anthology: Kamikaze.

Question 1

what is the purpose and meaning of this text?

Answer 1

 In World War 2, Japanese Kamikaze pilots would fly manned missiles into targets such as ships.
 This poem explores a kamikaze pilot’s journey towards battle, his decision to return, and how he is shunned when he returns home.
 As he looks down at the sea, the beauty of nature and memories of childhood make him decide to turn back.

Question 2

what is the context around this text?

Answer 2

 Cowardice and surrender would bring great shame to a person in Japanese culture.
 To surrender meant shame for you and your family and rejection by society.
 The Japanese word ‘kamikaze’ means ‘divine wind’ or ‘heavenly wind’ and has its origin in a heaven-sent storm that scattered an invading fleet in 1250.

Question 3

language and structure: explanation and quotes.

Answer 3

 “dark shoals of fish flashing silver”: image links to a Samurai sword – conveys the conflict between his love for nature/life and his sense of duty. Also has sibilance.
 “they treated him as though he no longer existed”: cruel irony – he chose to live but now must live as though he is dead.
 “was no longer the father we loved”: the pilot was forever affected by his decision.
 Only full stop is at the end of stanza 5: he has made his decision to turn back.
 The final two are mostly in italics and have longer lines to represent the fallout of his decision: his life has shifted and will no longer be the same.
 Lines such as “My mother never spoke again” give the poem a personal tone.

Question 4

key quotes.

Answer 4

 “Like a huge flag waved first one way then the other in a figure of eight.”
 “And sometimes, she said, he must have wondered which had been the better way to die.”
 “Full of powerful incantations.”