Power and Conflict Poetry Flashcards
Who wrote the poem ‘Remains’
Simon Armitage
What is the content, meaning and purpose of Remains?
Written to coincide with a TV documentary about those returning from war with PTSD. Based on Guardsman Tromans, who fought in Iraq in 2003.
Speaker describes shooting a looter dead in Iraq and how it has affected him.
To show the reader that mental suffering can persist long after physical conflict is over
What is the context of the poem ‘Remains’
To increase awareness of PTSD amongst the military and aroused sympathy amongst the public
What does “Remains” mean?
The imagery and suffering remain
“Legs it up the road”
colloquial language = authentic voice
What quote reduces humanity to waste or cattle?
“Then he’s carted off in the back of a lorry”
What quote shows the PTSD and metaphor for the war in his head?
“he’s here in my head when I close my eyes / dug in behind enemy lines”
What quote alludes to Macbeth?
“his bloody life in my bloody hands”
What is the form of the poem ‘Remains’
Monologue, told in the present tense to convey a flashback (a symptom of PTSD).
First four stanzas are set in Iraq; last three are at home, showing the aftermath.
Enjambment between lines and stanzas conveys his conversational tone and gives it a fast pace, especially when conveying the horror of the killing
Repetition of ‘Probably armed, Possibly not” conveys guilt and bitterness.
Who wrote the poem “Exposure”?
Wilfred Owens
What are the themes of “Exposure”?
Conflict, Suffering, Nature, Reality of War, Patriotism
What is the content, meaning and purpose of the poem “Exposure”?
Speaker describes war as a battle against the weather and conditions.
Imagery of cold and warm reflect the delusional mind of a man dying from hypothermia.
Owen wanted to draw attention to the suffering, monotony and futility of war.
What is the context of the poem “Exposure”?
Written in 1917 before Owen went on to win the Military Cross for bravery, and was then killed in battle in 1918: the poem has authenticity as it is written by an actual soldier.
Of his work, Owen said: “My theme is war and the pity of war”.
Despite highlighting the tragedy of war and mistakes of senior commanders, he had a deep sense of duty: “not loath, we lie out here” shows that he was not bitter about his suffering.
What quote shows physical (cold) suffering and mental (ptsd or shell shock) suffering?
“Our brains ache”
What quote personifies the merciless winds, has sibilance (cutting/slicing sound of wind) and uses ellipsis (never ending)? (Exposure)
““the merciless iced east winds that knive us…”
What does the repetition of the pronouns “we” and “our” do? (Exposure)
conveys togetherness and collective suffering of soldiers.
What is the form of the poem “Exposure”?
Contrast of Cold>Warm>Cold imagery coveys Suffering>Delusions>Death of the hypothermic soldier.
Repetition of “but nothing happens” creates circular structure implying never ending suffering
Rhyme scheme ABBA and hexameter gives the poem structure and emphasises the monotony.
Pararhymes (half rhymes) (“nervous / knife us”) only barely hold the poem together, like the men.
Who wrote the poem “Poppies”?
Jane Weir
What are the themes of “Poppies”
Bravery, Reality of War, Suffering, Childhood
What is the content, meaning and purpose of the poem “Poppies”
A modern poem that offers an alternative interpretation of bravery in conflict: it does not focus on a soldier in battle but on the mother who is left behind and must cope with his death.
The narration covers her visit to a war memorial, interspersed with images of the soldier’s childhood and his departure for war.
What is the context of the poem “Poppies”?
Set around the time of the Iraq and Afghan wars, but the conflict is deliberately ambiguous to give the poem a timeless relevance to all mothers and families.
There are hints of a critical tone; about how soldiers can become intoxicated by the glamour or the military: “a blockade of yellow bias” and “intoxicated”.
What quote contrasts semantic fields of home/childhood? (Poppies)
“cat hairs”
“play at being Eskimos”
“bedroom”
What quote shows war/injury? (Poppies)
“blockade”
“bandaged”
“reinforcements”
