The Manhunt - W Flashcards
What does the title ‘The Manhunt’ suggest?
The title ‘The Manhunt’ suggests murder, aggression and animalistic imagery
What is the poem about?
The poem is about a wife, Laura, reconnecting with her husband, Eddie, after he returns from the Bosnian War, as she aids his physical & mental recovery.
Why was the poem written?
Armitage wrote the poem for a Channel 4 documentary called ‘Forgotten Heroes: The Not Dead’ which tries to give a voice to voiceless soldiers who are mentally and physically scarred.
What is the structure of the poem? What does it capture?
The poem is made up of a series of couplets & uses enjambment often. The structure captures the slow and steady process of Eddie’s recovery.
Name the first theme of the poem. Explain.
One theme of the poem is LOVE. Laura is sensitive in her gradual reconnection with her husband, as she wants to know him again & understand his pain.
Name the second theme of the poem. Explain.
The second theme of the poem is WAR. The soldier (Eddie) has been fighting in the Bosnian War and suffers from PTSD because of it. The poem is cricticising war and its everlasting pain.
Name the third theme of the poem. Explain.
The third theme of the poem is HOPE. The poem represents the slow but moving process of mental & physical healing showing that Laura will eventually understand her husband’s pain.
“after passionate nights and intimate days”
loving, positive tone
suggests the soldier & his wife had a loving, sexual relationship
“the rungs of his broken ribs”
anatomical imagery/miltary phrase
implies the devastating impact war has had on Eddie
“only then”
repetition
it suggests the patient process of Laura reconnecting with her husband.
“and handle and hold”
repeated structure of verbs
Laura is taking an active part in Eddie’s recovery
“unexploded mine”
violent/militaristic imagery
Eddie’s PTSD has left a bigger scar than his physical ones
