1. Horse Whisperer
By Andrew Forster

2. Subject
Pride – this is a main subject of the poem. “They shouted for me” – this tells us she feels pride in herself, this line is repeated at the beginning of the first and second stanza so emphasises this feeling of pride.
Changes- The changes of the narrator’s life are told to us, during this the changes of religion and human progress are displayed. In the first stanza, the use of “plough” suggests that this traditional way is still in use, however in the third stanza “the tractor” shows not only the change in farming but also may represent how she feels that the progression of technology is in conflict with her traditional trade.

3. Point of view
The poem is spoken in first person. It switches from past to present tense which represents how she may still be influenced by her past memories.
The words “I still miss them” introduce a feeling of sorrow- It makes us empathise with the speaker in contrast to how we may have felt she is obnoxious in the previous stanzas from the pride she feels.

4. Language
A sense of urgency is created in the first two stanzas from the repetition of the word “shouted”- this shows us how the Horse Whisperer felt needed by the owners.
The final stanza uses different techniques to create a spell-like rhythm. The list of three horse breeds creates a strong beat, the assonance of ‘searing breath’ and ‘steady tread’ builds momentum and climaxes in the repeat of the word “pride” which ends both of the last two lines- this momentum and repetition emphasise the importance of the word pride. However is this ambiguous?-Is it the horses’ pride he misses or his own pride as a Horse Whisperer?

5. Imagery The “secret” she mentions makes us think of magic and spells.
“shimmering muscles” “searing breath” “glistening veins” – she describes parts of the horses to allow us to imagine them as a whole, the detail allowing us to create a more advanced image.
The horse breeds mentioned in the last stanza (“Shire, Clydesdale, Suffolk”) are all breeds of bulk and are renowned for their sensible natures, especially in the pre-modern agricultural era. The mention of these breeds within the poem, especially following the phase “I still miss them” reinstates the main theme of pride and allows the reader to imagine the heavy and “steady” tread of the horses that the reader misses so much.

6. Form & structure The poem has a free verse composition.
Stanzas shorten in length as the poem progresses – reducing by line in each stanza until the last stanza which reduces by two lines.
This could represent the change of the speakers relevance in the community she once lived in as it becomes less and less.
It could also be a metaphor of the rural trades of the time decreasing.

7. Tone
Sibilance – the use of the “s” sound implies we are being spoken to in whispers which links to the title of the poem.
Alliteration- “a new fear to fight the fear of fire”- the repetition of the letter “f” adds a type of snappy tone , which in turn supports the sense of urgency that is implied at earlier sections of the poem: for example; at the beginning of the first two stanzas- “They shouted for me”.

8. Links
Medusa- The feeling of sorrow and loss, the inability to be with loved ones is represented in both poems. Magic is also explored in Medusa as she has the unwanted ability to turn anything to stone; this could contrast with the Horse Whisperer controlling their ability as he can help the horses and so a “trusted stallion could be ridden no more”.
My Last Duchess- The theme of pride is evident and both poems also share bitterness of the speaker.
Casehistory: Alison (head injury)- Both poems are about loss- Casehistory is about someone losing their past self and Horse Whisperer has a similar sense of the speaker losing their past life and trade as well as the loss of connection with horses.