POETRY MANHUNT AND QUICKDRAW

How does 'Manhunt' and 'Quickdraw' present difficult experiences of love? (45 minutes)
The poem 'Manhunt' was written by Simon Armitage for women experiencing marital problems after their husbands returned from war. Similarly, 'Quickdraw' has a main theme of painful love and the hope of repairing it. Both poets explore the idea of the women desperately attempting to fix their damaged relationships and describing the suffering that it brings with it.
Simon Armitage devises war metaphors and phrases to present the aftermath of returning from war, which in turn has lead to a difficult experience of love. The words 'damaged/fractured/punctured/broken' create images describing the ex-soldier physically but also referring to how these words could be used to describe the broken love. Therefore, it has been made clear that the love has become painful and traumatic as a consequence of war. Also, the metaphorical use of 'frozen river' and 'blown hinge' reflects a war zone. The word 'frozen' could reflect how the relationship has become still and lifeless. The narrator states that his jaw is a 'blown hinge', suggesting that he is no longer open to her and unable to talk of his traumatic experiences.
The image of violence is also incorporated within 'Quickdraw' through a western theme showing the intensity of the relationship. 'High noon' and 'calamity' implant the image of a standoff in the wild west. This image of the standoff is inferred to be comparable to the relationship through the painful arguing that the once desire has turned into. Duffy references 'hard liquor' to suggest that the relationship is reckless and has turned into something that is unhealthy also that if love goes wrong it can bring difficulties along with it.
'Manhunt' is made up of a series of cuplets. The form of the poem creates a sense of fragmentation and the stages of process and search that the narrator has been through in order to find and heal their love. The series of cuplets can be seen as a ladder that she is trying to climb to retrieve love once more, like the image of the 'broken ribs'. Also, the rhyme scheme is irregular suggesting how the strength of the relationship is constantly changing. There is a personal tone to this poem as much of the topics are personal and it is quite conversational, inferring the woman is talking to her husband but cannot get through due to his physical and mental damage.
Similarly, 'Quickdraw' is structured to reflect the love in the relationship. This poem forms a broken sonnet, showing the effects of the broken love. Duffy may have used enjambment between stanzas to capture the idea of relentless pain and that she does not want to finish the sentence and the relationship. The technique of enjambment has been used to separate 'I'm all' from 'alone' reflecting the isolation the women feels.
Simon Armitage incorporates many delicacy and care adjectives: 'mind/hold/attend'. These words express the women's unrelenting love towards her husband suggesting she will not give up on him. Also, this care can be compared to the image of war which physically describes 'the parachute silk of his punctured lung' and his 'grazed' heart. This reference to damaged organs infers that not only has the war physically scarred him but also to the extent of damaging the love- causing pain.
'Silver bullets' have been referenced in 'Quickdraw' to explore the theme of painful love. These 'silver bullets' capture how the love that has been neglected is hurting her and the cold meaningless kisses he now gives her. Duffy could also be suggesting that the words and kisses are as hurtful and as strong as 'bullets' because the wife has the once joyful memories of romance and desire however now these memories cause pain and resent.
Both poems explore the idea that love, a strong emotion full of joy and happiness, can turn and cause pain and hurt that before would not be expected. The authors have created images in the readers head of physical pain and mental pain that have been created.