Remains Flashcards
1
Q
What is the context of Simon Armitage’s remains?
A
*Soldier stationed in a war zone and fire on bank robbers who seem to have a gun
*Poem looks back at the situation and that the death carries with him in his mind
*PTSD very common in soldiers
*Simon known for being very direct in his work and looks at war and soldiers experiences
2
Q
“On another occasion”
A
3
Q
“probably armed, possibly not”
A
- aside
- undermines severity of situation - if not armed, should he have been shot? - he has power to decide
4
Q
“rips through his life”
A
- graphic hyperbole - lack of glory in killing
5
Q
“tossed his guts back into his body”
A
- juxtaposition of violent killing and casual description
6
Q
“his bloody life in my bloody hands”
A
- pun/dark humour
- covered in blood but also anger/hate
- soldier at conflict with dead man, but more with his own mind
- poem ends with sense of dispair - no resolution
