Hide and seek Flashcards
‘call’ out. ‘call’ loud
imperative verb
places reader in middle of the game. almost like the speaker is trying to advise the boy
im ready! come and find me!
enthusiastic and excited mood
smell like the ‘seaside’
simile/sibilance/sensory imagery
enables reader to imagine they are there with they boy, increasing empathy for him
seaside - happy connotations
ironic as the boy will have his happy innocence shattered
‘they’ll’ never find you
third person pronoun refers to the other group of boys
be careful that your feet aren’t sticking out
the speaker is cautioning the child
the speaker has a more mature perspective of the world and knows that it can be a hostile place as the boy is about to find out.
the floor is ‘cold’. They’ll probably be…
adjective
negative atmosphere/mood implying a lack of emotional warmth in the group of boys
caesura
emphasises change in mood to something less friendly
never heard them so hushed
implies they might be conspiring against him
you mustn’t sneeze
building tension
needs to remain silent t avoid detection
prowling in.
And here they are,
end stop line
signals the anticipated arrival of the group
when they come ‘prowling’ in
predatory connotations as if the boy is being hunted
creates hostile threatening atmosphere
line 11
imperatives
instructing the boy
caesura
creates short sentences that build tension further
their word and laughter ‘scuffle’
connotations of a fight
creates hostile, violent environment
they must think that you’re very clever
ironic
they boy is ignorant of the gangs intentions
hide in your blindness
deeper metaphorical meaning
blind to the unkindness of his so called friends and more widely the world itself
pronouns: ‘you’ and ‘they’
contrasting pronouns
emphasises they are adversaries not true friends
your legs are ‘stiff’
the boy has been there a long time
the cold ‘bites’ through your coat
personification
threatening and hostile atmosphere
the ‘dark damp’ smell of sand
alliteration
depressing mood
moves in your throat
sensory imagery
reader can empathise with the boy
time to let them know that you’re the ‘winner!’
the boy thinks he’s won the game and doesn’t realise that his ‘friends’; have deserted him
rhyme stops in line 21 and 22
rhyme is harmonious - lack of rhyme signals turning point of the poem as the boy realises his relationship with the other boys is not harmonious - they are cruel
garden ‘watches’
bushes ‘hold their breathe’
personification
ominous and suspenseful
the sun is gone
sun symbolises hope
symbolises boys loss of hope that he’s won the game/ realisation of his so called friends cruelty
Caesura and end stop
lines 25 -26
creates an ominous suspenseful atmosphere
slows pace - reader is waiting for the boys realisation
