Poetry- Remains

Question 1

What are the themes of ‘Remains’?

Answer 1

Guilt.
Conflict.
Life and death.

Question 2

What evidence is there that a theme of ‘Remains’ is guilt?

Answer 2

“Probably armed, possibly not”.

Question 3

What evidence is there that a theme of ‘Remains’ is conflict?

Answer 3

“Dug in behind enemy lines,/ not left for dead in some distant, sun-stunned, sand- smothered land”.

Question 4

What evidence is there that a theme of ‘Remains’ is life and death?

Answer 4

“I see every round as it rips through his life/ I see broad daylight on the other side”.

Question 5

What are interpretations of ‘Remains’?

Answer 5

Agony.
Enemy lines.
Left for dead.
Open fire.
His blood-shadow stays on the street.
Probably armed, possibly not.
Daylight.

Question 6

What are interpretations of the lines “Well myself and somebody else and somebody else/ are all of the same mind,”?

Answer 6

Soldiers are nameless and in many ways identical.

Soldiers work under orders + do as they are told, as if programmed to behave in this way.

Question 7

What are reasons for these 2 interpretations?

Answer 7

Use of ‘somebody else’ suggests that these could be any men, as if soldiers are as disposable as looter that they killed. Lack of names suggests this is way they are regarded by others.
Phrase ‘all of the same mind’ shows that they respond to looter in same way. Suggests that have been trained, + act of opening fire is 1 that is programmed into them. Do not behave as individuals.

Question 8

What are interpretations of the lines ‘One of my mates goes by/ and tosses his guts back into his body’?

Answer 8

Soldiers are bonded through experiences.

Soldiers have disregard for human life.

Question 9

What are the reason for the 2 interpretations of the lines ‘One of my mates goes by/ and tosses his guts back into his body’?

Answer 9

Colloquial term ‘mate’ suggests friendship + mutual understanding between soldiers of the brutal reality they’ve faced together out at war.
Word ‘tosses’ implies carelessness, as if looter’s life is worthless.

Question 10

How many stanzas is ‘Remains’ formed of?

Answer 10

8.

Question 11

What is the form and structure of the first seven stanzas in ‘Remains’?

Answer 11

Largely unrhymed quatrains.

Question 12

How many lines does the final stanza of ‘Remains’ consist of?

Answer 12

2.

Question 13

What does the form and structure of ‘Remains’ emphasise?

Answer 13

Fact that speaker can’t rid himself of memory of killing. Could also imply disintegration in speaker’s state of mind.

Question 14

What is the poem ‘Remains’ written as?

Answer 14

Monologue, from point of view of speaker.

Question 15

What do the first four stanzas describe?

Answer 15

The shooting.

Question 16

What does the second half of the poem describe?

Answer 16

After-effect of this action on speaker.

Question 17

What are essay writing tips?

Answer 17

Write plan 1st, noting what will include in each paragraph.
Begin with brief overview of poem.
Mention themes, form, structure, rhythm + language.
Mention range of views or perspectives.
Compare poem to another.
Mention any relevant details about context of poem.
Conclude with firm judgement about poem.
Support all said with details or quotes from poem.

Question 18

What should be considered?

Answer 18

Introduction.
Monologue.
Imagery.
Structure.
Conclusion.