The Manhunt Flashcards
What context is related to the poem?
The poem is told by the soldier’s wife, Laura. The soldier is called Ed. The poem is showing the impact of PTSD on the soldier himself and those around him. It is on the Bosnian war - Modern conflict.
What is the tone like in the Manhunt?
The tone changes throughout the poem. At the start of the poem where Laura is describing what their relationship used to be like. It is very loving vocabulary that is used. “After passionate nights and intimate days”. Then in the middle of the poem where Laura is describing about the pain and unfolding she has to do of her husband the tone is serious. “Only then could I bind the struts”. Then at the end of the poem she the tone is still reflecting as if she is far away from being able to get the real him back. This shows a hopeless tone. You can see this where is says “Only then did I come close”
What is the structure like In the Manhunt?
At the start of the poem Laura is describing what their relationship used to be like. This is where is says “after passionate days and intimate days”. Then in the middle of the poem Laura is describing the steps she is having to take to unfold her husband. “Only then could I bind the struts”. Then at the end of the poem Laura is describing how long it is going to take for her to get her old husband back “only then, did I come close”.
What is the form like In the manhunt?
The poem is organised into rhyming couplets. At the beginning of the poem the rhyme scheme is strong however as it progresses it become faltered. This could he reflecting the disjointed nature of their relationship
What does the title show?
The title literally means hunting to capture a man. However metaphorically it could mean that Laura is searching for her old husband to come back
Give me a quote that shows metal is beneath Ed’s chest:
“The foetus of metal beneath his chest”
The image of the metal bullet still inside him as a “foetus” suggests that like having a baby the couples relationship will be forever Changed by what he has gone through it may also suggest that the foetus feeds of him and takes his energy perhaps reinforcing the idea that his injuries are life changing.
Give me a quote that Laura is having to climb:
“Climb the rungs of his broken ribs
This quote creates an image of a ladder and a closely observed to detail of her hands exploring the altered body of the her husband. the idea of the ladder is reflective of the effort involved in the wives graduate search for answers and her gradual coming to terms with her husband’s State of Mind
A quote about a bowen hinge:
“The blown hinge of his lower jaw”
The use of the metaphor suggests that the door is physically and metaphorically broken this may suggest that he is no longer open with her perhaps unable to talk of his feelings and experiences
A quote about a mine:
“Unexploded mine burried deep in his mind”
This implies that the source of the problem is not physical but mental and buttons to cause problems at any time perhaps the world is trying to diffuse him the importance of the wife’s care and delicacy is highlighted by her discovery of this problem she has to tread carefully as to not trigger PTSD.
What themes are presented in the Manhunt?
War and it’s lasting effects
Relationships and love
Suffeeing
Who wrote the Manhunt?
Simon Armitage
