The Manhunt Think about the images below Can

The Manhunt

Think about the images below. Can you find a quote from the poem to match?

War Poetry n What do we expect of war poetry in terms of themes, ideas and language? n What similarities and differences exist between these poems and Armitage’s? n Is ‘The Manhunt’ a war poem?

Background n guardian. co. uk/culture/tvandradioblog/2007/nov/13/lastnightstvforgottenher oe n entertainment. timesonline. co. uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/poetry/a rticle 2785336. ece n library. digiguide. com/lib/uk-tv-highlight/Forgotten+Heroes-1765 n independent. co. uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/review-a-first-world-warweepie-and-angry-poetry-from-old-soldiers-were-highlights-of-a-superbremembrance-day-759959. html

Themes and Issues: ‘The boy came seeking comfort’ What event or situation does the poem portray? n Does this event take place in the past? The present? Is it ongoing? n What feelings and emotions are explored? n What is the attitude of the narrator towards the person who is the subject of the poem? How is this person presented? n

Language: ‘White blisters beaded on his tender skin. ’ How is imagery used? n What is the effect of repetition? n How is language used to describe each loved one’s injuries? n Discuss the use of military/warlike language. n What other features of language are used? n

Structure: ‘My son would often feel sharp wounds again. ’ What is the rhythm of the poem? Significance? n Narrative viewpoint? n How does the poem begin, end and what happens in between? n Does the narrator come to any conclusion/discovery? At what point? n

Tone: ‘I took my billhook, honed the blade And went outside and slashed in fury with it’ The tone at different points in the poem. n How language and structural devices contribute to the tone of the poem. n