'Hide and Seek' by Vernon Scannell

'Hide and Seek' by Vernon Scannell

1. themes

   • childhood
     • the game 'hide and seek' is a children's game
   • loneliness
     • the fact that the child's friends have all grown tired of waiting for his and that they have grown up has left the child alone
   • reminiscence
   • growing up
     • the poem is about the child not growing up and missing out on opportunities

2. form and structure

   • one verse (free verse, one long stanza)
   • direct speech
     • 'i am ready come and find me'
       • boy is directly speaking, reaches out to the reader allowing us to empathise with his problem. perhaps reflect on our own childhood difficulties.
   • boy his self is the narrator
     • if you hide from life it won't come and find you, you need to go out a grab the chances you are given

3. language

   • extended metaphore (friendship, loyalty, growing up)
     • friends grow apart. childhood is coming to an end. represents life and importence of grabbing chances life presents to you
   • 'but where are those who sought you?'
     • his friends have grown up and left him while he was not willing to grow up and takes chances
   • 'don't breathe. don't move. stay dumb
     • advise on how to stay hidden (how to not grow up, stay a child)
       • language (continued)
         • sibilance ('s' sounds)
           • 'sacks, seaside, salty, shout. repeated 's' sounds create a sound/image in the readers head (calm & tranquil) reminder of childhood innocence.
         • verbs 'prowling'
           • makes the children sound like they are hunting animals, predators looking for pray. builds tension within the poem as we don't know whether they will find him or not
   • personification 'the cold bites through your coat'
     • discomfort and fear of the narrator. builds further tension, forced to stay there. mirrors discomfort of the child who does not want to grow up.

4. assonance

   • repitition of vowel sounds
   • stumbles, mutters, scuffering. link together the noises and actions the others make. emphasises his anxiety as he listens