Kamikaze

"Kamikaze" by Beatrice Garland

Context

Beatrice Garland is a contemporary British poet who often explores themes of memory, identity, and the consequences of personal decisions. "Kamikaze" reflects the story of a Japanese kamikaze pilot who returns home instead of completing his mission. The poem explores themes of patriotism, honour, and the personal cost of war, highlighting the conflict between duty and the value of life.

The Poem

Her father embarked at sunrise

with a flask of water, a samurai sword

in the cockpit, a shaven head

full of powerful incantations

and enough fuel for a one-way

← Metaphor

journey into history

but half way there, she thought,

recounting it later to her children,

he must have looked far down

at the little fishing boats

← Simile

strung out like bunting

on a green-blue translucent sea

and beneath them, arcing in swathes

like a huge flag waved first one way

then the other in a figure of eight,

the dark shoals of fishes

← Imagery

flashing silver as their bellies

swivelled towards the sun

and remembered how he

and his brothers waiting on the shore

built cairns of pearl-grey pebbles

to see whose withstood longest

the turbulent inrush of breakers

bringing their father's boat safe

– yes, grandfather's boat – safe

to the shore, salt-sodden, awash

with cloud-marked mackerel,

black crabs, feathery prawns,

the loose silver of whitebait and once

a tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous.

And though he came back

← Irony

my mother never spoke again

in his presence, nor did she meet his eyes

and the neighbours too, they treated him

as though he no longer existed,

only we children still chattered and laughed

till gradually we too learned

to be silent, to live as though

he had never returned, that this

was no longer the father we loved.

And sometimes, she said, he must have wondered

which had been the better way to die.

← Rhetorical Question

5 quotes + analysis to achieve a grade 9

1. Metaphor: "a one-way / journey into history"

• Analysis: The phrase "a one-way journey into history" metaphorically describes the kamikaze mission as a path to eternal remembrance, but also highlights the finality of the mission, implying that there is no return—either physically or metaphorically.

2. Simile: "little fishing boats / strung out like bunting"

• Analysis: The simile compares the fishing boats to "bunting", a festive image that contrasts sharply with the gravity of the pilot's mission. This image suggests a moment of beauty and peace that leads to the pilot's moment of hesitation, reminding him of the simple joys of life.

3. Imagery: "the dark shoals of fishes / flashing silver"

• Analysis: The vivid imagery of "dark shoals of fishes / flashing silver" reflects the natural beauty of the world the pilot is about to leave behind. This image is pivotal in the pilot's decision to turn back, emphasising the contrast between life's beauty and the destructive mission he is on.

4. Irony: "And though he came back / my mother never spoke again"

• Analysis: The irony here lies in the fact that although the pilot returns home, he is treated as if he had died. His decision to live results in social death, highlighting the severe consequences of choosing personal survival over national duty.

5. Rhetorical Question: "which had been the better way to die?"

• Analysis: The rhetorical question at the end of the poem reflects the tragic dilemma faced by the pilot. It suggests that either choice—completing the mission or returning home—results in a form of death, whether it be literal or social.

Form & Structure Points

• Free Verse: The poem's free verse structure reflects the complexity and fluidity of the pilot's emotions and thoughts, mirroring his internal conflict.
• Shifts in Perspective: The narrative shifts between the third person and the first person, reflecting both the broader societal impact of the pilot's decision and the personal, familial consequences.
• Irony: The poem is rich in irony, highlighting the contradictions between duty, honour, and the value of life.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "Kamikaze," Garland explores the conflict between duty and the value of life through metaphor and imagery. The metaphor "a one-way journey into history" highlights the finality of the pilot's mission, emphasising the honour associated with such sacrifice. The simile "little fishing boats / strung out like bunting" contrasts the festive image with the gravity of the pilot's mission, reminding him of life's simple joys. Imagery in "the dark shoals of fishes / flashing silver" captures the natural beauty that leads to his decision to turn back. The irony in "And though he came back / my mother never spoke again" reveals the social death he faces upon return. Finally, the rhetorical question "which had been the better way to die?" underscores the tragic dilemma of choosing between duty and life. Through these devices, Garland conveys the profound internal conflict faced by those in war...