Poems Flashcards
(Manhunt) Title
Searching for a man
The man was lost in a war
‘The’ places focus on this particular manhunt, perhaps because it is not a physical but emotional one.
(Manhunt) after … nights and … days
passionate, intimate
Immediately establishes a relationship between the speaker and the man. The use of the adjectives shows that they were extremely close. Further reinforced by nouns, showing they were always around each other.
(Manhunt) only then would he let me … the … ….
trace, frozen river
Shows that he only let the wife explore his injuries after some time despite the relationship between them, showing the scale of the impact war has had not only on him but on his relationships. ‘Frozen river’ also portrays physical injury. ‘Trace’ has connotations of gentleness.
(Manhunt) let me … the … hinge of his lower …
explore, blown, jaw
‘Explore’ suggests a sense of discovery, showing that war has changed him so much that even his wife has to rediscover him. ‘Blown hinge’ has connotations of physical injury and extreme violence, showing brutality of war
(Manhunt) … the rungs of his … ribs
climb, broken
‘Climb’ suggests that this is a challenge to not only him, but his wife as she tries to help him, showing the strength of their relationship. ‘Broken ribs’ also contrasts his wife’s struggles of actively trying to help him with his struggles of recovering from the war.
(Manhunt) the foetus of … beneath his chest where the … had finally come to …
metal, bullet, rest
- Contrast of foetus and metal
- ‘Foetus’ represents birth, just like the soldier has almost been born again due to how much the war has changed him
- ‘Finally come to rest’ represents how the war has ended but it’s impact has not
(Manhunt) a sweating, … mine buried … in his mind
unexploded, deep
- Shows emotional and psychological effects of war
- Uses physical imagery of war to represent the emotional side
- ‘Buried deep’ shows how difficult it is to get rid of it
- ‘Mine’ shows how gently it must be done to make sure it does not get worse
Manhunt structure and context
- Short stanzas with unstructured rhyme scheme that changes, represents effects of war
- Focus goes from easily seen physical injuries, to difficult to see physical injuries like organs, to emotional injuries
- Originally meant for a documentary about effects of war
- About a man who served in Bosnia before being discharged for depression and injuries
(S43) Let me … the ways
count
- There are so many ways that Elizabeth cannot remember of the top of her head.
- Shows the extent of her love
(S43) ‘I love thee to the … and … and …’
depth, breadth, height
- Three different directions
- Portrays her love as all-encompassing
- Represents how the relationship is at the centre of her life
(S43) ‘For the ends of … and ideal …’
Being, Grace
- Uses abstract objects to describe love
- Religious imagery to make love seem more important
- Reinforces the strength of her relationship
(S43) ‘I love thee …, as they turn from …’
purely, Praise
- Shows how real these emotions are
- Religious imagery suggests that this relationship is as important as religion is to many
(S43) ‘In my old …, and with my … faith’
griefs, childhood’s
- Once again using abstract things to show extent of love
- Links back to the past, stating that she loves him as much as she hates past events that she does not want to look back upon
(S43) ‘I shall but love thee … after …’
better, death
- Their love will only strengthen after death
- Love is more powerful than existence and life itself
- Shows how love will outlive them due to its strength
Sonnet 43 structure and context
- Written in sonnet form
- Repetition of ‘I love thee’
- Written to her husband Robert Browning
- Father did not approve of their love
- Victorian poet, religion was very prominent