remains

Question 1

what is the poem about?

Answer 1

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 and he has ptsd.

Question 2

what is the solider opverwhelmed with

Answer 2

guilt

Question 3

what does the poet raise questions about

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol”

Answer 4

This metaphor indicates something dark that cannot be gotten rid of

Question 5

“And the drink and the drugs won’t flush him out”

Answer 5

The verb “flush” is indicative of something that needs to be cleansed or disposed of, linking to the unpleasantness of his memories.

Question 6

“His bloody life in my bloody hands

Answer 6

The repetition of “bloody” reinforces the sense of his frustration. The image of having blood on his hands symbolises the guilt he is unable to rid off