The Manhunt

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

• Often writes about initmate moments within relationships to bring relatable experiences to life
• In the collection ‘The Not Dead’
• Poem is inspired by a 2007 television documentry aboout soldiers’ experiences in the Iraq War and their emotional/physical struggles returning to life at home
• Raises awarness of PTSD
• The poem’s speaker represents Laura Beddow the wife of Eddie Beddow who was shot three times causign severe injuries

Question 2

Form

Answer 2

Initially, the couplets rhyme, but this breaks down as the poem progresses.

Enjambment: Reflects continuous suffering.

Couplet-based stanzas with varying length: Represents the changing relationship between two people.

Question 3

Structure

Answer 3

As the poem progresses, it moves down the body

It stops at the heart, which is the shortest stanza

This structure allows the reader to explore his body and mind in the same slow process as his wife

The poem body creates an hourglass shape - a symbol of time

Question 4

Summary of the poem

Answer 4

Lara Bedow gets to know her husband again

physical and pyschological scars

the poem progresses from physical to mental as she gets to know him again

Question 5

Mood

Answer 5

Love

Patience

Pain

Question 6

Language

Answer 6

Ajectives to describe the damage to the body

Metaphors to suggest his body has become a collection of broken objects

verbs to emphasise how the wife cares

Question 7

Key Quotes

Answer 7

And feel the hurt of his grazed heart

And handle and hold the damaged, porcelain collar bone

A sweating, unexploded mine buried deep in his mind

Question 8

‘And feel the hurt of his grazed heart’

Answer 8

• ‘Grazed’ = Scraped past, something is missing in their relationship
• ‘Grazed’ (physical) and ‘Heart’ (emotional) = Connection between physical and emotional pain
• Graze is small but devestating impact
• Alliteration of ‘heart’ and ‘hurt’ - emotional pain

Question 9

‘And handle and hold, the damage porcelain collar bone’

Answer 9

• Two verbs: Shows the wife taking an active role in helping her husband heal
• Metaphor and imagery highlights his fragility
• Suggests that war dehumanizes people
• Alliteration: Gentle and cautious
• Phsyical and emotional pain - long lasting impact of war

Question 10

‘A sweating unexploded mine buried deep in his mind’

Answer 10

• Emotional damage is hidden
• Imagery shows tension and stress caused by memories and PTSD
• ‘sweating’ implies it is active and constant