poetry in depth

• Who is the author of "The Manhunt"?

  Simon Armitage
• What does the metaphor “the frozen river which ran through his face” refer to?

  A scar or wound from trauma
• What does the phrase “frozen river” imply about the man's emotional state?

  It suggests emotional numbness due to trauma
• What does the word “trace” convey in the line “Only then would he let me trace / the frozen river”?

  Careful, delicate exploration of trauma
• How does the phrase “only then” contribute to the poem's theme?

  It emphasizes the cautious navigation of trauma
• What does “the damaged, porcelain collar-bone” symbolize?

  Fragility and vulnerability of the man
• What does the metaphor “the parachute silk of his punctured lung” suggest?

  Fragility of life and breath
• What does the line “Every nerve in his body had tightened and closed” imply about the man's psychological state?

  He has completely shut down emotionally
• What does the repetition of “then, and only then” signify in the poem?

  It highlights the long emotional journey
• What are the main themes of "The Manhunt"?

  • War and Its Aftermath
  • Love and Intimacy
  • Isolation and Emotional Distance
• What does the poem "The Manhunt" explore regarding war?

  The physical and emotional toll of war
• How does the poem depict injuries from war?

  As blending medical and poetic descriptions
• What does the poem suggest about the impact of trauma on relationships?

  It affects both the individual and their partner
• What is the form and structure of "The Manhunt"?

  • Couplets (two-line stanzas)
  • Irregular rhyme and rhythm
  • Enjambment
  • Progressive structure
• What poetic form does "The Manhunt" use?

  Couplets
• How does irregular rhyme and rhythm contribute to the poem?

  It mirrors the unpredictability of trauma
• What does enjambment in the poem signify?

  Slow unraveling of trauma and discovery
• What is the context of "The Manhunt"?

  Written for a documentary about war veterans
• Who is the author of "Sonnet 43"?

  Elizabeth Barrett Browning
• What is the central theme introduced in "Sonnet 43"?

  Love
• What does the phrase “count the ways” suggest about love?

  It is multifaceted and immeasurable
• What does the line “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height” imply?

  Her love is vast and boundless
• How does Browning use moral similes in "Sonnet 43"?

  To elevate her love above superficial emotion
• What does “With my lost saints” refer to in the poem?

  A loss of religious faith or idealism
• What does the final line “I shall but love thee better after death” suggest?

  Love is eternal and transcends mortality
• What are the main themes of "Sonnet 43"?

  • Romantic and Spiritual Love
  • Devotion and Idealism
  • Faith and Eternity
• What is the form of "Sonnet 43"?

  Petrarchan Sonnet
• How does iambic pentameter contribute to the poem?

  It creates a flowing, harmonious quality
• What does the volta at line 9 signify in "Sonnet 43"?

  A shift from abstract to personal love
• What does the repetition of “I love thee” emphasize?

  The intensity and constancy of love
• Who is the author of "London"?

  William Blake
• What does the repetition of “charter’d” in "London" criticize?

  Government and institutional oppression
• What do the “marks of weakness, marks of woe” suggest about the city?

  Visible suffering etched into people's faces
• What does the line “In every cry of every Man” convey?

  Overwhelming, inescapable misery in society
• What does the metaphor “mind-forg’d manacles” imply?

  Psychological chains limiting freedom
• What does the oxymoron “blights with plagues the marriage hearse” suggest?

  Corruption of sacred institutions by decay
• What are the main themes of "London"?

  • Oppression and Injustice
  • Suffering and Despair
  • Corruption of Institutions
• What is the form and structure of "London"?

  Quatrains with ABAB rhyme scheme
• How does iambic tetrameter affect the poem's rhythm?

  Creates a steady rhythm disrupted by harsh imagery
• What does the cyclical structure of "London" suggest?

  An endless loop of misery in society