An exemplar essay: Hotel Room 12 th Floor

In his poem "Hotel Room 12th floor" the poet Norman McCaig describes his impressions whilst on a visit to New York. It is a personal poem as it starts ‘This morning I watched from here’ and in it he describes what he sees but also makes the reader think about something else.

Opening paragraph: (use POINT – EVIDENCE – COMMENT to make a single point and then prove it following which you expand on the point)

The first evidence of that something is not right is the use of a simile to describe a helicopter, "skirting like a damaged insect" This image is effective in creating the unnatural movement of the helicopter, which might be due to it being damaged in some way. It also shows a sense of scale with a large helicopter looking like a small insect against the huge skyscrapers.

Other paragraphs could discuss:

The association of "that jumbo sized dentist’s drill,” with the Empire State Building shocked me, as this is a symbol of New York and all that is attractive about it. By using this metaphor the poet makes the reader think about the pain associated with a visit to the dentist. He may be trying to show that he does not like the Empire State Building so he compares it to something that reminds him of pain and sharp points.

We also see this image through the words, "uncivilised darkness" which give the reader the idea that it's out of control and always happens at night, never during the day. This leaves me to think that these people are like monsters that only come out at night.

In addition, they give the idea of monsters by, "Is shot up by a million lit windows, all ups and a crosses" This creates an image in my head of those symbolic crosses used to keep vampires and monsters away.

Meanwhile just a few blocks away there is poverty, "from coldwater flats," which give an image of dirt and decay and the poverty that leads to crime and violence. McCaig also compares the night scenes in New York to those of the Wild West where there was no law and order and natives ululating ‘the wildest of war whoops’ raced through canyons pursued by the cavalry, much as the criminals of New York race through the streets pursued by the Police as ambulances gather up the victims with their ‘broken bones’. This use of onomatopoeia and alliteration is very effective as it helps portray this image of a wild frontier where even forts and wooden walls of a stockade cannot stop the violence.

The poem also refers closely to the darkness and associates it with evil, "But midnight is not so easily defeated”, giving me the idea they are always trying to beat it but it is impossible to do.

In conclusion I feel that the poet has managed to describe New York by day and by night and give a different image of both to the reader.