Remains Flashcards
What is the summary of remains
The speaker describes an occasion during war when he shot a looter.
He is unable to get the memory out of his mind and is traumatised.
He is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD – anxiety caused by very distressing or traumatising events) even when he is home.
What is the context
This is a contemporary poem.
It explores the impact of war on soldiers’ mental health, even when they are no longer fighting.
Armitage based the poem on an account of a real soldier as part of a collection called “The Not Dead”.
This also featured as part of a television series. In the series, the soldier the poem is based on describes the incident and its lasting impact.
How is the context of trauma and guilt represented
The poet explores a lesser discussed aspect of war: returning home and living with the traumatic memories of acts committed in war.
The soldier is overwhelmed with feelings of guilt. The poet raises questions about the way men in war are conditioned. They are conditioned to put aside their personal emotions when they commit acts of violence or destruction.
Like the soldiers in ‘Bayonet Charge’ and ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’, these men are following orders. There is no room for their thoughts or feelings about the value of human life and the moral implications of taking.
War and aftermath
The casualness of death when the soldier is at war.
The horror of his memories when he is in a different context at home.
Injustice of war
There is a sense of the injustice of conflict. The looter was potentially not dangerous but lost his life anyway.
Split decisions are made in war about life or death. They have lasting consequences.
How is colloquial language used
other colloquial (conversational) language, such as “Well myself and somebody else and somebody else”.
This kind of language shows that experiences, such as the one described, were common.
The soldiers are almost desensitised to the horrors of conflict when they are immersed in it.
How are the soilders dehumanised
Like the soldiers in ‘Bayonet Charge’ and ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’, the soldiers here are following orders. There is no room for their thoughts or feelings about the value of human life. Armitage uses vague and colloquial (conversational) language to show that the speaker is desensitised to war
How are colloquial verbs used
Tosses” and “carted off”.
Casual, colloquial (conversational) verbs indicate the soldiers’ lack of regard or respect for human life in war.
How is vague language used
“This looter”.
This kind of language could show how soldiers dehumanised those they attacked.
They may have done this to make it easier to deal with taking another human’s life.
How are metaphors used
His blood shadow stays”.
This metaphor creates the image of something dark that cannot be dispelled. It is related to his memory.
Blood is related to death.
Shadow relates to a memory that lingers. He is constantly reminded of what he did.
How is trauma presented
The poet explores a lesser discussed aspect of war: returning home and living with the traumatic memories of acts committed in war. Here are some of the techniques Armitage uses to explore post-war trauma
How is sensory language used
I see” conveys a sense of the trauma it has caused the soldier. It’s as though it is branded on his memory.
The use of the present tense relates to the idea that this suffering is ongoing. It suggests he constantly re-plays the memories.
How are violent verbs used
Bursts”.
This verb highlights how the image erupts into his mind without warning.
How are casurea and short sentences used
“End of story, except not really”.
The speaker believed the memories would remain at war when he left.
The short sentence and the caesura could reflect his stark (sudden) realisation that he will continue to be plagued by them.
Analyse Flush
And the drink and drugs won’t flush him out”.
This phrase indicates the speaker’s desperation to rid himself of the harrowing memories.
The verb “flush” suggests that something needs to be cleansed or disposed of.
It links to the unpleasantness of his memories.
