Remains

Question 1

What is the narrative

Answer 1

The poem is about a soldier who is haunted by his involvement in a shooting of a bank looter. It also explores the repercussions of war for individuals who come out of conflict zones and raises awareness of conditions such as ​PTSD​

Question 2

What is the context

Answer 2

Remains is set in Basra in the Iraq, which was the scene of the Battle of Basra in 2003. On another occasion, we get sent out to tackle looters raiding a bank. And one of them legs it up the road, probably armed, possibly not

Question 3

What is the stucture

Answer 3

The first seven stanzas are in largely unrhymed quatrains close quatrain 1 stanza in poetry consisting of a group of four lines the final stanza consists of only two lines and therefore stands out, emphasising the fact the speaker cannot rid himself of the memory of the killing

Question 4

What is the form

Answer 4

The poem is written as a monologue close monologue 1 speech by a single person, speaking alone, often revealing something about their past or personality

Question 5

What are the language techniques

Answer 5

The language of the poem is anecdotal, which, along with the pace and rhythm, gives the sense the speaker is directly telling us his story. Slang such as ‘mates’ and colloquial