Complete the mind-map on the poem title

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Unseen poetry

• For part of your exam you will get two unseen poems• The first thing you need to do is read the poem twice.• On second reading consider these things:1. Why is the title important? 2. What is the poem about? (Subject)3. What is interesting about the language used in the

poem? (Technique)4. How is the poem narrated? 5. What is the poet’s purpose?6. How does the reader respond?We will explore these today.

Now read the poem ‘The Manhunt'

• Write your first impressions of the poem– What has it made you think about?

This is Eddie Beddoes

This poem is his story.

It is also the story of many men like him. It is the story of men damaged by war. As it is told from the perspective of his wife, it is her story too. It is the story of women whose men return from war with physical and mental scars.

Tasks

• When you have finished the sorting task explore why the poet has used these techniques. Make notes on question 3

• When you have finished reading make relevant notes on questions 2, 4, 5, 6

• When you have finished the discussion task make notes on questions 2, 5, 6

Forgotten Heroes: The Not Dead

• ‘The Manhunt’ was originally aired as part of a Channel 4 documentary, Forgotten Heroes: The Not Dead, in which ‘the painful truth of lives damaged beyond help is made meaningful for the rest of us’ In the film ‘The Manhunt’ is read by Laura, wife of Eddie Beddoes, who served as a peace-keeper in Bosnia before being discharged due to injury and depression. The poem describes the human cost of the conflict as it describes her experience on her husband’s return and the effect on their relationship of the physical and mental scars that he bore.

The War in Bosnia

• The early 1990’s saw a civil war split apart the country that was called Yugoslavia.

• The countries now called Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia fought a brutal, murderous, often illegal war. It was a war of deep hatred along religious divides. This war created the phrase “Ethnic cleansing”.

• British soldiers acted as Peacekeepers, but their orders meant they were not able to actually stop the killing from happening

• Many soldiers were traumatised

Warriors

• As you watch the clip from Warriors write down any emotions that the British soldiers may be feeling

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72-nPk_shGQ

The women waiting at home

• What is the role of Eddie Beddoes’ wife in the poem?

Triptico

Trace the poem

• Use your human template. Trace the journey she takes, placing quotations in the correct places.

Trace the emotional journey

• Now use a different coloured pen write your thoughts about what is being explored at each point.

• For example, ‘the blown hinge of his lower jaw’• This could represent the physical wound from

the bullet, but the reference to ‘jaw’ could also show how difficult it is for the man to discuss his experiences. Therefore, it reflects emotional pain as much as physical pain.

‘The Manhunt’ is designed to create a strong response from the reader

What emotions are created for you as a reader?

Pity CompassionFrustration SadnessTogetherness TendernessSympathy Comfort

TIP: Emotions are called abstract nouns

You have 5 minutes to reflect on the poem

• Transfer your notes into your booklet

‘Never having been to the front line, turning the words, phrases and experiences of these soldiers into verse has been the closest I've ever come to writing “real” war poetry, and as close as I ever want to get’

(Simon Armitage)