Kamikaze and The Émigrée

Question 1

Comparison 1

Answer 1

Both poems explore positive childhood memories which solidify the identity of the speaker in The Emigree and the pilot in Kamikaze.

Question 2

Comparison 2

Answer 2

Both poems explore the power of memory on the present.

Question 3

Comparison 3

Answer 3

Both poets explore how memory ultimately impacts our perception of the world around us and memory often juxtaposes reality.

Question 4

Kamikaze 1

Answer 4

In Kamikaze, the pilot’s childhood memories deter him from completing the suicide mission. .

Question 5

Kamikaze 1 - Quotes

Answer 5

“little fishing boats strung out like bunting”

“waved in a figure of eight”

Question 6

The Émigrée 1

Answer 6

In The Émigrée, her childhood memory of her country is romanticised.

Question 7

The Émigrée 1 - Quotes

Answer 7

“my memory of it is sunlight-clear”/”November”

“it tastes of sunlight” - every stanza ends in “sunlight”

Question 8

Kamikaze 2

Answer 8

In Kamikaze, the daughter holds on to memories of how societal expectations damaged her relationship with her father.

Question 9

Kamikaze 2 - Quotes

Answer 9

“we too learned to be silent, to live as though he had never returned”

“he must’ve wondered the better way to die”

Question 10

The Émigrée 2

Answer 10

In The Émigrée, her perception of her country is tainted by her current understanding, but her original memory overpowers this.

Question 11

The Émigrée 2 - Quotes

Answer 11

“bright filled paper weight”

“my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight”

Question 12

Kamikaze 3

Answer 12

In Kamikaze, the daughter recalls her father’s perception of duty and honour, which ultimately damaged his life.

Question 13

Kamikaze 3 - Quotes

Answer 13

“head full of powerful incantations”
Regular structure 7 stanzas 6 lines
“one way journey into history”

Question 14

The Émigrée 3

Answer 14

In The Émigrée, she perceives her country positively, despite the war-torn reality.

Question 15

The Émigrée 3 - Quotes

Answer 15

“branded by an impression of sunlight”

“sick with tyrants”

Question 16

“little fishing boats strung out like bunting”

Answer 16

“bunting”- cn celebration

• indoctrinated view actions would be celebrated - suicide honourable
• alt. simile could highlight pilot’s view life should celebrated+ enjoyed, rather than ended so suddenly
• enjambment highlights confusion - doesnt know which action to take

Question 17

“waved in a figure of eight”

Answer 17

• depicts infinity symbol
• feels trapped by never ending cultural expectations
• tone frustration - further emphasise life is precious + relationships can last forever
• yet also has tone of regret – perhaps bc pilot regrets accepting mission

Question 18

“we too learned to be silent, to live as though he had never returned”

Answer 18

-far reaching impacts, even kids impacted
“learned” “act” - ‘demonstrates how behaviour was unnatural as the children were indoctrinated by the patriotic views that the people around them held
-damaging effects of conflict, deprived of a relationship with father

Question 19

“he must’ve wondered the better way to die”

Answer 19

• highlights emotional pain of daughter + her father that was brought on by war + cultural expectaions
• summarises guilt felt by narrator as she recognise indoctrination from patriotism
• implies she tormented by her actions that had deprived her of a relationship with her father, despite doing what was expected of her
• therefore shows the harmful effect that patriotism and conflict had on people as it tears families + communities apart

Question 20

“head full of powerful incantations”

Answer 20

“incantations”- cn of spell, further cn of witchcraft - demonstrates how the propaganda almost put a spell on the pilots to convince them to join up
-highlights indoctrination, honourable to die for country
-may show the anger of the narrator as it shows that they were blind to the brainwashing of the propaganda.
“powerful” adj further supports, highlights sheer power the government had over the pilots as they were persuaded into killing themselves.

Question 21

Regular structure 7 stanzas 6 lines

Answer 21

• further supports idea of indoctrination, as rigid structure may depict the lack of individualism of Jpnese soldiers, highlighting widespread brainwashing
• alt. rigid structure could imply fate, destiny set in stone due to propaganda

Question 22

“one way journey into history”

Answer 22

• metaphor
• significance of “journey” jxt by ordinary nature of pilot
• demonstrates how ordinary people brainwashed into killing self as they were disillusioned by a sense of grandeur

Question 23

“my memory of it is sunlight-clear”/”November”

Answer 23

• immediately associates happiness with place
• symbolise hope, optimism
• jxt “November”
• late autumn, cn cold/darkness
• acknowledges that her city going through difficult time
• November = month, will pass, shows optimism that conflict will too pass
• alt. little sunlight in Nov, trying to block out neg. details?

Question 24

“it tastes of sunlight” - every stanza ends in “sunlight”

Answer 24

• rep of sunlight, views home country as something radiant
• use of synaesthesia, inc vividness of xp
• sun = source of light energy - perhaps energised by memories
• light - symbol of hope, never gives up hope of returning home/peace in country

Question 25

“bright filled paper weight”

Answer 25

-metaphor
“paperweight” cn permanence + stability, holds weightless/fragile things together
-memories fixed in place, will never leave her
-refuses to let go of memories
-perhaps believes only thing keeping country together
-glass fragile - memories precious to her

Question 26

“my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight”

Answer 26

• jxt no shadow without light – symbolism of hope and positivity
• ends on sunlight - circularity
• opinion of homeland will always be positive, no matter what “darkness” there may be

Question 27

“branded by an impression of sunlight”

Answer 27

-metaphor
“branded” - eternally marked, cannot escape
-violent verb that carries connotations of permanence and ownership
-memory holds the power here – her view is unchangeable

Question 28

“sick with tyrants”

Answer 28

• personification
• abuse of power as an illness
• city vulnerable/innocent
• potential for cure? illness temp?
• semantic field of warfare demonstrates war torn reality + tyranny in home country ​