Kamikaze

Question 1

In Kamikaze, what are the key ideas?

Answer 1

Memories, childhood, duty, life, nature, context, community and ostracisation

Question 2

How is the key theme of duty and life presented in the poem Kamikaze?

Answer 2

Garland explores the tension between expectations of society and the appreciation of the value of life

Question 3

How is the key theme of nature presented in the poem Kamikaze?

Answer 3

Through the description of the fish, sea, shore and pebbles, Garland explores the beauty of nature and its effect on humans

Question 4

What were Kamikaze pilots?

Answer 4

Pilots who had to destroy the enemy by crashing into them, killing themselves in the process

Question 5

What would be the consequences of a Kamikaze pilot not fulfilling their duty?

Answer 5

Shame would be brought on themselves, their family and their community

Question 6

What is the poem Kamikaze about?

Answer 6

A father who comes back home instead of fulfilling his duty of being a kamikaze pilot

Question 7

How is the father in Kamikaze treated when coming back?

Answer 7

He gets ostracised from his family and community with a lot of shame brought on him. The speaker questions if returning home was worse than “death” from his mission

Question 8

What are the two narratives in Kamikaze?

Answer 8

3rd person shifting to 1st (from the POV of the daughters) in the last two stanzas

Question 9

What do the shifting narratives in Kamikaze reveal about the speaker?

Answer 9

Her conflicting emotions about her father and the way he was treated

Question 10

How are the speakers thoughts in Kamikaze in 1st person emphasised in the last two stanzas to show their significance?

Answer 10

It is written in italics

Question 11

What does “Kamikaze” literally mean? What does this suggest?

Answer 11

Divine wind, meaning that it was an honour to be asked to perform this role, setting up the theme of honour in the poem

Question 12

In Kamikaze, “One-way journey into history”. What does this metaphor highlight?

Answer 12

The significance of the act of kamikaze and the honour it could bring the father

Question 13

In Kamikaze, “Her father embarked at sunrise”. What does this symbolise?

Answer 13

Japan’s heritage of being known as the ‘land of the rising sun’, with light being symbolic of hope

Question 14

There is a lot of listing in Kamikaze. Specifically about “powerful incantations”. What does this listing suggest?

Answer 14

That Kamikaze is some sort of ritual and this gives a sense of dignity and respect for the tradition

Question 15

How could you argue that there is a connection between the fish and the pilot in Kamikaze?

Answer 15

As fish are trapped in nets, he cannot escape society’s expectations of him

Question 16

What are one of the reasons that the pilot turned back in Kamikaze?

Answer 16

The beautiful imagery of nature being something the pilot stands to lose and memories of his family

Question 17

How are the fish described beautifully in Kamikaze?

Answer 17

Using sibilanceto mimic the smooth, graceful moment of the fish

Question 18

How is there a sense of irony in Kamikaze?

Answer 18

The fact that the pilot returns alive, but is treated as if he doesn’t exist, arguably worse than death

Question 19

In Kamikaze, “Strung out like a bunting”. What does this simile symbolise?

Answer 19

Celebration, life and joy acting as a reminder to the pilot what he’s leaving behind, making the pilot’s fate even more tragic

Question 20

In Kamikaze, “yes, grandfather’s boat”, this quote is in italics. Why?

Answer 20

It suggests that the speaker now feeling able to speak freely about her father

Question 21

What does Garland use to emphasise the difficulty in the pilots decision in Kamikaze?

Answer 21

Memories and imagery of innocence and childhood

Question 22

In Kamikaze, “A tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous”. What technique is this?

Answer 22

Dark imagery that foreshadows the darker end of the poem

Question 23

What poems can you compare the power of nature in Kamikaze to?

Answer 23

Storm on the Island, Tissue, Exposure and The Prelude

Question 24

What poems can you compare the power of memory in Kamikaze to?

Answer 24

Poppies and The Emigree

Question 25

What poems can you compare the theme of conflicting emotions in Kamikaze to?

Answer 25

Poppies, Bayonet Charge and War Photographer

Question 26

What poems can you compare the power of society in Kamikaze to?

Answer 26

London and The Emigree