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19
0
Sophie Wilder
29/09/2025
English Literature
remains annotations poetry power and conflict
904
•
29 Sept 2025
•
Sophie Wilder
@sophiewilder.x
The poem "Remains" by Simon Armitage explores the psychological impact... Show more
Simon Armitage's poem "Remains" offers a haunting portrayal of a soldier's experience during and after a violent encounter. The poem delves deep into the psychological aftermath of combat, exploring themes of guilt, trauma, and the indelible mark left by acts of violence.
Highlight: The poem begins in medias res, immediately immersing the reader in the soldier's recollection of a specific incident involving looters.
The opening lines set the scene with stark clarity:
"On another occasion, we get sent out to tackle looters raiding a bank."
This direct approach emphasizes the routine nature of such events for soldiers, while also hinting at the extraordinary circumstances that follow.
Vocabulary: In medias res - A narrative technique that starts a story in the middle of the action, often used to create immediate engagement.
The poem's structure mirrors the fragmented nature of traumatic memory. Short, abrupt lines and enjambment create a sense of urgency and disjointed thought, reflecting the narrator's disturbed mental state.
Example: The line "Three of a kind all letting fly, and I swear" is followed by an enjambment, creating a pause that heightens the tension before revealing the gruesome details of the shooting.
Armitage employs vivid imagery to convey the brutal reality of the encounter:
"I see every round as it rips through his life – I see broad daylight on the other side."
This powerful description not only portrays the physical act of violence but also suggests the psychological "ripping" of the narrator's own life and peace of mind.
Quote: "his bloody life in my bloody hands"
This line encapsulates the central theme of the poem – the overwhelming guilt and responsibility the soldier feels for taking a life. The repetition of "bloody" emphasizes both the literal and figurative stains left by the act.
The poem's shift to the present tense in the latter half underscores the lasting impact of the event:
"But I blink and he bursts again through the doors of the bank."
This transition highlights how the memory continues to haunt the narrator, blurring the lines between past and present, reality and nightmare.
Definition: PTSD - A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event, often characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.
The poem's exploration of PTSD is particularly poignant, as it shows how the soldier's attempts to numb the pain through "drink and the drugs" prove futile against the persistent memory of the incident.
Armitage's use of colloquial language and informal tone throughout the poem serves to humanize the soldier, making his experiences more relatable and immediate to the reader. This approach underscores the universal nature of trauma and the human cost of conflict.
Highlight: The poem's final stanza brings the trauma into the present, emphasizing its ongoing nature: "His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol / I walk right over it week after week."
"Remains" stands as a powerful entry in the canon of Power and Conflict poems, offering a raw and unflinching look at the psychological toll of warfare. Through its vivid imagery, fragmented structure, and deeply personal narrative, the poem invites readers to confront the complex realities of conflict and its lasting impact on those who experience it firsthand.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Sophie Wilder
@sophiewilder.x
The poem "Remains" by Simon Armitage explores the psychological impact of war on a soldier, focusing on a specific incident involving looters. It delves into themes of guilt, trauma, and the lasting effects of violence on the human psyche.
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Simon Armitage's poem "Remains" offers a haunting portrayal of a soldier's experience during and after a violent encounter. The poem delves deep into the psychological aftermath of combat, exploring themes of guilt, trauma, and the indelible mark left by acts of violence.
Highlight: The poem begins in medias res, immediately immersing the reader in the soldier's recollection of a specific incident involving looters.
The opening lines set the scene with stark clarity:
"On another occasion, we get sent out to tackle looters raiding a bank."
This direct approach emphasizes the routine nature of such events for soldiers, while also hinting at the extraordinary circumstances that follow.
Vocabulary: In medias res - A narrative technique that starts a story in the middle of the action, often used to create immediate engagement.
The poem's structure mirrors the fragmented nature of traumatic memory. Short, abrupt lines and enjambment create a sense of urgency and disjointed thought, reflecting the narrator's disturbed mental state.
Example: The line "Three of a kind all letting fly, and I swear" is followed by an enjambment, creating a pause that heightens the tension before revealing the gruesome details of the shooting.
Armitage employs vivid imagery to convey the brutal reality of the encounter:
"I see every round as it rips through his life – I see broad daylight on the other side."
This powerful description not only portrays the physical act of violence but also suggests the psychological "ripping" of the narrator's own life and peace of mind.
Quote: "his bloody life in my bloody hands"
This line encapsulates the central theme of the poem – the overwhelming guilt and responsibility the soldier feels for taking a life. The repetition of "bloody" emphasizes both the literal and figurative stains left by the act.
The poem's shift to the present tense in the latter half underscores the lasting impact of the event:
"But I blink and he bursts again through the doors of the bank."
This transition highlights how the memory continues to haunt the narrator, blurring the lines between past and present, reality and nightmare.
Definition: PTSD - A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event, often characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.
The poem's exploration of PTSD is particularly poignant, as it shows how the soldier's attempts to numb the pain through "drink and the drugs" prove futile against the persistent memory of the incident.
Armitage's use of colloquial language and informal tone throughout the poem serves to humanize the soldier, making his experiences more relatable and immediate to the reader. This approach underscores the universal nature of trauma and the human cost of conflict.
Highlight: The poem's final stanza brings the trauma into the present, emphasizing its ongoing nature: "His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol / I walk right over it week after week."
"Remains" stands as a powerful entry in the canon of Power and Conflict poems, offering a raw and unflinching look at the psychological toll of warfare. Through its vivid imagery, fragmented structure, and deeply personal narrative, the poem invites readers to confront the complex realities of conflict and its lasting impact on those who experience it firsthand.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
