kamikaze

Question 1

what does the Volta highlight (form)

Answer 1

• there is a Volta that manifests as a shift from 3rd to 1st person - allows reader to appreciate that war trauma was passed through the generation - imbues poem w a personality to serve as a reminder that these experiences , despite being distant happened to real people

Question 2

what does the meter highlight (form)

Answer 2

• poem is written in free verse to allow it to unfold quickly , mimicking the light of the plane - could also represent the spontaneity of his decision due to his internal conflict
• however the end restores to iambs which reinstate a steady & melancholic tone , perhaps the words seem more considered making the poem almost mirror an elegy

Question 3

what does the lack of rhyme scheme highlight (structure)

Answer 3

• absence of rhyme presents poem in a prosaic manner
• serves to mimic it being told orally as a story to the daughters children - also strays from any romantic flourishes that could glorify the notion of war
• it is told simplistically & factually to allow emotion to shine through & make shifts such as the change in perspective more apparent & unsettling

Question 4

H F E A S ( identity , power of nature m effects of conflicts )

Answer 4

her father embarked at sunrise
- combination of sunrise + embarked gives an impression of adventure & discovery

• “sunrise” connotations of hope & new beginnings , which could reflect how the idea of sacrificing your life for your country was romanticised
• highlights how the pilot has a strong sense of nationalism , since the sun is a significant part of Japanese culture, especially given the fact it is featured in the Japanese ‘rising sun’ military flag - could also highlight the immense pressure enforced by the culture to fulfil his duty , the powerful nature of the sun could reflect the powerful nature of Japanese propaganda tricking pilots to commit suicide as a sacrifice for a nation

Question 5

A S H , F O P I (identity , effects of conflict)

Answer 5

• a shaved head , full of powerful incantations
• adj “powerful” emphasises the psychological pull drilled into the solider of honouring his family through death
• brainwashed by the patriotic propaganda used by the gov to promote national identity
• “shaven head” highlights his dedication , loyalty & discipline for his culture all Japanese soldiers had to have a shaven head