'Hide and Seek' Poem

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I don't understand need some analysis on the Edexcel Anthology Poem 'Hide and Seek'

Reply 1

I could try and tell you with my own notes, but I don't know how reliable they are.

The poem is split into three movements, (although it is written as one verse), which I'll indicate with three separate quotes.

The poem shows that the child is just starting out in life, and as the poem progresses, he* learns something new about life; that he is actually vulnerable in the real world.

Hide and Seek

Call out. Call loud: "I'm ready! Come and find me!"
The sacks in the toolshed smell like the seaside.
They'll never find you in this salty dark,
But be careful that your feet aren't sticking out.
Wiser not to risk another shout.
The floor is cold. They'll probably be searching
The bushes near the swing. Whatever happens
You mustn't sneeze when they come prowling in.

•

The exclamation marks at the beginning show the child's enthusiasm and confidence. But gradually his confidence goes.

•

The sea is a symbol of change for the rest of his life.

•

From the probable metaphor of ‘salty dark’ for the safety in a mother's womb in line 3, to not wanting to draw attention to himself in line 4 shows that the boy does not want to be different in society and there is a slight worry that he won’t win.

•

Even at the beginning, the child has a growing fear of the outside world.

And here they are, whispering at the door;
You've never heard them sound so hushed before.
Don't breathe. Don't move. Stay dumb. Hide in your blindness.
They're moving closer, someone stumbles, mutters;
Their words and laughter scuffle, and they're gone.
But don't come out just yet; they'll try the lane
And then the greenhouse and back here again.
They must be thinking that you're very clever,
Getting more puzzled as they search all over.
It seems a long time since they went away.
Your legs are stiff, the cold bites through your coat;
The dark damp smell of sand moves in your throat.

•

First set of rhyming couplets: ‘door’ and ‘before’. The door is probably creating a barrier as it is almost as if ‘they’ are not there and it has never happened to him before.

•

The commas and semi-colons are there to replicate where they are and add to the apprehension.

•

The next set of end-rhyme is ‘lane’ and ‘again’. The child is paranoid that they won’t come back for him so he uses positive thoughts to overcome the sense of paranoia.

•

The soft rhyme ‘clever’ and ‘over’, reassures the boy that he is still in control.

It's time to let them know that you're the winner.
Push off the sacks. Uncurl and stretch. That's better!
Out of the shed and call to them: "I've won!
Here I am! Come and own up I've caught you!"
The darkening garden watches. Nothing stirs.
The bushes hold their breath; the sun is gone.
Yes, here you are. But where are they who sought you?

•

The poet uses the words ‘won’ and ‘gone’ to convey that even though the child thinks he has won, no one is there to recognise it.

•

He learns a valuable lesson, that one day he has to fend for himself and the world won’t necessarily be a nice place when you’re out there on your own.

•

The child is now conscious that the future is watching him but doesn’t respond. ‘They’ have left him. He is aware that he is not the centre of the universe anymore.

•

The repition of ‘you’ suggests that he is on his own.

So, to sum it up:
1. In his child-like state, enthusiastic, confident.
2. Grows aware that all is not well, fearful, insecure.
3. Realisation that he is alone, people don't care. Has to fend for himself.

‘Hide and Seek’ goes from a child’s game to fending for himself and from him being the centre of the universe to the world that doesn’t revolve around him anymore.

There is a lot more to this poem, but as my notes are only in 'note form' it's hard to write from them if I'm not answering a specific question. Anyhow, I hope that helps!

*For ease of writing, I have just chosen to refer to the child as 'he'.

Good luck.