The poem's structure reflects the speaker's emotional journey:
- The first stanzas describe the hospital environment and the speaker's initial reactions.
- The middle section focuses on the patient and the speaker's observations of her condition.
- The final stanzas explore the emotional distance between the speaker and the patient, concluding with a sense of helplessness and futility.
Highlight: The poem's irregular verse structure and line lengths mirror the speaker's discomfort and emotional turmoil.
Themes in "Visiting Hour" include:
- Mortality and the fragility of life
- The struggle to cope with grief and loss
- The limitations of human connection in the face of death
- The contrast between the clinical hospital environment and intense personal emotions
Quote: "And between her and me / distance shrinks till there is none left / but the distance of pain that neither she nor I / can cross."
This powerful passage encapsulates the central theme of the poem – the emotional chasm that exists between the living and the dying, despite physical proximity.
Norman MacCaig's "Visiting Hour" is a masterful exploration of the human experience of loss and grief. Through its vivid imagery, carefully crafted structure, and emotional depth, the poem offers readers a profound meditation on mortality and the complexities of human relationships in the face of death. Its universal themes and relatable experiences make it a significant work in higher English curricula and a valuable resource for students studying poetry analysis.
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Visiting Hour by Norman MacCaig: Poem Analysis, Summary & Themes
Visiting Hourby Norman MacCaig is a poignant exploration of a hospital visit to a dying loved one. The poem vividly captures the emotional turmoil and sensory experiences of the speaker as he navigates the sterile hospital environment and confronts... Show more
Visiting Hour Poem Analysis
Norman MacCaig's "Visiting Hour" is a deeply personal and emotionally charged poem that takes readers through the experience of visiting a terminally ill loved one in a hospital. The poem's structure and language choices effectively convey the speaker's inner turmoil and the stark reality of the situation.
Highlight: The poem is autobiographical, drawing from MacCaig's own experience of visiting a dying relative.
The opening lines immediately immerse the reader in the hospital environment:
Quote: "The hospital smell / combs my nostrils"
This powerful sensory image sets the tone for the entire poem, emphasizing the overwhelming and invasive nature of the hospital atmosphere.
MacCaig employs various poetic techniques to enhance the emotional impact:
- Sensory imagery: The poet vividly describes the sights, smells, and sounds of the hospital, creating a palpable sense of unease.
- Metaphors: Throughout the poem, MacCaig uses metaphors to convey complex emotions and ideas.
Example: The patient's room is described as a "white cave of forgetfulness," suggesting isolation and a disconnection from the outside world.
- Personification: The hospital smell is personified as it "combs" the speaker's nostrils, emphasizing its pervasiveness.
- Repetition: The line "I will not feel, I will not feel, until / I have to" demonstrates the speaker's attempt to suppress his emotions.
- Enjambment: The poet uses enjambment to create a sense of unease and to emphasize certain words or phrases.
Vocabulary: Enjambment - The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause.
The poem's structure reflects the speaker's emotional journey:
- The first stanzas describe the hospital environment and the speaker's initial reactions.
- The middle section focuses on the patient and the speaker's observations of her condition.
- The final stanzas explore the emotional distance between the speaker and the patient, concluding with a sense of helplessness and futility.
Highlight: The poem's irregular verse structure and line lengths mirror the speaker's discomfort and emotional turmoil.
Themes in "Visiting Hour" include:
- Mortality and the fragility of life
- The struggle to cope with grief and loss
- The limitations of human connection in the face of death
- The contrast between the clinical hospital environment and intense personal emotions
Quote: "And between her and me / distance shrinks till there is none left / but the distance of pain that neither she nor I / can cross."
This powerful passage encapsulates the central theme of the poem – the emotional chasm that exists between the living and the dying, despite physical proximity.
Norman MacCaig's "Visiting Hour" is a masterful exploration of the human experience of loss and grief. Through its vivid imagery, carefully crafted structure, and emotional depth, the poem offers readers a profound meditation on mortality and the complexities of human relationships in the face of death. Its universal themes and relatable experiences make it a significant work in higher English curricula and a valuable resource for students studying poetry analysis.
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user