Kamikaze Flashcards
Context and motivation behind it
In collection of poems about life and death
What motivates people to give up their lives for a higher cause
Presents conflict between the cultural expectation vs his inner desire to preserve himself and carry on living
What happens in kamikaze?
Pilots daughter of ex kamikaze pilot telling her children about him
He was set to take on the mission but returned and decided not to commit suicide
Because he thought of his grandfather/childhood and nature
But was ostracised by his family
Exposure and kamikaze
Both portray an inner conflict on whether to keep fighting for honour in your country or preserve yourself
Structure
6 lines per stanza
Very tight
But also free verse and Enjambment
Effect of this structural choices
Reflect the inner conflict of tight military control it has on him and also the heavy weight of dishonouring his family
But free verse and Enjambment show his desire to break free from this
Natural imagery
‘Green-blue translucent sea’
‘Dark shoals of fishes flashing silver’
Effect of natural imagery
Presents the beauty of nature
But also the power of it
Sibilance
‘ Dark shoals of fishes flashing silver as their bellies swivelled towards the sun’
Effect of sibilance
Creates a swiftness and energy to show how naturally and beautiful the fish move
Why present the beauty of nature?
Shows how he realises he shouldn’t deprive himself nor others of enjoying nature by completing his mission
Tuna imagery
‘A tuna, the dark Prince, muscular, dangerous.’
Effect of including the tuna
Using adjectives shows It’s strength + first full stop
Forces the reader to pause unlike what the soldier could do
So nature is therefore more powerful than humanity could ever do
Why present the strength of nature?
Nature will always hold true power as it prevails stronger than humanity
So our attempts at destruction eg war are futile in comparison
Makes pilot realise how inconsequential he is in the world and realises he gets to decide what to do
Where else in human vs nature conflict?
‘ His father embarked at sunrise’
Sunrise = Japanese land of the rising sun military flag
Used as conflict between both humanity and the natural world
Repetition
‘Bringing their father’s boat safe - yes, grandfather’s boat - safe’
