The Manhunt

Question 1

How does armitage present effects of war in manhunt

Answer 1

War leaves lasting physical and emotional scars which affects both the solider and his wide
Follows Laura’s journey as she attempts to heal her husband, mirroring universal struggle of many war veterans and their families

Question 2

Poem highlights struggles of modern warfare, inspired by

Answer 2

Eddie beddoes who suffered both physical injuries and PTSD after serving in Bosnia

Question 3

“The frozen river …

Answer 3

.. which ran through his face”

Question 4

“The frozen river which ran through his face’

Answer 4

Fragile imagery shows how war damages body
Metaphor - suggests scars on his face but also his emotional detachment
‘Frozen’ - numbness

Question 5

“The frozen river which ran through his face’ compare to Dulce

Answer 5

‘Gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs’ - long term injuries and presents extreme bodily destruction

Question 6

‘The unexploded mine…

Answer 6

…. Buried deep in his mind’

Question 7

‘The unexploded mine buried deep in his mind’

Answer 7

Poem shifts from external wounds to internal struggles which shows his PTSD lasting impact
War imagery -> mine is dangerous even after battle, symbolises hidden emotional pain
‘Buried deep’ - trauma hidden and hard to reach

Question 8

‘The unexploded mine buried deep in his mind’ compared to manhunt

Answer 8

‘His bloody life in my bloody hands’ remains focus on guilt and regret

Question 9

‘Only then would he let me explore the…

Answer 9

…. damaged, porcelain collar bone’

Question 10

‘Only then would he let me explore the damaged, porcelain collar bone’

Answer 10

Exploration of her husbands wounds symbolises her desire to reconnect
‘Only then’ repetition suggests a slow healing process which emphasises patience in love
‘Porcelain’ implies fragility, showing how war even breaks strong soldiers

Question 11

‘Then, and only then, did …

Answer 11

…i come close’

Question 12

‘Then, and only then, did i come close’

Answer 12

Only then - repetition shows a sense of distance remains, implying he may never fully recover
Structures - poem lacks clear resolution, mirroring uncertainty of PTSD recovery

Question 13

Conc

Answer 13

Armitage shows war as something that extends beyond battlefield affecting soldiers physically, mentally and emotionally
Fragile delicate language reflects slow and painful recovery process