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Exploring the 'Remains' Poem by Simon Armitage: Simple Analysis and Themes for Kids

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hollie

14/11/2022

English Literature

remains poem notes

Exploring the 'Remains' Poem by Simon Armitage: Simple Analysis and Themes for Kids

The poem "Remains" by Simon Armitage explores the psychological impact of war on a soldier, focusing on a specific incident involving looters. The speaker recounts the event and its lasting effects on his mental state, highlighting themes of trauma, guilt, and the lingering consequences of violence.

...

14/11/2022

394

Remains
1
5
Simon
Armitage
(b. 1963)
.
•7 quatrains
last stanza is a
•half rhyme.
• anecdote
.
On another occasion, we get sent out
to tackl

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Page 1: Setting the Scene and the Violent Encounter

The first page of the "Remains" poem analysis introduces the setting and the central incident. The speaker, a soldier, recounts an encounter with looters raiding a bank. The use of colloquial language immediately establishes an informal, personal tone.

The poem begins with uncertainty, as the speaker describes pursuing a looter who is "probably armed, possibly not." This ambiguity sets the stage for the moral complexity of the situation. The repetition of "somebody else" emphasizes the collective action and shared responsibility of the soldiers.

Example: The line "Three of a kind all letting fly" uses gambling imagery to describe the soldiers' unified action, suggesting a sense of chance and risk in their decision to open fire.

The violence is described in vivid, disturbing detail. The speaker sees "every round as it rips through his life" and observes the looter "sort of inside out" on the ground. This graphic imagery serves to underscore the brutal reality of war and its psychological impact on the soldiers involved.

Highlight: The caesura pausepause in the line "End of story, except not really" marks a turning point in the poem, signaling that the physical encounter may be over, but its psychological effects are ongoing.

The poem then shifts to the aftermath, introducing the concept of the "blood-shadow" that remains on the street. This powerful metaphor represents the lasting imprint of violence on both the physical landscape and the speaker's psyche.

Quote: "His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol / I walk right over it week after week."

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English Literature

394

14 Nov 2022

2 pages

Exploring the 'Remains' Poem by Simon Armitage: Simple Analysis and Themes for Kids

user profile picture

hollie

@hollieaw

The poem "Remains" by Simon Armitage explores the psychological impact of war on a soldier, focusing on a specific incident involving looters. The speaker recounts the event and its lasting effects on his mental state, highlighting themes of trauma, guilt,... Show more

Remains
1
5
Simon
Armitage
(b. 1963)
.
•7 quatrains
last stanza is a
•half rhyme.
• anecdote
.
On another occasion, we get sent out
to tackl

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Join milions of students

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Page 1: Setting the Scene and the Violent Encounter

The first page of the "Remains" poem analysis introduces the setting and the central incident. The speaker, a soldier, recounts an encounter with looters raiding a bank. The use of colloquial language immediately establishes an informal, personal tone.

The poem begins with uncertainty, as the speaker describes pursuing a looter who is "probably armed, possibly not." This ambiguity sets the stage for the moral complexity of the situation. The repetition of "somebody else" emphasizes the collective action and shared responsibility of the soldiers.

Example: The line "Three of a kind all letting fly" uses gambling imagery to describe the soldiers' unified action, suggesting a sense of chance and risk in their decision to open fire.

The violence is described in vivid, disturbing detail. The speaker sees "every round as it rips through his life" and observes the looter "sort of inside out" on the ground. This graphic imagery serves to underscore the brutal reality of war and its psychological impact on the soldiers involved.

Highlight: The caesura pausepause in the line "End of story, except not really" marks a turning point in the poem, signaling that the physical encounter may be over, but its psychological effects are ongoing.

The poem then shifts to the aftermath, introducing the concept of the "blood-shadow" that remains on the street. This powerful metaphor represents the lasting imprint of violence on both the physical landscape and the speaker's psyche.

Quote: "His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol / I walk right over it week after week."

Remains
1
5
Simon
Armitage
(b. 1963)
.
•7 quatrains
last stanza is a
•half rhyme.
• anecdote
.
On another occasion, we get sent out
to tackl

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

"Remains" by Simon Armitage: A Powerful Exploration of War's Psychological Impact

"Remains" is a haunting poem by Simon Armitage that delves into the psychological aftermath of war. This analysis explores the poem's structure, language, and themes, offering insights into its portrayal of trauma and guilt.

Key points:

  • The poem consists of 7 quatrains with a half-rhyme structure
  • It uses colloquial language to create an authentic voice
  • Themes include PTSD, guilt, and the lasting impact of violence
  • The poem is part of the Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology

Highlight: The poem's raw, conversational tone effectively conveys the speaker's trauma and inner turmoil.

Quote: "His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol / I walk right over it week after week."

Vocabulary: PTSD PostTraumaticStressDisorderPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder - A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.

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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.

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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

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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

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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

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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

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Greenlight Bonnie

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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

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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

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