2. The Man with Night Sweats by Thom Gunn- Line by Line Analysis

Summary

The poem 'The Man with Night Sweats' by Thom Gunn is a dramatic monologue that explores the experiences of a speaker suffering from night sweats, a symptom of AIDS, reflecting on the vulnerability and deterioration of the body.

• Quatrain — a four-line stanza of poetry. Example: The poem begins with a quatrain describing the speaker waking up cold.
• Metaphor — a figure of speech where a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Example: 'My flesh was its own shield' is a metaphor for the body's seeming invulnerability.
• Slant Rhyme — a type of rhyme with words that have similar, but not identical sounds. Example: 'sorry' and 'hurry' in lines 13-16.
• Enjambment — the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line. Example: The phrase 'I grew as I explored' continues into the next line.

Exam Tips

Key Definitions to Remember

• Quatrain: A four-line stanza of poetry.
• Metaphor: A figure of speech where a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
• Slant Rhyme: A type of rhyme with words that have similar, but not identical sounds.
• Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.

Common Confusions

• Confusing metaphor with simile: Metaphors do not use 'like' or 'as'.
• Misunderstanding slant rhyme as a perfect rhyme.

Typical Exam Questions

• What is the significance of the 'shield' metaphor in the poem? It represents the body's seeming invulnerability and later vulnerability.
• How does the poem's structure contribute to its themes? The alternating quatrains and couplets reflect emotional containment.
• What role does enjambment play in the poem? It adds a feeling of openness and continuity to the speaker's memories.

What Examiners Usually Test

• Understanding of key literary devices like metaphor and enjambment.
• Ability to analyze the poem's structure and its impact on meaning.
• Interpretation of the poem's themes and their relation to the context of AIDS.