Remains Flashcards
Context
A soldier recounting a traumatic experience at war that seems to be haunting him; involving himself and other soldiers killing someone they assumed was an enemy and disposing of the body
“Probably armed, possibly not”
When discussing a looter (someone from the opposing side attempting to steal resources) the soldier reveals that himself and “somebody else and somebody else” were all of “the same mind” to shoot this man even though they were unsure whether he was truly armed. This suggests that any sense of legal responsibility or compliance with the law is removed during war, its a legal to shoot someone who is unarmed on the battlefield.
“Tossed his guts back into his body”
“Sort of inside out”
The action is very violent but the speaker introduces it in a casual manner, suggesting that these violent actions are normalised for him. Also unusual that the other men feel comfortable holding the “guts” of a dead man, unsettling for the reader.
“The drink and the drugs wont flush him out”
Suggests that the soldier is actually struggling with the memory and potentially finding it difficult to eradicate these thoughts from his memory. He turns to drink and alcohol, like many with PTSD, for comfort but it seems that this doesn’t work - he’s still struggling.
In the war zone he’s able to normalise the events but at home its more difficult.
Structure
Caesura - lines carry on from one another; fast paced makes action seem quite hectic and fast paced
Story like intro - “on another occasion” its as if the speaker is telling a story, encourages engagement and emotion felt as its in first person.
Compare to
- charge of the light brigade
- exposure
- bayonet charge
- poppies
- war photographer
- kamikaze
Author
Simon Armitage
