To answer an essay question on any poem it is vital that you understand what it is about. This section includes:
- The poem in a nutshell
- A “translation” of the poem, section-by-section
- A commentary of each of these sections, outlining Simon Armitage’s intention and message
'The Manhunt' in a nutshell
'The Manhunt', written by the poet Simon Armitage, explores intimate romantic relationships. The poem focuses on the impact of war and how grief creates distances.
'The Manhunt' breakdown
Lines 1–2
“After the first phase,
after passionate nights and intimate days,”
Translation
- The poem begins by referring to a period of time that has ended
- The phrase “first phase” has military connotations (like the “first phase” of battle)
- The second line refers to the loving reunion between the speaker and a returned soldier
Armitage's intention
- Armitage introduces the theme of time in the first line
- The poem’s first lines suggest a loving relationship
Lines 3–4
“only then would he let me trace
the frozen river which ran through his face,”
Translation
- The speaker says that it was “only” after this that they were able to touch his face:
- The word “trace” implies a gentle, stroking movement
- This suggests that regaining real intimacy between the pair took a long time
- The metaphor of a “frozen river” alludes to the man’s painful, repressed feelings:
- It implies that silenced emotions can be seen in his facial expressions
Armitage's intention
- Armitage introduces the emotional distance between the pair
- The soldier appears hesitant about intimacy, but the speaker is relieved and keen to rediscover their loved one
Lines 5–8
“only then would he let me explore
the blown hinge of his lower jaw,
and handle and hold
the damaged, porcelain collar-bone,”
Translation
- The speaker repeats “only then” to signify the amount of time that had to pass before the soldier allowed real closeness between them:
- The verbs “explore”, “handle and hold” suggest physical intimacy
- The soldier’s injured body is described as a “blown hinge” and “damaged, porcelain” to remind the reader of tangible, physical objects like a plate
Armitage's intention
- Armitage stresses the physical nature of the relationship to draw attention to the way the soldier’s physical injuries have affected the man’s emotions
- Here, the close connection between physical and emotional love are highlighted
Lines 9–12
“and mind and attend
the fractured rudder of shoulder-blade,
and finger and thumb
the parachute silk of his punctured lung.”
Translation
- These lines continue describing the way the speaker cares for the man:
- The speaker’s movements are gentle and careful and imply tenderness
- The soldier’s injuries are described metaphorically with military references to a damaged boat (“a rudder”) and a “parachute”
Armitage's intention
- Armitage depicts a tender moment in the relationship using present tense verbs that highlight the sensual nature of the relationship
- The vivid metaphor draws parallels between the way the soldier was injured and the terrible damage this has done to his body:
- The image of “silk” being “punctured” contributes to a sense of the man’s fragility
Lines 13–16
“Only then could I bind the struts
and climb the rungs of his broken ribs,
and feel the hurt
of his grazed heart.”
Translation
- These lines describe the speaker exploring the man’s body from his “ribs” to his “heart”
- The speaker describes the man’s heart as “grazed”, which implies physical scarring
- Using imagery of climbing a ladder (“climb the rungs”) implies a slow struggle:
- This also, perhaps, implies the man’s height and stature
Armitage's intention
- Armitage refers to physical injuries such as “broken ribs”, but also to a “grazed heart” to convey ideas about the lasting emotional effect of war
Lines 17–18
“Skirting along,
only then could I picture the scan,
the foetus of metal beneath his chest
where the bullet had come to rest.”
Translation
- The speaker continues describing the gradual exploration of the man’s chest: “Skirting”
- They refer to a “scan” or x-ray that shows where a bullet landed
- These lines describe the remnants of a bullet inside the man’s chest
Armitage's intention
- Here, Armitage makes explicit reference to war by describing where the man was shot
- Describing the bullet as a “foetus of metal” references an unborn baby, perhaps alluding to the impact of war and emphasising the idea of his fragility or vulnerability
Lines 19–23
“Then I widened the search,
traced the scarring back to its source
to a sweating, unexploded mine
buried deep in his mind, around which
every nerve in his body had tightened and closed.”
Translation
- These lines increase the poem’s pace as the speaker describes reaching the man’s head, his “mind”
- The phrase “widened the search” suggests that simply identifying physical injuries is not enough to regain intimacy in the relationship:
- By tracing the “scarring” back to its “source” the speaker will help him recover
- The descriptions imply the man represses his thoughts and memories
Armitage's intention
- Armitage describes the depth of the man’s pain and his nerves (his mental health)
- He explores post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its impact on relationships
Line 24
“Then, and only then, did I come close.”
Translation
- The poem ends as the speaker draws a conclusion about how to get “close” to the man
- They say that exploring his mind (his thoughts and feelings) brings a closer connection than exploring his physical injuries
Armitage's intention
- Armitage ends the poem with an emphatic statement to provide resolution
- The poem parallels physical intimacy alongside emotional intimacy to show the damaging effects of war