the emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience

expressing or influenced by tender feelings or emotions, often excessively

the effect or consequence of an action, event, or decision

showing no strong feeling or emotion; detached and impartial

British English CC

Developing interpretations of ‘The Manhunt’ with Simon Armitage

English

Exploring the Eduqas poetry anthology

Understanding ideas of patriotism and optimism in Brooke's 'The Soldier'

Analysing Brooke's presentation of England and patriotism in 'The Soldier'

Considering the context of Sheers' 'Mametz Wood' and the futility of war

Analysing how Sheers presents the brutality and legacy of war in 'Mametz Wood'

Understanding how Armitage presents the effects of war in 'The Manhunt'

Analysing how Armitage presents the effects of war in 'The Manhunt'

Understanding how Hardy presents the consequences of war in 'A Wife in London'

Analysing Hardy's presentation of the consequences of war in 'A Wife in London'

Understanding the realities of war in Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum Est'

Analysing how Owen presents the realities of war in 'Dulce et Decorum Est'

Understanding the connections between Romanticism and Shelley's 'Ozymandias'

Analysing the concept of power in Shelley's 'Ozymandias'

Understanding ideas of power and corruption in Blake's 'London'

Analysing ideas of power and conflict in Blake's 'London'

Critical attitudes to powerful institutions in 'London' and 'Ozymandias'

Understanding ideas of community and resilience in Dharker's 'Living Space'

Analysing ideas of community and faith in Dharker's 'Living Space'

Understanding how Hughes presents the power of nature in 'Hawk Roosting'

Analysing how Hughes presents the power of nature in 'Hawk Roosting'

Understanding the presentation of love in Browning's 'Sonnet 43'

Analysing how Browning presents love in 'Sonnet 43'

Understanding how the woman is presented in Byron's 'She Walks in Beauty'

Analysing how Byron presents the woman in 'She Walks in Beauty'

Understanding ideas of time, family, and pessimism in Larkin's 'Afternoons'

Analysing ideas of time and loss of innocence in Larkin's 'Afternoons'

Understanding 'Cozy Apologia' by Rita Dove

Analysing 'Cozy Apologia' by Rita Dove

Understanding 'Valentine' by Carol Ann Duffy

Analysing 'Valentine' by Carol Ann Duffy

Comparing how poets explore the experience of war in the Eduqas anthology

Comparing how poets explore relationships in the Eduqas anthology

Analysing model answers on poetry from the Eduqas anthology

Planning a written response on poetry from the Eduqas anthology

Writing excellent comparative essays on poetry from the Eduqas anthology

In 'Poetry anthology', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems. In 'Poetry anthology continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons between poems.

In 'A World at War: Poetry', pupils explore how poets presents the atrocities of World War One through their poetry. In 'Poetry anthology', pupils analyse how a variety of different wars have been presented through poetry.

In this unit, pupis explore 14 of the 18 poems from the Eduqas poetry anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis.  Pupils study the poems in a thematically linked order so they can complete comparative and thematic lessons during the unit.

Poetry anthology: first study

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of serious mental health issues including eating disorders, self-harm, suicide or attempted suicide, or the aftermath of such an event.

Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

To highlight the physical pain soldiers feel during war.

To show how war impacts domestic life and relationships.

To focus on the soldier’s emotions exclusively.

To present the soldier's viewpoint in a more direct way.

Why did Simon Armitage use Laura’s perspective in 'The Manhunt'?

Is this statement true or false? Armitage explains that his poetry is meant to reflect “hard truths” and not become overly sentimental.

It mirrors the soldier’s chaotic thoughts.

It reflects the effort of two people trying to reconnect.

It represents the soldier’s struggle to express emotions.

It highlights the formal structure of the poem.

According to Armitage, what is the significance of the irregular rhyme scheme in 'The Manhunt'?

Which word would complete this statement: Armitage states that it is important to create '{{}}' that provokes a specific emotion.

To reflect the relationship between two people.

To emphasise the soldier's individual experience.

To create a rigid structure that contrasts with the content.

Why does Simon Armitage use couplets in 'The Manhunt'?

The medical scan imagery to highlight the physical effects of trauma.

The reference to the soldier’s scars, symbolising the physical damage of war.

The metaphor 'foetus', representing the bullet growing inside him.

The description of the couple's struggle to reconnect after the trauma.

What does Simon Armitage identify as the most significant part of 'The Manhunt' and why does he consider it “deeply ironic”?

Is the statement true or false? The poem 'The Manhunt' appears in a collection of poetry written by Simon Armitage, called 'The Lost Dead'.

two lines of poetry with the same meter and a rhyme at the end of each line.

a single line of poetry with a rhyme in the middle.

two lines of poetry with different meters but the same rhyme.

a group of four lines with alternating rhymes.

The soldier's wife describing his condition after returning from war.

Who is the speaker in Simon Armitage's poem 'The Manhunt'?

In 'The Manhunt', what does Armitage compare the bullet to?

He was dishonourably discharged from service.

He was shot in the neck whilst serving in the Balkans.

He suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

He served as part of the Air Force in the Balkans.

Which of the following statements are true of the soldier that was interviewed for 'The Not Dead' and described in the poem 'The Manhunt'?

In 'The Manhunt,' what word does Armitage use to describe the 'river which ran through his face'.

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Developing interpretations of ‘The Manhunt’ with Simon Armitage

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.