The Manhunt (Simon Armitage) Flashcards
“After the first phase, after passionate nights and intimate days” (b)
repetition ‘after’ - passing of time & transition: physicsl intimacy to emotional recovery
juxtaposition ‘passionate’ ‘intimate’ - shift from infatuation/lust to deeper understanding
(initial hopefullness of relationship b4 complexities of trauma emerge
“only then would he let me trace the frozen river which ran through his face” (b)
metaphor ‘frozen river’ - scars both physical and emotional, connotes stillness/coldness
act of ‘tracing’ - careful, tentative exploration, wife’s delicate approach.
Anaphora - only then - emphasises slow healing process
(fragile state of the soldier & wife’s gentle determination - reconnect)
‘The blown hinge of his lower jaw’ B
metaphor ‘blown hinge’ - violent disrepair, physical injury & broken nature of communication in relationship
(devastating physical effects of war & emotional damage beneath)
“the damaged, porcelain collar-bone” (m)
metaphor ‘collarbone’ to ‘porcelain’ - fragility, vulnerability & delicacy
contrast - hard material yet fragility, mirrors tension between soldier strength & wounds
(empathy for the soldier, war breaks even the strongest individuals)
“mind and attend the fractured rudder of shoulder - blade” (m)
medical connotation ‘mind and attend’ - Laura healing Eddie
rudder - steers boat - without boat or Eddie cannot function, unable to move forward, loss sense of direction aka she is steering him through his trauma and pain
consonance of heavy d - reader compelled to read line slowly with care, like Laura
(war not only impacted physical, also his sense of identity and purpose, which are now compromised - impacts of war)
‘Bind the struts and climb the rungs of his broken ribs,’ m
assonance - soothing tone like his wife
climb the rungs - continue healing process, progress - going up
engineering metaphor - structural supports, wife role in carefully & patiently rebuilding husbands sense of self and stability
Broken ribs - physical and emotional fragility - wife metaphorically helping hold him together
(Love and commitment - physical and psychological scars intertwine in aftermath of war)
“the foetus of metal beneath his chest” (e)
metaphor ‘foetus’ - new life, ironically shard of metal from wound, relationship changed forever by the trauma - childbirth usually associated with change
Juxtaposition - trauma is embedded & inseparable from soldier’s being
(paradox of recovery, life& growth mount coexist, pain & injury)
“A sweating, unexploited mine buried deep in his mind” (e)
metaphor “unexploited mine” - untapped/hidden trauma, potential of future emotional explosion, potential to cats further destruction
imagery - sweating symptom of ptsd - unpredictably of PTSD
(psychological scars left by war, delicate balance of healing)
“Then, and only then, did I come close” e
repetition of “then” - slow, methodical process of healing
caesura - never actually reach it, hesitation
phrase “come close” - speakers bittersweet realisation, complete understanding may never be possible
(Both progress & limitations of recovery, love’s resilience yet ongoing impact of trauma)
What is the context of “The Manhunt”?
•Inspired by the experiences of Eddie Beddoes, a Bosnian peacekeeper who was severely injured in conflict.
• from perspective of wife
• armitage never a soldier, only spoke to Eddie - could see how deep the scars were without any personal experience
How do structure and form contribute to “The Manhunt”?
Structure: Fragmented couplets mirror physical & emotional fragility of
soldier, painstaking process of recovery
Form: Free verse - unpredictability, uncertain path of healing.
What does the title “The Manhunt” signify?
literal search for a person, military connotations - soldier past
wife’s emotional pursuit to reconnect
What are some possible exam questions and themes for “The Manhunt”?
- relationship between speaker & husband
- healing & perseverance
- love and intimacy
- war and trauma
