Remains v. war photographer

Question 1

THEMES OF BOTH

Answer 1

1. sense of duty, moral and societal obligations
2. harsh realities of war
3. sense of detachment + isolation
4. conflict between obligation and helping victims of conflict

Question 2

STRUCTURE OF WAR PHOTOGRAPHER

Answer 2

rigid 6 stanza form, consistent rhyme scheme that contrasts the ideas of chaos but highlights the serious and militarised nature of the job at hand.
structure feels almost emotionless with its cyclical nature and sense of futility.

Question 3

STRUCTURE- REMAINS

Answer 3

dramatic monologue with largely unrhymed quatrains
uneven stanzas that create a conversational feel that highlights the chaotic structure.

Question 4

PERSPECTIVE OF BOTH

Answer 4

1. remains- present tense with flashbacks, almost feels like a therapy recounting with constant changes in perspective, almost like a stream of consciousness centred on emotion (very common in modern english lit)
   creates a sense of detachment
2. war photographer- 3rd person despite having intimate moments of emotion, reflects the overall sense of detachment and strict codes of the job.

Question 5

THEME 1- sense of duty, moral and societal obligations
QUOTES

Answer 5

war p- “ he has a job to do. Solutions slop in trays beneath his hands, which did not tremble then though seem to now”
remains- “on another occasion we get sent out”

Question 6

why do both poems reflect a sense of duty and moral/societal obligations

Answer 6

both protagonists in the poem are acting in absence of orders or direction of others, they have to act on their inner sense of what is morally and professionally right.
Both set around war conflicts (remains- Iraq, war p - vietnam?) both could act as criticisms of propeganda and authorities.

Question 7

THEME 2- harsh realities of war-
QUOTES

Answer 7

remains- “and tosses his guts back into his body, then he’s carted off in the back of a lorry”
“he’s there on the ground sort of inside out”

war p - “fields which don’t explode beneath the feet of running children in nightmare heat”
“features”..”twist before his eyes”.”he remembers the cries”

Question 8

Why do both poems include themes of the harsh realities of war

Answer 8

they both use gruesome imagery to highlight how important it is not to hide the real life stories and realities of what conflict can do to someone, shows how we are unable to hide from the truth.

Question 9

THEME 3- sense of detachment, isolation
QUOTES

Answer 9

remains-detachment= “well myself and somebody else and somebody else”
isolation= “hes here in my head when i close my eyes, not dug in behind enemy lines”
“blood stained shadow”

war p- detachment= “blood stained into foreign dust”
isolation= “ rural england. home again to ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel”

Question 10

why do both poems create a sense of detachment and isolation?

Answer 10

detachment is usually used to try and excuse what they both did, especially in the case of remains.
there is also detachment because both have become tools of war and this makes them loose their individuality/ humanity, their sense of duty creates a barrier between emotion and realities.

isolation- shows the intensified guilt from going over and over even in your head until you become your own worst enemy.