Kamikaze Flashcards
(44 cards)
What is Kamikaze about
A daughter is reflecting on the life of, and her relationship with her father who was a Kamikaze pilot in the Second World war
Her father turned back and did not carry out his suicide mission, upon returning he was shunned by and isolated from his community
What is Stanza 1 about
Her father is departing
Her father is departing on his Kamikaze mission, he is prepared with water and a samurai sword.
What is Stanza 2 about
She is telling the story to her children which prompts her to think
She is telling the story to her children which prompts her to think about what he must have been thinking as he looked down at the fishing boats on the sea,
What is Stanza 3 about
Beneath the boat her
Beneath the boat her father sees a school of fish and their silvery bodies
What is Stanza 4 about
This triggers a childhood memory of him stacking rocks
This triggers a childhood memory of him stacking rocks with his brothers to see whose would withstand the waves the best
What is Stanza 5 about
The daughter mentally acknowledges that this would be her grandfather’s boat
The daughter mentally acknowledges that this would be her grandfather’s boat. The narration switches back to the Pilot’s memory and speaks of the different kinds of fish
Who is Beatrice Garland and what is her writings based on
Beatrice Garland is a British Poet- she was not writing based on her own experience. This is typical of her work, as it often involves immersing herself within someone else’s perspective.
spend a lot of the day listening to other people’s words”,
What does she say about Japans military
Japan’s military attitudes were founded on codes of honour and self sacrifice, these stemmed from the tradition of the samurai warrior, making the sword a pertinent symbol within the poem.
In Kamikaze what codes are deeply ingrained in society
social and military codes were so deeply ingrained into society that they controlled people’s behaviour even towards their loved ones.
What happened by the end of war in Japan
By the end of the war, the Japanese army did not have enough volunteers to embark on the Kamikaze suicide mission thus they had to recruit unwilling men- the threat of public shame upon their return
How does the word ‘kamikaze’ translate to
“Kamikaze” translates from Japanese as “divine wind”, it originates from a storm that scattered an invading fleet in 1250.
It is a particularly historical reference and woven deeply within the fabric of Japanese society, one could argue however it is outdated.
How does “full of powerful incantations” show Patriotism
“full of powerful incantations” Patriotism is portrayed as an indoctrinating force. In a literal sense references the prayers and affirmations that would’ve been repeated in support of these pilots.
suggests the pilot was under a spell. It portrays the influence of propaganda as hypnotic and bewitching.
How does the simile
“fishing boats strung out like bunting” is ironic as “bunting” has traditional connotations of celebration
Distort people
propaganda distorted people’s beliefs- death and suicide became an act to be celebrated.
How does the simile “like a huge flag” describe the the movement of fish having a dual meaning.
an allusion to the flag of Japan- even nature is viewed through a patriotic lens. Patriotism conducted their entire world view and society were marionettes of traditional socio-political beliefs
The waving of a flag is reminiscent of an act of surrender. This dichotomy of meaning explores the pilot’s, internal divisions, as he is driven by overt patriotism and a yearning to concede
How is Patriotism, honour and shame shown through
“silver of whitebait” is an ecclesiastical allusion (relating to Christianity).
• Jesus was a symbol of sacrifice, yet this was in response to Judas betraying him
• Biblically, “silver” is a symbol of this betrayal- perhaps the pilot feels he has been betrayed by his leaders.
How does the ‘dark prince’ show Patriotism,honour and shame
The notion of being betrayed by a ruler perpetuates within the phrase “the dark prince” synonymizes nobility with corruption as “dark” has connotations of evil and misconduct.
How is Conflicted identity shown within Kamikaze
Immediately there is a disparity between the pilots assigned role within the title of “Kamikaze” and his personal role “her father”. The noun “father” imbues the poem with a sense of intimacy, making it far more emotionally charged
How is an undertone of aggression shown through
“full of powerful incantations”
And what does this tone explore
poem’s soundscape is punctuated by fricative ‘f’ sounds i.e. “full of powerful incantations” which possess undertones of aggression.
This aggression explores the aggression that a soldier entering a war must exhibit, but it could also be aggression towards his leaders who have indoctrinated to complete this suicide mission
Form
How is a perspective shift shown within Kamikaze
Although it is written from the daughter’s perspective, the third-person narrative establishes a sense of detachment.
This mirrors both the detachment the daughter feels from her father and the detachment those left behind feel from the soldiers who experienced the war first-hand.
What is volta and how is that shown in Kamikaze
Volta= a turn/ change in the poem
• There is a volta that manifests as a shift from the third to the first person which allows the reader to appreciate that war trauma was passed through the generation
What is a sestets and what is common in it
6 line stanzas
enjambment is common which creates a sense of speed and momentum.
Where is Sestets found in Kamikaze
The final two stanzas explore his return, this compresses the years after his return to be far shorter than his flight that would’ve happened within minutes or hours- his decision within that one moment cut his life short.
What is Meter and how is it shown in kamikaze
Initially, the poem is written in free verse (does not rhyme or have a regular rhythm) to allow it to unfold quickly, mimicking the flight of the plane
How is Meter shown within Kamikaze
• the end resorts to iambs which reinstate a steady and melancholic tone, perhaps the words seem more considered making the poem almost mirror an elegy. (A speech about someone who has died)
