Podcast
Questions and Answers
What main theme does 'Remains' convey regarding the impact of war?
What main theme does 'Remains' convey regarding the impact of war?
- The glorification of military heroism
- The excitement of combat experiences
- The lasting mental suffering caused by conflict (correct)
- The joy of returning home after battle
How does Simon Armitage use language to portray the speaker's mental state?
How does Simon Armitage use language to portray the speaker's mental state?
- With complex metaphors that obscure meaning
- By incorporating only technical military jargon
- By using formal and distant language
- Through colloquial expressions that reflect authenticity (correct)
What structural element conveys the swift pace of horror in 'Remains'?
What structural element conveys the swift pace of horror in 'Remains'?
- The extensive use of alliteration
- The incorporation of traditional stanza forms
- Enjambment between lines and stanzas (correct)
- The use of a regular rhyme scheme
What does the phrase 'his bloody life in my bloody hands' allude to in the poem?
What does the phrase 'his bloody life in my bloody hands' allude to in the poem?
What narrative technique does Armitage employ in 'Remains' to illustrate PTSD?
What narrative technique does Armitage employ in 'Remains' to illustrate PTSD?
Flashcards
PTSD
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events.
Colloquial language
Colloquial language
Informal language or slang used in everyday conversation.
Enjambment
Enjambment
The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line or stanza in poetry.
Monologue
Monologue
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Imagery of suffering
Imagery of suffering
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Study Notes
Themes and Tone
- Themes: Conflict, suffering, reality of war
- Tones: Tragic, haunting, anecdotal
Content, Meaning, and Purpose
- Written to complement a TV documentary on PTSD in returning war veterans
- Based on the experiences of Guardsman Tromans, who fought in Iraq in 2003
- Depicts the speaker's experience of killing a looter in Iraq and the lasting mental effects
- Aims to highlight the persistence of mental suffering after physical conflict ends
Context
- Characterized as poems of survivors, focused on the injured and weary soldiers who return from war mentally scarred
- Written during a period of increased public awareness and concern about PTSD in military personnel, particularly during or after the Iraq War
- Possibly intended to evoke sympathy and understanding from those opposed to the war
Language
- "Remains" emphasizes the enduring impact of suffering and trauma
- Colloquialisms like "Legs it up the road" create an authentic voice
- Imagery of "carted off in the back of a lorry" reduces human life to something disposable
- Metaphors like "dug in behind enemy lines" in one's head illustrate the internalized conflict of PTSD
- "his bloody life in my bloody hands" references Macbeth, deepening the trauma through literary allusion
Form and Structure
- Monologue: The poem is a direct address to the audience, told in present tense to mirror a flashback
- Structure: The first four stanzas are set in Iraq; the last three stanzas are set in the speaker's home, highlighting the transition from war to post-war life
- Enjambment: The enjambment creates a conversational feel and rapid pace, especially during violent moments
- Repitition of "Probably armed, Possibly not": This recurring phrase underscores the speaker's guilt and anxiety
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