2.4.13 Kamikaze

Question 1

Poet

Answer 1

Beatrice Garland

Question 2

Theme Code

Answer 2

FK-PLACEBOS

Question 3

Themes

Answer 3

Memory, Identity, Patriotism, Individual Experience, Power of Humans, Effects of Conflict, Loss and Absence, Power of Nature, Misguided Notions of Human Power, Conflict on Domestic Life

Question 4

Quotes

Answer 4

• ‘a samurai sword … in the cockpit, a shaven head…. full of powerful incantations’
• ‘A figure of eight’
• ‘His brothers waiting on the shore… built cairns of pearl-grey pebbles’
• ‘a tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous.’
• ‘nor did she meet his eyes’
• ‘he must have wondered … which had been the better way to die.’

Question 5

Main Structural Points

Answer 5

• 7 stanzas of 6 lines
• Enjambment
• Free verse

Question 6

Explain the quote ‘a samurai sword … in the cockpit, a shaven head…. full of powerful incantations’

Answer 6

Listing
Symbols of rituals and culture in the plane with him. Reflects the Kamikaze pilot’s love of his country and his readiness to die defending it. But it suggests he’s under a spell of propaganda and patriotism, he’s not making his own decisions, due to war and conflict, he has been indoctrinated by everything around him and because of this he will die for his country, he’s not making his own decisions, if he did, he would choose to live,

Question 7

Explain the quote ‘His brothers waiting on the shore… built cairns of pearl-grey pebbles’

Answer 7

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How leaving the family in order to provide for them was something required by every generation, just in different capacities. The father feels a responsibility to return to them. This is a selfless reason to return, rather than just a fear of death. Memory is simplistic (he and his brother building with stones on the beach) – suggests an appreciation of the small things in life which may have seemed insignificant – now they are everything to him. Also, the stacks of pebbles that mark graves, show the father is starting to realise he doesn’t want to die, and appreciate his family and nature more
Another image of a precious gem – emphasises his growing understanding of the beauty of life.
Nature’s beauty is precious and valuable Life is valuable and sacred – shouldn’t be ended prematurely Nature is presented as powerful

Question 8

Quotes for the Main Structural Point

Answer 8

• N/A

Question 9

Simplified Main Structural Point

Answer 9

Tight control is conflicted with the enjambment and free verse reflects the tight control of the military conflicting with his freedom of expression.

Question 10

Main Structural Point

Answer 10

Garland has chosen to write the poem with seven stanzas each consisting of six lines. This tight control of the structure reflects the tight control of the military and the national expectation on what the pilot should do but this contrasts with the poem being written in free verse and containing enjambment. The sentences running over lines, the irregular rhythm and the lack of rhyme emphasise the freedom of expression which reflects the freedom the pilot wants to have. His personal thoughts of wanting not to sacrifice himself, be with his family and cherish life and nature are conflicted with his sense of national duty of serving his country, dying in honour and dignity are reflected by Garland’s use of contrast in the structure.