Hide and Seek by Vernon Scannell (Detailed commentary and analysis)

Detailed commentary and analysis by Claire's Notes of the poem 'Hide and Seek' by Vernon Scannell
Edexcel iGCSE
"Hide and Seek" by Vernon Scannell portrays the innocence and vulnerability of childhood amidst the harsh realities of life. The poem delves into themes of fear, loss of innocence, and the contrast between the carefree nature of childhood games and the seriousness of adulthood. It narrates a child's experience of hiding without being found, symbolizing the isolation that results from concealing one's true self. Scannell underscores the shift from playful innocence to the realization of vulnerability and adversity, implying a loss of innocence as the child confronts the complexities of the world. The poem suggests that hiding from reality ultimately leads to feelings of alienation and loneliness.
Call out. Call loud: ‘I’m ready! Come and find me!’
The sacks in the tool shed 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.
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.
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?
My poetry videos all have the same structure: I start by putting the poem into its historical and biographical context where this enhances its understanding and give a short summary of the poem itself; I then look at the poem in its entirety, picking out structural features, such as metre (rhythm), any rhyming and patterns in language which the poet uses; I finish by going through the poem on a line-by-line basis, giving definitions of words and offering an interpretation of the poet’s words with justification. Most of the terminology I use (in green) is provided with a definition below, so even if you haven’t come across it before, you should still be able to understand the points I am making.
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I have been an English teacher and private tutor for 25 years.
Please note that any literature analysis is highly subjective and may disagree with analysis by another person. All interpretations are valid if they can be justified by reference to the text. This interpretation is my own: it is not exhaustive and there are alternatives!
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