‘‘Hitcher’ Hitcher’ By Simon By Simon ArmitageArmitage

What Is the poem About?What Is the poem About?

The poem is about a The poem is about a person, who is stressed person, who is stressed out atout atwork. work.

He gets a lift in a hire He gets a lift in a hire car and somewhere near car and somewhere near Leeds, picks up a Leeds, picks up a hitcher who is a hippie.hitcher who is a hippie.

He takes out all his He takes out all his frustration on the hitcher frustration on the hitcher by hitting him with a by hitting him with a ‘krooklok’ and then ‘krooklok’ and then throwing him out of the throwing him out of the moving car to his death. moving car to his death.

ThemesThemesThe themes that feature in the poem are:The themes that feature in the poem are:

ViolenceViolence – when he hits the hippie with the – when he hits the hippie with the krooklok.krooklok.

DeathDeath – when he kills the hippie and lets him – when he kills the hippie and lets him bounce off the kerb.bounce off the kerb.

JealousyJealousy - when he picks up the hippie and realises - when he picks up the hippie and realises he is not tied up with work like him. He is ‘free’.he is not tied up with work like him. He is ‘free’.

LonelinessLoneliness – when he is stressed out with work and – when he is stressed out with work and stays off sick on purpose by himself.stays off sick on purpose by himself.

Anger – Anger – when he flips and kills the hitcher.when he flips and kills the hitcher.

LanguageLanguageThe poem is written in the first person The poem is written in the first person which gives it a realistic voice.which gives it a realistic voice.

Colloquial language is also used, such Colloquial language is also used, such as ‘stitch that’ which adds to the as ‘stitch that’ which adds to the realism – as does the lack of imagery in realism – as does the lack of imagery in the poem. the poem.

The repetition of the personal pronoun The repetition of the personal pronoun ‘I’ helps us understand how psychotic ‘I’ helps us understand how psychotic and self centred the character really is. and self centred the character really is.

Close Text AnalysisClose Text Analysis ““saw him in the mirrorsaw him in the mirror

bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down the verge.”down the verge.”

This quote shows the character casually This quote shows the character casually reporting on his violence, which shows reporting on his violence, which shows how psychopathic he is. He also uses the how psychopathic he is. He also uses the word ‘bouncing’ in his description, which word ‘bouncing’ in his description, which gives the poem a casual, almost gives the poem a casual, almost humorous tone. humorous tone.

This makes the report of the violence This makes the report of the violence even more chilling.even more chilling.

Alternative Alternative InterpretationInterpretation

In the poem, Armitage uses italic writing to make In the poem, Armitage uses italic writing to make the poemthe poem

seem like the subject’s boss is speaking to him on an seem like the subject’s boss is speaking to him on an ansaphone recording -ansaphone recording -

““one more sick-note, mister, and you're finished. one more sick-note, mister, and you're finished. Fired.Fired.””

This could show his frustration with work because he This could show his frustration with work because he takes days off. takes days off.

However it could also show his jealousy of the However it could also show his jealousy of the hippie because he doesn’t have to worry about work. hippie because he doesn’t have to worry about work.

““He was following the sun to west from eastHe was following the sun to west from eastwith just a toothbrush and the good earth for a bed. The truth,with just a toothbrush and the good earth for a bed. The truth,he said, was blowin' in the wind,”he said, was blowin' in the wind,”

StructureStructure

I let him have itI let him have iton the top road out of Harrogate - onceon the top road out of Harrogate - oncewith the head, then six times with the krooklokwith the head, then six times with the krooklokin the face - and didn't even swerve.in the face - and didn't even swerve.I dropped into thirdI dropped into third

and lent acrossand lent acrossto let him out, and saw him in the mirrorto let him out, and saw him in the mirrorbouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down the verge.bouncing off the kerb, then disappearing down the verge.We were the same age, give or take a week.We were the same age, give or take a week.He'd said he liked the breezeHe'd said he liked the breeze

to run its fingers through his hair. It was twelve noon.to run its fingers through his hair. It was twelve noon.The outlook for the day was moderate to fair.The outlook for the day was moderate to fair.Stitch that, I remember thinking,Stitch that, I remember thinking,you can walk from there.you can walk from there.

The enjambment betweenthe stanzas keeps the tone calm and relaxed – makingthe report of violence even more chilling.

In comparisonIn comparison

‘‘The Laboratory’ – depicts a The Laboratory’ – depicts a psychopathic character who uses an psychopathic character who uses an inappropriate tone to report on inappropriate tone to report on violence.violence.

‘‘Havisham’ – violence depicted Havisham’ – violence depicted towards the man who has jilted towards the man who has jilted Havisham.Havisham.

‘‘My Last Duchess’ – this depicts My Last Duchess’ – this depicts calculated, cold violence.calculated, cold violence.