Simon Armitage's "Remains" is a powerful dramatic monologue that takes... Show more
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Updated Mar 18, 2026
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Top 5 Key Quotes from 'Remains' - Detailed Grade 9 Analysis
M
maestro247
@maestro247
1 / 4
Form and Opening Analysis
"Remains" drops you right into the middle of a conversation - this technique is called in medias res. You're immediately listening to a soldier who's clearly been building up to telling this particular story, and you can tell it's the one that's affected him most deeply.
The opening line "On another occasion, we got sent out" reveals this is just one of many traumatic incidents. The passive language of "got sent out" makes it sound like the soldiers are being punished rather than doing their job - almost like being excluded from school.
Key shift: The poem moves from "we" to "I" as the soldier starts blaming himself personally. The line "I see every round as it rips through his life" uses harsh sounds and present tense because this memory never leaves him - it's always happening in his mind.
💡 Remember: The circular nature of trauma is shown through the word "round" - the soldier keeps coming back to this memory again and again.
Casual Horror and Coping Mechanisms
The most shocking part of the poem shows how soldiers try to normalise horrific experiences. When "one of my mates goes by and tosses his guts back into his body," Armitage uses casual, colloquial language to describe something absolutely gruesome.
This juxtaposition between casual tone and horrific content shows how soldiers cope - they have to treat extreme violence as normal to survive mentally. The sibilance (repetition of 's' sounds) creates a sinister mood that contradicts the apparently casual action.
The soldier turns to self-medication: "And the drink and the drugs won't flush him out." The repetition of "and" suggests he keeps trying different substances to escape the memory, but nothing works.
💡 Key point: Armitage isn't just telling one soldier's story - he's making a political statement about how society fails to support veterans with PTSD.
Self-Disgust and Military Language
The metaphor "won't flush him out" cleverly uses military terminology - soldiers "flush out" enemies from hiding places. But here, the soldier wants to flush away his own memories like waste down a toilet.
This excremental imagery suggests the soldier sees himself as worthless - he's not just guilty and remorseful, but filled with self-disgust. The addictive patterns with drink and drugs represent desperate attempts to cure this self-hatred.
The poem's ending breaks the expected rhyme scheme. While earlier stanzas rhyme properly, "hands" doesn't quite rhyme with "sand" and "land" - this discordance shows the soldier's lack of control over his own life.
Literary connection: The "bloody life in my bloody hands" directly references Macbeth's bloody hands, suggesting the looter's life was just as precious as a king's.
💡 Structure tip: Notice how the broken rhyme scheme mirrors the soldier's broken mental state.
Two Possible Endings
The poem's conclusion offers two potential interpretations for the soldier's future. The shift from "we" to "my" shows he now accepts personal responsibility rather than sharing collective guilt.
Choice 1: This acceptance of responsibility could lead to self-destruction and suicide - the guilt becomes too much to bear, especially since drink and drugs haven't worked.
Choice 2: There's potential hope here. By confessing (possibly to a doctor, reporter, or psychologist), he might finally find healing. The phrase "here and now" suggests he could learn to stay present instead of being trapped in traumatic memories.
The metaphor "near to the knuckle" traditionally means breaking social taboos. The soldier is breaking the convention that soldiers should be brave and unaffected by war - but this honesty about his fear might actually save him.
💡 Exam focus: Be ready to discuss both possible interpretations of the ending - examiners love students who can see multiple meanings in poetry.
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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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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
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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.
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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
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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 Knowunity AI. 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 Knowunity AI. 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
Top 5 Key Quotes from 'Remains' - Detailed Grade 9 Analysis
M
maestro247
@maestro247
Simon Armitage's "Remains" is a powerful dramatic monologue that takes you straight into the mind of a soldier haunted by a traumatic memory. The poem explores how war experiences stick with soldiers long after they return home, showing the psychological... Show more
Form and Opening Analysis
"Remains" drops you right into the middle of a conversation - this technique is called in medias res. You're immediately listening to a soldier who's clearly been building up to telling this particular story, and you can tell it's the one that's affected him most deeply.
The opening line "On another occasion, we got sent out" reveals this is just one of many traumatic incidents. The passive language of "got sent out" makes it sound like the soldiers are being punished rather than doing their job - almost like being excluded from school.
Key shift: The poem moves from "we" to "I" as the soldier starts blaming himself personally. The line "I see every round as it rips through his life" uses harsh sounds and present tense because this memory never leaves him - it's always happening in his mind.
💡 Remember: The circular nature of trauma is shown through the word "round" - the soldier keeps coming back to this memory again and again.
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Casual Horror and Coping Mechanisms
The most shocking part of the poem shows how soldiers try to normalise horrific experiences. When "one of my mates goes by and tosses his guts back into his body," Armitage uses casual, colloquial language to describe something absolutely gruesome.
This juxtaposition between casual tone and horrific content shows how soldiers cope - they have to treat extreme violence as normal to survive mentally. The sibilance (repetition of 's' sounds) creates a sinister mood that contradicts the apparently casual action.
The soldier turns to self-medication: "And the drink and the drugs won't flush him out." The repetition of "and" suggests he keeps trying different substances to escape the memory, but nothing works.
💡 Key point: Armitage isn't just telling one soldier's story - he's making a political statement about how society fails to support veterans with PTSD.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
Self-Disgust and Military Language
The metaphor "won't flush him out" cleverly uses military terminology - soldiers "flush out" enemies from hiding places. But here, the soldier wants to flush away his own memories like waste down a toilet.
This excremental imagery suggests the soldier sees himself as worthless - he's not just guilty and remorseful, but filled with self-disgust. The addictive patterns with drink and drugs represent desperate attempts to cure this self-hatred.
The poem's ending breaks the expected rhyme scheme. While earlier stanzas rhyme properly, "hands" doesn't quite rhyme with "sand" and "land" - this discordance shows the soldier's lack of control over his own life.
Literary connection: The "bloody life in my bloody hands" directly references Macbeth's bloody hands, suggesting the looter's life was just as precious as a king's.
💡 Structure tip: Notice how the broken rhyme scheme mirrors the soldier's broken mental state.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
Two Possible Endings
The poem's conclusion offers two potential interpretations for the soldier's future. The shift from "we" to "my" shows he now accepts personal responsibility rather than sharing collective guilt.
Choice 1: This acceptance of responsibility could lead to self-destruction and suicide - the guilt becomes too much to bear, especially since drink and drugs haven't worked.
Choice 2: There's potential hope here. By confessing (possibly to a doctor, reporter, or psychologist), he might finally find healing. The phrase "here and now" suggests he could learn to stay present instead of being trapped in traumatic memories.
The metaphor "near to the knuckle" traditionally means breaking social taboos. The soldier is breaking the convention that soldiers should be brave and unaffected by war - but this honesty about his fear might actually save him.
💡 Exam focus: Be ready to discuss both possible interpretations of the ending - examiners love students who can see multiple meanings in poetry.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
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.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
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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Students love us — and so will you.
4.6/5
App Store
4.7/5
Google Play
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 Knowunity AI. 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 Knowunity AI. 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