‘Hitcher’ By Simon Armitage Written By Adam, Javan and Kofi

What Is The Poem About? The poem is about a person, who is stressed out, at work. He gets a lift a hire car and somewhere near Leeds picks up a hitcher who is a hippy. 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. 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 – Features in the poem when he hits the hippy with the krooklok. Violence – Features in the poem when he hits the hippy with the krooklok. Death – Features when he kills the hippy and lets him bounce off the kerb. Death – Features when he kills the hippy and lets him bounce off the kerb. Jealousy - Features in the poem when he picks up the hippy and realises he is not tied up with work like him. Jealousy - Features in the poem when he picks up the hippy and realises he is not tied up with work like him. Loneliness – Features when he is stressed out with work and stays of sick on purpose by himself. Loneliness – Features when he is stressed out with work and stays of sick on purpose by himself. Anger – Features when he flips out. Anger – Features when he flips out.

Language The poem is written in 1 st 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 centered the character really is.

Close Text Analysis “saw him in the mirror bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down the verge.” “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. It also uses the word ‘bouncing’ in his description, which gives the poem a casual, almost humorous tone which makes the report of violence even more chilling. This quote shows the character casually reporting on his violence which shows how psychopathic he is. It also uses the word ‘bouncing’ in his description, which gives the poem a casual, almost humorous tone which makes the report of violence even more chilling.

Alternative Interpretation In the poem, it uses italic writing to make the poem seem like his 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 how he feels jealous of the hippy because he doesn’t 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 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 into third 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. 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 into third 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. The enjambment between the stanzas keeps the tone calm and relaxed – making the report of violence even more chilling.

In comparison ‘The Laboratory’ – psychopathic character using inappropriate tone to report on violence. ‘The Laboratory’ – psychopathic character using inappropriate tone to report on violence. ‘Havisham’ – violence. ‘Havisham’ – violence. ‘My Last Duchess’ – calculated, cold violence. ‘My Last Duchess’ – calculated, cold violence.

Thanks to… Adam, Javan and Kofi Philip Alan Updates GCSE Student Text Guide