The Manhunt

• “the blown hinge of his lower jaw”

  • The “blown hinge” is a metaphor for a damaged connection—his ability to communicate may be broken or restricted
  • A hinge is something that allows movement—so this image suggests his injuries have limited his openness, both physically and emotionally
  • Also creates a sense of violence—“blown” suggests something was forcibly destroyed, reinforcing the brutality of war
• “the foetus of metal beneath his chest”

  • Describing the shrapnel as a “foetus” is unsettling—a symbol of new life twisted into something painful and unnatural
  • This line could reflect hope turned sour or the long-lasting consequences of war that now live inside him
  • The image is deeply personal, possibly hinting at lost potential or how trauma replaces future joy
• “And feel the hurt / of his grazed heart.”

  • This is a metaphor for emotional damage as well as physical pain
  • A “grazed heart” suggests his ability to love or feel has been damaged, but not destroyed
  • The word “grazed” implies the wound is superficial, hinting at hope—that healing might still be possible
  • It also shows the speaker’s empathy, as she begins to truly “feel” what he has experienced
• “Only then would he let me trace / the frozen river which ran through his face”

  • The metaphor “frozen river” suggests trauma
  • The coldness implies emotional numbness or detachment
  • The use of “trace” is delicate and gentle, showing the speaker’s careful, loving attempt to reconnect with her partner
  • It shows how emotional scars are as deep as physical ones—the “river” hints at pain running beneath the surface
• Enjambment

  • Many lines flow into the next without punctuation
  • This creates a gentle, flowing rhythm
  • It mimics the delicate process of discovery and reconnection, as if the speaker is feeling her way carefully through memories and wounds
  • The enjambment can also reflect how the trauma doesn’t stop at physical wounds—it spills over into every aspect of their lives and relationship
• Physical to Psychological Progression

  • The poem begins with physical injuries (jaw, ribs, collarbone) and moves toward metaphors for emotional damage
  • This gradual shift in focus from external to internal wounds adds emotional weight to the poem’s ending
  • It mirrors the depth of trauma—starting with visible pain and progressing to what is harder to see and harder to heal
  • The structure itself becomes a metaphor for the layers of damage
• First-Person, Female Voice

  • The speaker is the wife of the injured soldier, and the poem is in first-person
  • Creates intimacy and draws the reader into the speaker’s emotional experience
  • This choice of voice allows Armitage to explore the emotional impact of war on loved ones, not just soldiers
  • It also highlights the tenderness and patience required to rebuild a relationship after trauma
• • The poem is based on the real experiences of a Bosnian war veteran, Eddie Beddoes, and his wife Laura
  • This immediately grounds the poem in modern warfare, unlike WWI/WWII poetry which often glorifies battle or focuses on death
  • It was written as part of a documentary project (The Not Dead) by Channel 4 to raise awareness of PTSD and other unseen consequences of war
  • This was particularly important in the early 2000s when mental health in soldiers was still a taboo topic
• • At the time this was written, PTSD was becoming more recognised as a serious consequence of war
  • The poem shows how trauma doesn't end with the war—it continues at home, affecting not only the veteran but their loved ones too
  • Armitage subtly explores this by showing the wife's struggle to emotionally and physically reconnect with her husband
• • Armitage often focuses on everyday language, real-life events, and human emotion, making him a key figure in contemporary British poetry
  • His work often demystifies traditional masculine roles, especially in war, by showing vulnerability and emotional fragility