IGCSE English Lit Poem - Hide and Seek

What is 'Hide and Seek' about

It tells the story of a young child playing the classic game of hide and seek as he hides in a garden shed. However, as the game goes on, we learn the boy misses out the ending of the game and is left alone outside.

what themes are found in 'hide and seek'

isolation, childhood, belonging, disappointment, friendship, games

what is the form and structure of 'hide and seek'

-one continuous stanza could suggest the transition to adulthood is quick and can take place in one moment

-the free verse shows the irregularity and anomalies of life

what could be the deeper metaphoric meaning of the poem

-hiding for a long time shows the individual resisting maturity and growing up for as long as possible

-when he exits the safe place of the shed, all other have gone and he is left isolated in his independence. This could emulate the transition from childhood to adulthood.

what poems could be compared with 'hide and seek'

-prayer before birth (childhood, issues with growing up, isolation)

-half past two (childhood, imagination, childish perspectives)

analyse - 'the sacks in the toolshed smell like the seaside'

-sensory imagery conveys the scene vividly

-the sibilance on the simile sounds like the sea itself. this comparison relates to childhood memories

analyse - 'Don't breathe. Don't move. Stay dumb. Hide in your blindness'

-list of monosyllabic imperatives shows the strictness of the game as a child, winning is important

analyse - 'they're moving closer, someone stumbles, mutters;'

-movement verbs display the activeness of the game

-sibilance emphasises the sneakiness of the game for it could resemble a whisper

-the word closer creates tension and competition to the tone

analyse - 'your legs are stiff, the cold bites through your coat'

-personification of the cold turns the poems tone more serious and sombre

-conveys the uneasiness of the child

analyse - 'the dark damp smell of sand moves in your throat'

-harsh monosyllabic cacophonous alliteration of 'dark damp' further paints an image of the grim scene

-the sibilance with synathesia enhances the child's awareness which could show how isolated he is

analyse - 'the darkening garden watches. Nothing stirs.'

-personification of the garden shows the tension of the game. It also shows the boy's isolation for it describes the lack of humans around him

-the short sentence 'nothing stirs' with absolute language shows the quiet lonely atmosphere the child is in, since the poem was full of movement at the start

analyse - 'the bushes hold their breath; the sun is gone.'

-personification of the bushes creates tension as if something is about to happen

-the simplistic short monosyllabic statement 'the sun is gone' is the moment full isolation and childish happiness is gone.

-the imagery displaying the lack of light has connotations of darkness and lack of hope

-caesura adds tension

analyse - 'Yes, here you are. But where are they who sought you?'

-second person narrative with the rhetorical question addresses the reader and leaves impact on the last line, leaving them to reflect

-'sought' is emotive word, deepening the loss that the child feels on losing friends