Poetry - Remains

Question 1

What does the poem begin with and what does it imply?

Answer 1

‘On another occasion’

This implies that this account is not the only unpleasant story the solider has in his memory

Question 2

What does the solider feel at the end of the poem that is suggested by the final line?

Answer 2

That he will always have blood on his hands

Question 3

What are the three themes in Remains?

Answer 3

Conflict, Life and Death

Question 4

How is the theme of guilt shown?

Answer 4

The speaker is haunted by the guilt of taking a man’s life. He is upset by the fact the man might be innocent.

Evidence:
‘probably armed, possibly not’

Question 5

How is the theme of Conflict shown?

Answer 5

The speaker is acting under orders and is engaged with combat in another country

Evidence:
‘dug behind enemy lines,’
‘not left for dead in some distant, sun-stunned, sand-smothered land’

Question 6

How many stanzas are in Remains?

Answer 6

8

Question 7

What are the first seven stanzas in?

Answer 7

Largely unrhymed quatrains

Question 8

What is the poem written as?

Answer 8

Monologue

Question 9

What effect does slang and colloquial language have on the poem?

Answer 9

It creates the sense that speaker is directly telling us his story

Question 10

How does the poem reference Macbeth?

Answer 10

Bloody hands and sleep

Question 11

What are the similarities between ‘Remains’ and ‘Exposure’?

Answer 11

Both are about soldiers in wartime.

Both present a first-person narrative.

Both provide graphic images of death and war

Question 12

What are the differences between ‘Remains’ and ‘Exposure’?

Answer 12

Remains has a faster paced rhythm, Exposure has a more measured pace, reflecting the way the soldiers are waiting.

Remains is about modern warfare, Exposure is about World War One.

Remains has a structure which disintegrates towards the end, Exposure uses a more regular structure.

Exposure is written in the present tense about an experience that is unfolding. Remains is also written mostly in the present tense, but is about a past experience, showing the lasting trauma of the experience of war for this soldier.

Question 13

The solider in Remains is conditioned to follow orders, like the soldiers in:

Answer 13

Bayonet Charge

Charge of the Light Brigade

Question 14

What colloquial verbs are used in the poem and what do they indicate?

Answer 14

“Tosses” and “carted off”

Casual, colloquial verbs indicate the solider’s lack of regard or respect for human life in war

Question 15

Give an example of a metaphor in the poem:

Answer 15

“His blood shadow stays”

Question 16

What quotes highlight the speaker’s trauma?

Answer 16

“And the drinks and drugs won’t flush him out”
“Bursts”
“End of story, except not really”

Question 17

What is the effect of the repetition of bloody?

How else might the word “bloody” be interpreted?

Answer 17

Reinforces the sense of his frustration.

Could be seen as a swear word and used to mark his anger or regret

Question 18

What does the image of having blood on his hands symbolise?

Challenge: how does this link to MacBeth?

Answer 18

The guilt he is unable to rid himself of

Question 19

Which word in the quote “I swear I see every round as it rips through his life” emphasises the brutality of the attack?

Answer 19

“rips”

Question 20

How does the poet use a two-part structure?

Answer 20

The first half of the poem focuses on the past, the second half focuses on the aftermath

Question 21

What poems could you compare to Remains on the theme of powerful, memorable and/or unpleasant experiences?

Answer 21

Exposure
Charge of the Light Brigade
Bayonet Charge
The Prelude

Question 22

What poems could you compare to Remains on the theme of powerful memories?

Answer 22

Kamikaze
Poppies
The Emigree
War Photographer
The Prelude

Question 23

What poems could you compare to Remains on the theme of reality/effects of conflict?

Answer 23

War Photographer
Exposure
Poppies
Bayonet Charge
Charge of the Light Bridgade