IGCSE English Lit - Hide and Seek by Vernon Scannell Complete Poetry Analysis and Revision Guide

What’s Included

Detailed Summary – A clear explanation of the poem’s narrative, following a child’s transition from excitement and control during a game of hide-and-seek to loneliness and abandonment as no one comes to find him.

Contextual Analysis – Insight into Scannell’s experiences as a World War II soldier and how themes of isolation and disillusionment reflect his broader views on human vulnerability and emotional conflict.

Themes & Key Ideas – Exploration of childhood innocence, isolation and abandonment, the passage from innocence to experience, and the painful reality of growing up.

Language & Structure – Examination of the poem’s single-stanza form, present tense, caesura, hidden rhyme, imperatives, and natural imagery, showing how they mirror the boy’s inner voice and emotional journey.

Comparative Links – Connections with Half-Past Two by U.A. Fanthorpe and Piano by D.H. Lawrence, exploring memory, innocence, and the contrasts between childhood imagination and adult awareness.

Key Literary Features – Focus on dramatic monologue, tension-building through syntax, tonal shifts, and the symbolic use of nature to represent stillness and abandonment.

Exam-Style Questions – Targeted prompts to strengthen students’ ability to analyse tone, structure, and theme, preparing them for comparative and evaluative exam responses.

**Why Use This Resource
**
Exam-Focused – Designed to meet Edexcel IGCSE & AQA GCSE Anthology requirements, developing AO2 and AO3 skills in analysis and comparison.

Engaging & Accessible – Combines vivid explanations with precise terminology, helping students connect literary techniques with emotional meaning.

Flexible Use – Perfect for lesson delivery, independent study, or targeted revision.