HitcherI'd been tired, underthe weather, but the ansaphone kept screaming:One more sick-note, mister, and you're finished. Fired.I thumbed a lift to where the car was parked.A Vauxhall Astra. It was hired.

I picked him up in Leeds.He was following the sun to west from eastwith just a toothbrush and the good earth for a bed. The truth he said, was blowin' in the wind,or round the next bend.

I let him have iton the top road out of Harrogate - oncewith the head, then six times with the krooklokin the face - and didn't even swerve.I dropped it into third

and leant acrossto let him out, and saw him in the mirrorbouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down the verge.We were the same age, give or take a week.He'd said he liked the breeze

to run its fingersthrough his hair. It was twelve noon.The outlook for the day was moderate to fair.Stitch that, I remember thinking,you can walk from there.

What Is the poem About?What Is the poem About?

The poem is about a The poem is about a person, who is stressed person, who is stressed out atout atwork. work.

He gets a lift in a hire He gets a lift in a hire car and somewhere near car and somewhere near Leeds, picks up a Leeds, picks up a hitcher who is a hippie.hitcher who is a hippie.

He takes out all his He takes out all his frustration on the hitcher frustration on the hitcher by hitting him with a by hitting him with a ‘krooklok’ and then ‘krooklok’ and then throwing him out of the throwing him out of the moving car to his death. moving car to his death.

Alternative Alternative InterpretationInterpretation

In the poem, Armitage uses italic writing to make In the poem, Armitage uses italic writing to make the poemthe poem

seem like the subject’s boss is speaking to him on an seem like the subject’s boss is speaking to him on an ansaphone recording -ansaphone recording -

““one more sick-note, mister, and you're finished. one more sick-note, mister, and you're finished. Fired.Fired.””

This could show his frustration with work because he This could show his frustration with work because he takes days off. takes days off.

However, it could also show his jealousy of the However, it could also show his jealousy of the hippie because he doesn’t have to worry about work. hippie because he doesn’t have to worry about work.

““He was following the sun to west from eastHe was following the sun to west from eastwith just a toothbrush and the good earth for a bed. The truth,with just a toothbrush and the good earth for a bed. The truth,he said, was blowin' in the wind,”he said, was blowin' in the wind,”

Any other interpretation?!

‘‘Hitcher’ Hitcher’ By Simon By Simon ArmitageArmitage

LO: to understand the poem LO: to understand the poem ‘Hitcher’ using TSLAP.‘Hitcher’ using TSLAP.

Home learningHome learning

For Monday, compose an analytical For Monday, compose an analytical critique of the poem ‘Hitcher.’ (min. 2 critique of the poem ‘Hitcher.’ (min. 2 sides of A4 page.)sides of A4 page.)

Research the background to the poem Research the background to the poem , ‘Our Sharpeville’ by Ingrid de Kok. , ‘Our Sharpeville’ by Ingrid de Kok.

We have 8 poems to complete in 3.5 We have 8 poems to complete in 3.5 weeks- one poem per lesson…ahhhh. weeks- one poem per lesson…ahhhh.

HOMEWORK must be complete!HOMEWORK must be complete!

ThemesThemesThe themes that feature in the poem are:The themes that feature in the poem are:

ViolenceViolence – when he hits the hippie with the krooklok. – when he hits the hippie with the krooklok.

DeathDeath – when he kills the hippie and lets him bounce – when he kills the hippie and lets him bounce off the kerb.off the kerb.

JealousyJealousy - when he picks up the hippie and realises he - when he picks up the hippie and realises he is not tied up with work like him. He is ‘free’.is not tied up with work like him. He is ‘free’.

LonelinessLoneliness – when he is stressed out with work and – when he is stressed out with work and stays off sick on purpose by himself.stays off sick on purpose by himself.

Anger – Anger – when he ‘flips’ and kills the hitcher.when he ‘flips’ and kills the hitcher.

Conflict-Conflict-

UnreliableUnreliable A ‘shirker’A ‘shirker’ Tired, stressed.Tired, stressed. Frustrated with life.Frustrated with life. BrutalBrutal ViolentViolent Lack of guilt of conscienceLack of guilt of conscience GloatingGloating No regard for human lifeNo regard for human life

CarefreeCarefree Lack of responsibilities or Lack of responsibilities or

obligations.obligations. Enjoys life.Enjoys life. Takes pleasure in nature.Takes pleasure in nature. A hippie.A hippie.

The Speaker/Driver The Hitcher

What do you think is the Speaker’s motive for killing

the Hitcher?

LanguageLanguageThe poem is written in the first person The poem is written in the first person which gives it a realistic voice.which gives it a realistic voice.

Colloquial language is also used, such Colloquial language is also used, such as ‘stitch that’ which adds to the as ‘stitch that’ which adds to the realism – as does the lack of imagery in realism – as does the lack of imagery in the poem. the poem.

The repetition of the personal pronoun The repetition of the personal pronoun ‘I’ helps us understand how psychotic ‘I’ helps us understand how psychotic and self centred the character really is. and self centred the character really is.

I let him have it

on the top road out of Harrogate - once

with the head, then six times with the krooklok

in the face - and didn't even swerve.

I dropped it into third

and leant across

to let him out, and saw him in the mirror

bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down

the verge.

We were the same age, give or take a week.

He'd said he liked the breeze

to run its fingers

through his hair. It was twelve noon.

The outlook for the day was moderate to fair.

Stitch that, I remember thinking,

you can walk from there.

Takes his frustrations out on the hitcher. The narrator envies him

Stark violent images- effect?

Enjambment- effect?

Why are the similar ages interesting?

Echo of the Hitcher’s voice, different language from the narrator

Personification, what effect does this create?

Colloquial language- effect?

Return to normality, details of time and weather

The enjambment betweenthe stanzas keeps the tone calm and relaxed – makingthe report of violence even more chilling.

I let him have it

on the top road out of Harrogate - once

with the head, then six times with the krooklok

in the face - and didn't even swerve.

I dropped it into third

and leant across

to let him out, and saw him in the mirror

bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down

the verge.

We were the same age, give or take a week.

He'd said he liked the breeze

to run its fingers

through his hair. It was twelve noon.

The outlook for the day was moderate to fair.

Stitch that, I remember thinking,

you can walk from there.

Takes his frustrations out on the hitcher. The narrator envies him

Stark violent images

Enjambment

Why are the similar ages interesting?

Echo of the Hitcher’s voice, different language from the narrator

Personification, what effect does this create?

Colloquial

Return to normality, details of time and weather

StructureStructure

I let him have itI let him have iton the top road out of Harrogate - onceon the top road out of Harrogate - oncewith the head, then six times with the krooklokwith the head, then six times with the krooklokin the face - and didn't even swerve.in the face - and didn't even swerve.I dropped into thirdI dropped into third

and lent acrossand lent acrossto let him out, and saw him in the mirrorto let him out, and saw him in the mirrorbouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down the verge.bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down the verge.We were the same age, give or take a week.We were the same age, give or take a week.He'd said he liked the breezeHe'd said he liked the breeze

to run its fingers through his hair. It was twelve noon.to run its fingers through his hair. It was twelve noon.The outlook for the day was moderate to fair.The outlook for the day was moderate to fair.Stitch that, I remember thinking,Stitch that, I remember thinking,you can walk from there.you can walk from there.

The enjambment betweenthe stanzas keeps the tone calm and relaxed – makingthe report of violence even more chilling.

Why do many of the lines run over into the next? What effect does this have?

This poem has an unusual structure of five stanzas with five lines of short, medium, and long lengths. Why do you think Armitage chose to use this structure?

The poem is a ‘monologue’. Written in the first person in the form of continuous speech the character often leaves clues about themselves and their story. What effect does this have?

Technique

Summary (Personal Response)

Which of the following statements do you agree with and what is the evidence for your decision?

1. It’s a poem about how stress can lead to random acts of violence.

2. It’s a poem which presents a deeply disturbed man in both a serious and comic way.

3. It’s an insight into the mind of a cold, calculating murderer.

4. It’s an extended metaphor: there is no real victim – the speaker comes to realise that dreams have no place in the real world and he ‘kills’ his freedom loving, imaginative side.

Close Text AnalysisClose Text Analysis ““saw him in the mirrorsaw him in the mirror

bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down the verge.”down the verge.”

This quote shows the character casually This quote shows the character casually reporting on his violence, which shows reporting on his violence, which shows how psychopathic he is. He also uses the how psychopathic he is. He also uses the word ‘bouncing’ in his description, which word ‘bouncing’ in his description, which gives the poem a casual, almost gives the poem a casual, almost humorous tone. humorous tone.

This makes the report of the violence This makes the report of the violence even more chilling.even more chilling.