The Manhunt - Simon Armitage Flashcards
Structure
13 two line stanzas
1st line is descriptive, 2nd line describes psychological effects
Themes
Damage to psyche by fighting
Personal relationships
Context
It was written for Channel 4 documentary - Forgotten Heroes - The Not Dead
Poem is read by Laura Beddoes, wife of Eddie Beddoes who served in Bosnia and was discharged due to injury and depression
The poet is the current Poet Laureate
The Manhunt
‘The’ emphasises the serious of the poem and tells us it is obviously about a special man and ‘Manhunt’ implies there is a missing person whether that is real or metaphorical we do not yet know
After the first phase,
after passionate nights and intimate days
The repetition of ‘after’ is an example of anaphora. It stands to emphasise the suspense and suggests that something negative happens, ending the couple’s bliss.
only then would he let me trace
The constant repetition of ‘only then’ is another example of anaphora. The verb ‘trace’ is an intimate gesture suggesting that the narrator is trying to break the emotional distance between her and her partner
the frozen river which ran through his face
The phrase ‘frozen river’ could be seen as a metaphor for his loving feelings which are now hardened but could also refer to his tears which are now unable to flow due to his emotionless, cold state as well as the disturbing, paralysing memories he wants to forget. The phrase ‘ran through his face’ not only personifies the frozen river but also introduces a lexical field relating to the body
only then would he let me explore
the blown hinge of his lower jaw
The phrase ‘blown hinge’ refers to a broken jaw but could also have a more metaphorical reason hinting at his refusal to speak. The noun also dehumanises him, making him seem cold and robotic. The noun ‘jaw’ continues the lexical field of the body but also enables a half rhyme designed to unsettle the reader by making the poem less predictable
and handle and hold
An example of enjamblement. The verbs ‘handle’ and ‘hold’ make the phrase seem so emotional and fragile whilst the alliteration makes it sound like a drawn out breath perhaps caused from reliving painful memories
the damaged, porcelain collar bone
‘Porcelain’ is a very delicate material and it suggests that he is currently quite mentally fragile at the moment. The pairing of such a delicate word with a harsh adjective like ‘damaged’ could perhaps unsettle the reader even more
and mind and attend
the fractured rudder of shoulder blade
The noun ‘rudder’ refers to the steering mechanism on a boat and it suggests that the narrator is helping to steer him towards healing
and finger and thumb
Fingers and thumbs are such small, delicate body parts (continuing the lexical field) which shows both the gentleness and intimacy between them
the parachute silk of his punctured lungs
The repeating p’s of ‘parachute’ and ‘punctured’ is another example of alliteration and helps emphasise how vulnerable a tough soldier now is. It also starts a lexical field of military words
and feel the hurt
of his grazed heart
The words ‘hurt’ and ‘heart’ make up a very distinctive half rhyme. The long vowels in ‘hurt’, ‘grazed’ and ‘heart’ all stand to give a feeling of heaviness to the poem. It’s the shortest stanza which suggests it is a pivotal moment in his journey to healing. This is also suggested through the subtle change in tone
Skirting along,
only then could I picture the scan
The noun ‘scan’ has connotations of a prenatal scan which suggests that she has to embrace the reality of something new, that something new being a bullet that has lodged itself within his chest near his heart
the foetus of metal beneath his chest
The noun ‘foetus’ suggests the bullet has embedded itself in his body and is now part of him. It implies that it is life-changing. There is some irony in it as a baby marks the beginning of a new life but a bullet often marks the end of a life
where the bullet has finally come to rest
The aforementioned ‘bullet’ could be literal but also a metaphor for his deep psychological issues. A lot of soldiers suffer with PTSD post-service
Then I widened the search,
tracing the scarring back to its source
The phrase ‘widened the search’ could be a subtle reference back to the title as she hunts to find the source of all his distress
to a sweating unexploded mine
buried deep in his mind
An ‘unexploded mine’ is capable of exploding at any time and acts as a metaphor for his stress and volatile state. Even though it may be ‘buried deep in his mind’, it’s likely it can be set off by anything causing more distress for both the subject and the narrator
Around which every nerve in his body had tightened and closed.
Then, and only then, did I come close.
The imperfect rhyme of the final stanza suggests that this is only a partial conclusion and she will never be able to truly understand him
Whys
Through his portrayal of the soldier’s psychological trauma, Armitages highlights the ways in which our society often neglects mental health by prioritising addressing physical and visible scars. He stresses the desperate need to improve our mental health provision for soldiers suffering with PTSD, for whom the re-integration into civilian life is already incredibly challenging.
Through the turmoil of Eddie Beddoes, Armitage places the construct of masculinity under scrutiny, stressing a vital need for validating an emotional outlet for men rather than the repression of feelings.
Through the depiction of the relationship between the speaker and her partner, Armitage rejects idealised notions of love and relationships, instead suggesting that it is endurance, resilience and commitment in the face of adversity that proves true love.
Through the use of a female speaker, Armitage reveals how widespread the effects of war can be, leaving scars on relationships and families.
