Kamikaze

Question 1

What are the main themes in Kamikaze?

Answer 1

• Noble side of war (but also cowardice)
• Power of nature -> Worth living for
• Human effect of war -> Fear
• Honour -> Lasts forever
• Memory -> Involve nature
• Family

Question 2

What is the form, rhyme and structure like in Kamikaze?

Answer 2

• Chronological -> Mimics ritual of Kamikaze
• Enjambement -> 1 massive moment
• Various perspectives -> War effects everyone
• Juxtaposition: War vs Nature, Love vs Shame, Past vs Present, Honour vs Family

Question 3

What are some good quotes in Kamikaze?

Answer 3

• “Incantations” -> Precise noun
• “One way journey into history” -> Hyperbole
• “Boats…strung out like bunting on a green-blue translucent sea” -> Simile + assonance
• “Arcing in swathes” -> Precise verb
• “Pearl-grey pebbles” -> Alliteration
• “Tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous” -> Asyndeton
• “This was no longer the father we loved” -> Statement

Question 4

What effect does “incantations” have?

Answer 4

• Honour of war is almost magical

Question 5

What effect does “one way journey into history” have?

Answer 5

• Nobility of dying

* Emphasis on no coming back

Question 6

What effect does “boats…strung out like bunting on a green-blue translucent sea” have?

Answer 6

• Emphasis on beauty of nature
• Bunting -> Almost a celebration
• Contrasted with end of text

Question 7

What effect does “arcing in swathes” have?

Answer 7

• Unity of nature + calm and control

* Contrasted to chaos of war

Question 8

What effect does “pearl-grey pebbles” have?

Answer 8

• Colour symbolism -> Calm

Question 9

What effect does “tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous” have?

Answer 9

• Power + beauty of nature

Question 10

What effect does “this was no longer the father we loved” have?

Answer 10

• Cold statement

* De-humanises pilot’s family -> Human effect

Question 11

What can Kamikaze be compared to and what are the main comparative points?

Answer 11

War photographer

1. WP - War is terrible
   Kam - War is glorious
2. WP - Memories are scarring
   Kam - Memories keep you alive
3. WP - War doesn’t affect everyone
   Kam - Evryone is affected
4. Both - Nature is a retreat from war