Kamikaze

Question 1

Key quotes (4)

Answer 1

• “A shaven head full of powerful incantations”
• “Little fishing boats strung out like bunting”
• “Fishes flashing silver as their bellies swivelled towards sun”
• “And though he came back my mother never spoke again”

Question 2

Analyse “flask of water, a samurai sword, a shaven head full of powerful incantations”

Answer 2

Listing - creates a sense of intimacy with the pilot of simplicity this juxtaposes the metaphorical ‘journey into history’ of his flight

Question 3

Analyse “Little fishing boats strung out like bunting” (2)

Answer 3

• Simile emphasises the attractive temptation of the life below him
• Contrasts with his ‘journey into history’ symbolises his inner conflict

Question 4

Analyse “Fishes flashing silver as their bellies swivelled towards sun”

Answer 4

Metaphor - the fish represent the aircraft “flash of silver” for their honour and glory

Question 5

Analyse “And though he came back my mother never spoke again”

Answer 5

pronoun “he” - nameless as though ashamed or difficult to name him shows lack of identity

Question 6

tone quote

Answer 6

“he must have wondered which had been better way to die”

Question 7

Tone quote analysis “he must have wondered which had been better way to die” (2)

Answer 7

• highlights conflict - emphasises that he died in the eyes of his family
• Tone of regret and sympathy - at his situation, he had no way out

Question 8

Structure (2)

Answer 8

• Consistent structure uses quite regular syllable patterns drifting up and down in length gives the poem a tone of nostalgia
• The rhythm of the waves can represent a helplessness