Remains Flashcards
“O a o” Repetition and routine of violence, Numbness and detachment, Haunting impact of trauma
“On another occasion”
This phrase, which opens the poem, immediately establishes a sense of repetition and routine, suggesting that the event being described is not an isolated incident but rather part of a larger pattern of violence and trauma. The casual, almost dismissive tone of the phrase implies a kind of numbness or detachment on the part of the speaker, as if the horrors of war have become so commonplace as to be almost unremarkable. This line sets the stage for the poem’s exploration of the way in which experiences of combat can haunt and shape an individual long after the actual fighting has ended.
“p a, p n” Ambiguity and moral confusion of war, Difficulty of split-second decisions, Burden of guilt and responsibility
“probably armed, possibly not”
This line captures the ambiguity and uncertainty that often characterizes the experience of modern warfare. The speaker’s inability to definitively determine whether the individual they killed was armed reflects the blurred lines between combatant and civilian, the difficulty of making split-second life-or-death decisions in the heat of battle. The juxtaposition of “probably” and “possibly” underscores this sense of doubt and moral confusion, the way in which the realities of war resist easy categorization or justification. This line reflects the poem’s concern with the ethical and psychological complexities of combat, the burden of guilt and responsibility that soldiers must bear.
“r t h l” Enduring psychological impact of war, Transformation and rupture of identity. Reverberations of trauma
“rips through his life”
This visceral metaphor captures the way in which the experience of killing another human being can shatter and transform an individual’s entire existence. The verb “rips” suggests a kind of violent, irreparable tearing, a permanent rupture in the fabric of the speaker’s life. The idea that this single moment of violence can reverberate through the entirety of one’s life reflects the poem’s exploration of the enduring psychological impact of war, the way in which the trauma of combat can define and shape an individual’s identity and experiences long after the fact.
“t h g b i h b” Psychological burden of killing, Futile attempt at reversal or undoing, Intimacy and physicality of violence
“tosses his guts back into his body”
This graphic image vividly conveys the speaker’s attempt to mentally undo or reverse the violence they have committed. The phrase “tosses his guts back into his body” suggests a kind of desperate, futile attempt at reassembly, a desire to restore the integrity and wholeness of the person they have killed. The visceral, bodily nature of the image reflects the intimate, physical reality of the act of killing, the way in which it involves a literal dismantling and destruction of another human being. This line captures the poem’s concern with the psychological burden of taking another life, the way in which the act of killing can haunt and torment the perpetrator.
“h b l i m b h” Personal guilt and responsibility, Stain and burden of killing, Intimacy and weight of taking a life
“his bloody life in my bloody hands”
This line encapsulates the speakers sense of personal responsibility and guilt for the death of the individual they have killed. The repetition of “bloody” emphasizes the literal and metaphorical blood on the speaker’s hands, the way in which the act of killing has stained and burdened them. The idea that the person’s “life” is now in the speaker’s “hands” suggests a kind of awful intimacy, a sense of holding and bearing the weight of another’s existence. This line reflects the poem’s ultimate concern with the moral and emotional consequences of taking a life, the way in which the act of killing can fundamentally alter one’s sense of self and humanity.
