The Manhunt by Simon Armitage Flashcards
What is this poem about?
A wife of a soldier rediscovers who her husband really is after his traumatic experience of war which has physically and mentally scarred him.
‘Passionate days
and intimate nights’
‘Blown hinge
of his lower jaw’
‘Damaged porcelain ‘
collar-bone
What is the structure of this poem?
Different injuries are introduced in different couplets, gradually moving further into the soldier’s body.
‘the foetus of metal beneath his chest’
Could suggest that his injuries are life-changing just like a baby as it takes a lot of energy and it is also painful to give birth. Metaphor comparing the bullet to a foetus emphasising how it is part of him
What is the form of the poem?
The poem is arranged into couplets which initially rhyme perhaps reflecting the couple’s harmony when they were first reunited. However, as the poem progresses the rhyme scheme falters reflecting the increasingly disjointed nature of their relationship.
