Name of Poem: Remains Poet: Simon Armitage
What is the poem The poem is about the effect of war on soldiers, who once thought nothing of death and gave no second
about? thought to killing and after the war is over, see the people whom they killed haunting them in their everyday
lives.
What is the context of Armitage interviewed a veteran soldier who had fought in the Gulf Wars, 1990 (as it is hinted in the “desert
the poem (including sand” within the poem itself), and this event is what “Remains” is based on. I think that one of the main
intentions was to raise awareness of conditions such as PTSD, and is a rude-awakening to the effect of war on
the poet’s
people.
intentions)?
Key quotation What does it suggest? Analysis of meaning, word choice,
technique, structure
1: “On another occasion, It suggests that these soldiers are often being sent out on Word: “another” because this shows that
we get sent out…” missions/assignments like these. this task has already been carried out
multiple times
Tone: the story-like tone implies an overly
casual mannerism towards killing someone
2: “…all of the same It suggests that the soldiers are united behind a twisted, wrong Words: “so” is a conjunction which suggests
mind, so all three of us cause to kill and following commands. that this line had been provoked by someone
open fire.” giving commands (which could mean that
their only job is to obey orders and the killing
really wasn’t up to them or not) and “all”
means that that they are unified, brain-
washed, perhaps under the military mindset.
End stopped line: the end of a sentence
marks the end of a life in this case.
3: “…probably armed, It suggests that even though there are life-determining Repetition: the repetition helps to capture a
uncertainties, and yet they don’t take that into account before change in meaning at the beginning and end
What is the poem The poem is about the effect of war on soldiers, who once thought nothing of death and gave no second
about? thought to killing and after the war is over, see the people whom they killed haunting them in their everyday
lives.
What is the context of Armitage interviewed a veteran soldier who had fought in the Gulf Wars, 1990 (as it is hinted in the “desert
the poem (including sand” within the poem itself), and this event is what “Remains” is based on. I think that one of the main
intentions was to raise awareness of conditions such as PTSD, and is a rude-awakening to the effect of war on
the poet’s
people.
intentions)?
Key quotation What does it suggest? Analysis of meaning, word choice,
technique, structure
1: “On another occasion, It suggests that these soldiers are often being sent out on Word: “another” because this shows that
we get sent out…” missions/assignments like these. this task has already been carried out
multiple times
Tone: the story-like tone implies an overly
casual mannerism towards killing someone
2: “…all of the same It suggests that the soldiers are united behind a twisted, wrong Words: “so” is a conjunction which suggests
mind, so all three of us cause to kill and following commands. that this line had been provoked by someone
open fire.” giving commands (which could mean that
their only job is to obey orders and the killing
really wasn’t up to them or not) and “all”
means that that they are unified, brain-
washed, perhaps under the military mindset.
End stopped line: the end of a sentence
marks the end of a life in this case.
3: “…probably armed, It suggests that even though there are life-determining Repetition: the repetition helps to capture a
uncertainties, and yet they don’t take that into account before change in meaning at the beginning and end
