The remains poem by Simon Armitage explores the psychological trauma of a soldier dealing with PTSD after a fatal shooting incident. This powerful piece from the AQA Power and Conflict poems collection depicts the haunting aftermath of war and its lasting impact on military personnel.
• The poem follows a soldier's account of shooting a bank looter and the subsequent psychological torment
• Written in first-person narrative, it employs colloquial language to create an authentic voice
• Themes include guilt, trauma, violence, and the dehumanizing effects of war
• The structure mirrors the speaker's fragmented mental state, with irregular line lengths and conversational tone
• Central to the remains poem analysis is the exploration of how violence affects both victim and perpetrator
