kamikaze Flashcards
(61 cards)
What does the title suggest about the journey in the poem?
It suggests that it will be a journey to his death.
The title implies a somber outcome for the pilot.
How does the second stanza change direction?
The plane is still flying, but it’s going to turn around.
What is ironic about the use of bunting in the poem?
Bunting is associated with celebration, contrasting with the pilot’s lack of a victorious return.
What do flags symbolize in the context of the poem?
Flags symbolize national identity, but hint at control or direction.
What is the significance of the pilot’s daughter interjecting direct speech?
It sounds like she is answering a question from her children, reflecting innocence.
What effect does the cumulative list of sea creatures have?
It highlights their beauty and significance to the pilot.
What does the description of the tuna remind the reader of?
It reminds the reader of the dangers of nature.
How is the pilot treated upon his return?
He is treated as if he’s dead.
What does the final short sentence comment on?
It comments on the destructiveness of patriotism.
What does ‘kamikaze’ refer to?
One of a group of Japanese WW2 pilots who flew on suicide missions.
What is the meaning of ‘samurai sword’?
A traditional Japanese sword.
What does the phrase ‘land of the rising sun’ refer to?
It refers to Japan.
What does the pilot’s experience suggest about his perception of death?
He may have wished that he had fulfilled his mission; his story ends in a kind of death.
What imagery is used to describe the fishing boats?
They are described as strung out like bunting on a green-blue translucent sea.
What does the enjambment and lack of punctuation in the stanza hint at?
It may hint that the pilot got caught up in his childhood memories.
What does the repetition of ‘safe’ signify?
It hints at the pilot’s mindset — he doesn’t want his children to experience loss.
What does the phrase ‘the dark prince’ refer to?
It refers to the tuna, described as muscular and dangerous.
How does the poem depict the pilot’s return to his family?
Although he returned, his mother never spoke again in his presence.
What does the community’s reaction to the pilot signify?
They treated him as though he no longer existed.
What change occurs in the children regarding the pilot?
They gradually learned to be silent, living as though he had never returned.
What does the pilot’s experience lead him to question?
He must have wondered which had been the better way to die.
What are ‘cairns’?
Piles of stones usually to mark something.
What are ‘breakers’ in the context of the poem?
Waves that hit the shoreline.
Who is Beatrice Garland?
Beatrice Garland lives in London and works for the NHS alongside writing poetry
‘Kamikaze’ was published in 2013
