His blood-shadow stays on the street. At once a literal, concrete noun and a metaphor as the blood stain becomes a “shadow” of the life the soldier unnecessarily ended. We begin to see the ghostly form that will haunt Armitage’s character in later stanzas.

What does the word blood shadow mean?

For example, the ‘blood-shadow’ that remains on the street after the event serves as a physical reminder of the violence that has taken place, but can also be seen as a psychological manifestation of the speaker’s guilt over his part in the death of the looter.

What is the meaning of the poem Remains?

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​.

What war is Remains based on?

‘Remains’ is based on the experiences of a soldier who served in Basra in Iraq. He suffered severe PTSD as a result of his experiences and the poem recalls one particular event where the soldier shot the looter of a bank and was left with horrendous flashbacks reliving the moment of the man’s death.

Who says his bloody life in my bloody hands?

-“his bloody life in my bloody hands” – alludes to Macbeth: Macbeth the warrior with PTSD and Lady Macbeth’s bloody hands and guilt. -Monologue, told in the present tense to convey a flashback (a symptom of PTSD). -First four stanzas are set in Iraq; last three are at home, showing the aftermath.

Is blood shadow a metaphor?

At once a literal, concrete noun and a metaphor as the blood stain becomes a “shadow” of the life the soldier unnecessarily ended. We begin to see the ghostly form that will haunt Armitage’s character in later stanzas.

How is suffering presented in Remains?

Within Remains, Simon Armitage, who is widely known for focusing on physiological health and for creating a documentary of young soldier in the height of the conflict occurring in Afghanistan, presents the theme of suffering through the personal view of a young, regimented soldier, by sharing a scene which had clearly

What poem does Remains link to?

Both poets Garland and Armitage, in kamikaze and Remains show conflict as a result of being in war. They both show how conflict can be internal, can cause suffering after the war and they have no choice in their role within the conflict.

What does near to the knuckle mean in Remains?

phrase​British​informal. DEFINITIONS1. rude and slightly offensive, especially about sex.

What is the speaker trying to flush out with the drink and the drugs?

But, as we can infer from ‘Remains’, this is not working – he writes, ‘and the drink and the drug won’t flush them out’. It is ironic that he uses a military term to speak about his efforts in trying to dislodge the memory of the dead soldier.

What does dug in behind enemy lines mean?

As we move into the penultimate stanza, he carries on the image of the looter who has almost taken root in the soldier’s mind, “dug in behind enemy lines”. This works as a metaphor, the enemy lines being the soldier’s mind. A soldier who has “dug in” has dug a trench and is preparing to attack.

What are crimped petals?

The ‘crimped petals’ describe the slightly damaged, imperfections of the poppy. The link between the imperfections of the ‘poppy’ and the hope it symbolises, signifies a sense of broken hope of the narrator, likely of her son’s safety.

Are all of the same mind Remains?

And one of them legs it up the road, probably armed, possibly not. are all of the same mind, so all three of us open fire.

How does Kamikaze compare to Remains?

Similarities. Both explore guilt from war. Kamikaze: guilty for failing to carry out his suicide mission in order to honour his country. Remains: guilty for killing a possibly innocent man.

How do poppies and Remains compare?

Remains focuses on the traumatic memories of a soldier while Poppies is linked to the memories of a bereaved mother.

Is it that we are dying?

Quote from video: Похожие запросы

What are the themes in Remains?

The key themes of the poem include violence, guilt, conflict and the effects of war.

What kind of poem is Remains?

Remains is formed of eight stanzas . The first seven stanzas are in largely unrhymed quatrains . 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. It could also imply disintegration in the speaker’s state of mind.

What is the tone of the poem Remains?

General colloquial language starkly contrasts to the horrific violence described: the tone of the poem seems in conflict with the seriousness and horror of violence.

What happens in Remains?

“Remains” Themes



The poem examines the effects of guilt and trauma both during and after active duty, and suggests that the effects of wartime violence linger long after soldiers leave the battlefield.

Are all of the same mind Remains?

And one of them legs it up the road, probably armed, possibly not. are all of the same mind, so all three of us open fire.

What does near to the knuckle mean in Remains?

phrase​British​informal. DEFINITIONS1. rude and slightly offensive, especially about sex.