Hitcher By Simon Armitage LO: to understand the poem Hitcher using TSLAP. I'd been tired, under the 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 east with 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 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. What Is the poem About? The poem is about a person, who is stressed out at work. He gets a lift in a hire car and somewhere near Leeds, picks up a hitcher who is a hippie. He takes out all his frustration on the hitcher by hitting him with a krooklok and then throwing him out of the moving car to his death. Themes
The themes that feature in the poem are: Violence when he hits the hippie with the krooklok. Death when he kills the hippie and lets him bounce off the kerb. Jealousy - when he picks up the hippie and realises he is not tied up with work like him. He is free. Loneliness when he is stressed out with work and stays off sick on purpose by himself. Anger when he flips and kills the hitcher.
Language The poem is written in the first person which gives it a realistic voice. Colloquial language is also used, such as stitch that which adds to the realism as does the lack of imagery in the poem. The repetition of the personal pronoun I helps us understand how psychotic and self centred the character really is. First person narrative; immediacy Hitcher I'd been tired, under Fed up with his job? Why the unusual spelling?
the weather, but the ansaphone kept enjambm ent screaming: One more sick-note, mister, and you're Matter of fact tone Why the use of italics? finished. Fired. Sounds romantic. The hitcher has freedom and no responsibiliti es A Vauxhall Astra. It was hired. People putting
pressure on him I thumbed a lift to where the car was parked. I picked him up in Leeds. He was following the sun to west from east Echo of Bob Dylan song blowin in the wind with just a toothbrush and the good earth for a bed. The truth he said, was blowin' in the wind, or round the next bend. Takes his frustrations out on the hitcher. The narrator envies him
I let him have it on the top road out of Harrogate - once Stark violent with the head, then six times with the krooklok in the face - and didn't even swerve. images I dropped it into third Enjambment and leant across to let him out, and saw him in the mirror Echo of the Hitchers voice, different language from the narrator Colloquia l
bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down the verge. Why are the similar ages We were the same age, give or take a week. interesting? He'd said he liked the breeze what Personification, effect does this create? to run its fingers Return to normality, through his hair. It was twelve noon. details of The outlook for the day was moderate to time fair.and weather Stitch that, I remember thinking, you can walk from there.
Close Text Analysis saw him in the mirror bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down the verge. This quote shows the character casually reporting on his violence, which shows how psychopathic he is. He also uses the word bouncing in his description, which gives the poem a casual, almost humorous tone. This makes the report of the violence even more chilling. Alternative Interpretation In the poem, Armitage uses italic writing to make the poem seem like the subjects boss is speaking to him on an
ansaphone recording one more sick-note, mister, and you're finished. Fired. This could show his frustration with work because he takes days off. However it could also show his jealousy of the hippie because he doesnt have to worry about work. He was following the sun to west from east with just a toothbrush and the good earth for a bed. The truth, he said, was blowin' in the wind, Structure I let him have it The enjambment between on the top road out of Harrogate - once the stanzas keeps the tone with the head, then six times with the krooklok calm and relaxed making in the face - and didn't even swerve. the report of violence even I dropped into third more chilling. and lent 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. In comparison The Laboratory depicts a psychopathic character who uses an inappropriate tone to report on violence. Havisham violence depicted towards the man who has jilted Havisham. My Last Duchess this depicts calculated, cold violence.
