Remains

Question 1

What are the THEMES presented in ‘Remains’?

Answer 1

• Effects of Conflict
• Reality of Conflicts
• Memory
• Guilt
• Individual Experiences

Question 2

Complete the quotation:
“his —— life in my —— hands.”

Answer 2

“his BLOODY life in my BLOODY hands.”

Bloody (Adjective) - Creates imagery of having bood on hands, which symbolise the guilt and regret he can’t rid himself of.

Bloody (Swear word) - Repetition re-enforces his fustration, shock, and anger. Use of vulgar language contrasts with the euphemistic languages throughout the poem implies he is disillusioned and understands the harsh reality of war.

Question 3

Complete the quotation:
“His ———— stays on the street, and out on patrol”

Answer 3

“His BLOOD-SHADOW stays on the street, and out on patrol”

Blood-Shadow - Metaphor for either a literal blood stain, or the guilt and regret he still holds from the past. Re-enforces the idea that it’s a dark memory and that it is constantly in his mind, and cannot be dispelled.

Question 4

Complete the quotation:
“One of my —– goes by,
and —— his —- back into his body.”

Answer 4

“One of my MATES goes by,
and TOSSES his GUTS back into his body.”

Mates/Tosses - Euphemistic/Coloquial language shows how common experiences, such as this one described here, were. Shows how soldiers are almost desensitised to the horrors of conflict when they are immersed in it.

Guts - Noun viceral imagery reveals the reality of war and the lack of glory and honour associated with it.

Question 5

What is the Contectual knowledge of ‘Remains’ by Simon Armitage:

Answer 5

• About a soldier who is haunted by his involvement in a shooting of a bank looter.
• Written to bring to attenting the trama/PTSD that “remains” with soldiers after they have left.”