Remains by Simon Armitage

Question 1

Which themes are presented in Remains?

Answer 1

• power of institutuions
• power of memory/identity
• internal conflict
• conflict of identity
• pychological impact of conflict
• conflict of thoughts

Question 2

Context for Remains:

Answer 2

• Poem coincides with increased awareness of PTSD amongst the military, and aroused sympathy amongst the public - many of whom were opposed to the war

Question 3

Form and Structure for Remains:

Answer 3

• monologue - told in presnt tense to convey a flashback (A symptom of PTSD)
• first 4 stanzas are set in Iraq and the last 3 are set at home - showing the aftermath
• enjambment between lines and stanzas conveys his conversational tone and gives it a fast pace, especially when conveying the horror of the killing
• repetition of “probably armed, possibly not” conveys guilt and bitterness

Question 4

“one of them legs it up the
road”

Answer 4

• Colloquial language - occurs mainly in the first half of the poem, makes the description of killing seem casual, makes it sound like an ordinary anecdote.
• In the second half the tone is less casual as he explains his memories and how ‘the drugs won’t flush him out’
• The use of imagery here shows his tortured mind.

Question 5

“every round as it rips
through his life”

Answer 5

• Alliteration of the ‘r’ sound. The harsh ‘r’ sound reflects the violence of the image. It portrays his memory more vividly as it seems to bring it to life through its sound
• violent metaphor contrasts with the colloquial style of the first two stanzas

Question 6

“his bloody life in my bloody
hands”

Answer 6

• Metaphor emphasises his guilt
• The repetition of ‘bloody’ shows us that this memory of death keeps returning. It also suggests that his tortured memories of war are flooded with guilt for taking this man’s life, making the reader sympathise with him.
• Could be swearing in anger - hints that he’s angry at himself showing his guilt

Question 7

“probably armed, possibly not”

Answer 7

• The uncertainty of being armed is stated casually
• contrasted with the definite action that follows

Question 8

“tosses his guts back into his body”

Answer 8

• An unpleasant way to discard body parts
• shows his lack of empathy

Question 9

“broad daylight on the other side”

Answer 9

• This is a grotesque, exaggerated image-he says he can see straight through the bullet holes in the mans body.

Question 10

'’His blood-shadow stays on the street”

Answer 10

A visual reminder of the death-it foreshadows the memories that are going to haunt him.

Question 11

“Some distant, sun-stunned, sand-smothered land”

Answer 11

• The violent parts of the compound adjectives “stunned” and “smothered” , show how the place is affected by war. The long line and the sibilance slow the pace and reflect the speakers lack of clear thought.
• dental alliteration