Kamikaze (needs context, one quote and structure) Flashcards
3rd person narrative
highlights the distance between the pilot and the daughter. The pilot also has no voice and this shows how he is silenced and invisible- cut off by society
Her father embarked at sunrise
identity, power of nature, effects of conflicts - indoctrinated soldiers taking their own life
the combination of “sunrise” and “embarked” gives an impression of adventure and discovery , which could show how heroic the father was at first
“sunrise” connotations of hope and new beginnings, which could reflect how the idea of sacrifising your life for your country was romanticed.
highlights how the pilot has a strong sense of nationalism, since the sun is a significant part of japanese culture, especially given the fact it is featured in the Japanese “rising sun” military flag . this could also highlight the immense pressure enforced by the culture to fulfil his duty, the powerful nature of the sun could reflect the powerful nature of Japanese propaganda tricking piolets to commit suicide as a “sacrifice” for a nation
the piolet is distanced from the reader from the outset through the use of thrid person perspective, which foreshadows how he is going to be outcasted
with a flask of water, A samurai sword in the cockpit
- sibilance
- sumari soldiers
- water and sword
(identity, effects of conflict - indoctrinated soldiers taking their own life)
use of sibilance: “sunrise, sumari sword, shaven” could reflect the peace he is supposed to find in death
The samurai sword could be a link to “Sumari soldiers” who took pride in their stoicism and developed a disciplined culture, which could reflect the piolets current attitude. this could also reflect how the piolet believes that committing suicide is honouring his country since a “samurai sword” is a very traditional Japanese weapon
the fact that the “sumari sword” is next to the “flask of water” could be used as a metaphor to suggest how, just like water, honour is essential to the life of a japanese man
A shaven head, Full of powerful incantations
identity, effects of conflict- indoctrinated soldiers taking their own life
metaphor
adjective “powerful” emphasises the psychological pull drilled into the solider of honouring his family through death
brainwashed by the patriotic propaganda used by the government to promote national identity
“shaven head” highlights his dedication, loyalty and discipline for his culture all Japanese soldiers had to have a shaven head - custom= unity
“Little fishing boats strung out like bunting”
power of nature and memory
This similie is homely and pretty contrasting to the cry of war
Fishing is ingarined in Japanese culture, the fact that the pilot is looking at fishing boats suggests that he is trying to be his civilised self.
“strung out like bunting” simile includes childlike language which links back to happy memories the pilot is recalling, whilst flying out to his death.
It is also ironic that instead of enemy ships the pilot is focusing on harmless fishing boats which reflects his mindset and how reluctant he is to complete his mission.
“bunting” is a positive image with connotations of celebration = symbolisise joy and reminds the piolet what he is leaving behin
Green-blue translucent sea
power of nature
“blue” has connotations of serenity, implying the pilot has subconsciously decided to turn around.
The adjective “translucent” suggests he’s beginning to see through the “powerful incantations” and realise the depth and the gravity of what he is choosing to do which will trigger his change of mind.
fishes move “like a huge flag waved first one waythen the other in a figure of eight”
(power of nature, identiy, effects of conflict)
the comparison between the movement the fishes and a flag reinforces the strong sense of patriotism and could also represent how kamikaze pilots were under pressure to meet their obligations to their country.
However, the fact that the flag is waved one way and then another could reflect the pilot’s change of mind.
this also introduces nature battling with patriotism
Moreover, the figure of eight movements could be a reference to the signal soldiers make when surrendering, therefore representing how the pilot is also mentally surrendering is obligation to commit suicide
figure of eight could also imply that the pilot is trapped in a repetitive cycle of doom, and that he cannot escape his destiny- whether it being dying by forgoing his mission, or dying in eyes of his family and friends back home by surrendering
Dark shoals of fishes flashing silver … swivelled towards the sun
(power of nature)
use of sibilance to describe the fishes movements mimics how graceful and smooth they are
could also imitate the sound of rushing water. This also brightens the poem, reflecting the sight he is seeing
Silver implies riches and rarity, showing how nature’s intense beauty helps make the pilot change his mind about going through with his mission.
the contrast of dark and then flashing and silver mirror how dark the kamikaze’s mind, given that he is riding to his death, but now the light has returned as he considers living instead. So the light imagery might show hope or happiness.
My mother never spoke again in his presence
“They treated him as though he never existed”
(effects of conflict, identity)
- contrast in tone from beginning end
- shft in narrative
- irony
- brainwashed
The disappointment and sadness in this section powerfully contrasts with the hopeful and vibrant imagery in the last section.
shift in narrative perspective from third to first person.
“my mother” contrasts the previous mention of “her father”. This creates a distance between the family and the father, who has been cast from society.
Irony - they treat him as though he’s dead anyway
.Because he managed to free himself from his country’s brainwashing he was treated as a traitor. (like a minority or something). The majority (brainwashed) attacks the minority (the pilot) for not being one of them
And sometimes, she said, he must have wondered which had been the better way to die.
The oxymoron of ‘better way to die’ indicates how poorly the kamikaze soldier was treated after his return. The fact that he would have wondered if he should have died by killing himself through crashing a plane emphasises how his ‘family…friends…and neighbours’ shunned him and maltreated him.
this short and final sentence, contrasts with the two other longer sentences in the poem, which could reflect how the father has ultimately been reduced to nothing, emphaising the destructiveness of paitroitism
