Manhunt Flashcards
Beginning quote 1
“after passionate nights and intimate days”
Rhymes with line before “phase” rhyming couplet traditional of love. Shows that change can only happen because of their connection
Beginning quote 2
“Only then would he let me trace / the frozen river which ran through his face”
Full rhyme seems like they are making progress.
Adjective “frozen” highlights the PTSD he is facing. He doesn’t have any identity other than that of his trauma.
Beginning quote 3
“the fractured rudder of shoulder-blade,”
The noun “rudder” has connotations of steering something, the fact that his is fractured suggests that he feels unable to have any direction in his life.
Middle quote 1
“the parachute silk of his punctured lung”
A damaged parachute is useless perhaps suggesting that he is ‘damaged beyond repair’
Middle quote 2
“and feel the hurt / of his grazed heart”
Short stanza suggests only some progress has been made, half-rhyme echoes this.
Verb “grazed” suggests there is emotional damage to his heart, doesn’t know who to trust.
End quote 1
“the foetus of metal”
Juxtaposition between new life and metal, suggesting that this trauma will always be a part of him and could grow into something more serious without help.
End quote 2
“Then, and only then, did I come close”
Use of punctuation shows realisation that the healing process of psychological scars will take a lot longer to heal than physical ones.
Who wrote the poem?
Simon Armitage
Context
- Written about a soldier Eddie Beddoes who fought in the Bosnian war.
- It is written from the POV of his wife Laura.
Form of The Manhunt
The poem is written in couplet long stanzas which have lines of varying length.
There is a rhyme scheme at the beginning but this slowly breaks down.
