Remains

Question 1

Form of Remains

Answer 1

Modern monologue, 8 loose quatrains with a closing couplet. Enjambment and caesura create fractured, disjointed thoughts reflecting trauma.

Question 2

Quote: “Probably armed, possibly not”

Answer 2

Interpretation 1: Shows soldier’s moral uncertainty about killing.
Interpretation 2: Casual tone shows violence is normalised.

Question 3

Quote: “I see every round as it rips”

Answer 3

Interpretation 1: Graphic verb forces reader into the violent scene.
Interpretation 2: Present-tense flashback reveals PTSD haunting the speaker.

Question 4

Quote: “His bloody life in my bloody hands”

Answer 4

Interpretation 1: Blood symbolizes personal responsibility that won’t wash away.
Interpretation 2: Repetition of “bloody” intensifies self-blame and guilt.

Question 5

Key Themes in Remains

Answer 5

Trauma, blurred morality, guilt, impact of war on mental health.

Question 6

Main Message of Remains

Answer 6

War leaves lasting psychological scars; violence doesn’t end with the battlefield.

Question 7

About Simon Armitage

Answer 7

Contemporary British poet; often writes about modern life and conflicts; uses accessible language to explore complex emotions.