Remains (AQA GCSE English Literature): Revision Notes

Remains

"Remains" by Simon Armitage

Context

Simon Armitage is a contemporary British poet whose work often explores themes of violence, conflict, and psychological trauma. "Remains" reflects the experiences of a soldier dealing with the lasting effects of a violent encounter during the war, focusing on themes of guilt, memory, and the haunting aftermath of combat.

The Poem

On another occasion, we get sent out to tackle looters raiding a bank. And one of them legs it up the road, probably armed, possibly not. Well myself and somebody else and somebody else are all of the same mind, so all three of us open fire. Three of a kind all letting fly, and I swear I see every round as it rips through his life – I see broad daylight on the other side. So we've hit this looter a dozen times and he's there on the ground, sort of inside out, pain itself, the image of agony. One of my mates goes by and tosses his guts back into his body. Then he's carted off in the back of a lorry.

← Colloquial Language

← Repetition

← Violent Imagery

End of story, except not really. His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol I walk right over it week after week. Then I'm home on leave. But I blink and he bursts again through the doors of the bank. Sleep, and he's probably armed, possibly not. Dream, and he's torn apart by a dozen rounds. And the drink and the drugs won't flush him out – he's here in my head when I close my eyes, dug in behind enemy lines, not left for dead in some distant, sun-stunned, sand-smothered land or six-feet-under in desert sand, but near to the knuckle, here and now, his bloody life in my bloody hands.

← Enjambment

← Metaphor

5 quotes + analysis to achieve a grade 9

1. Colloquial Language: "On another occasion, we got sent out"

• Analysis: The use of casual, conversational language at the poem's start creates a stark contrast with the gravity of the situation. It suggests how the soldier has become desensitised to the violence and horror of war, normalising traumatic events.

2. Repetition: "Probably armed, possibly not"

• Analysis: This phrase captures the soldier's internal conflict and the pervasive doubt that gnaws at him. The use of "probably" and "possibly" shows his uncertainty, reflecting the blurred lines between enemy and innocent. This uncertainty exacerbates his guilt, as the ambiguity of whether the man was armed or not leaves the soldier in a state of perpetual questioning, unable to fully justify his actions. The psychological impact of this doubt is central to the soldier's ongoing trauma, as it forces him to repeatedly relive the moment, seeking answers that will never be clear.

3. Violent Imagery: "I see every round as it rips through his life"

• Analysis: The graphic imagery of bullets "ripping" through the victim's life conveys the brutal reality of violence. It highlights the physical and psychological impact of the soldier's actions, contributing to the poem's exploration of trauma.

4. Metaphor: "His bloody life in my bloody hands"

• Analysis: The metaphor of "bloody hands" symbolises the speaker's guilt and responsibility for the man's death. The repetition of "bloody" also conveys the intense and inescapable nature of this guilt, drawing a parallel to Macbeth's similar feelings of remorse.

5. Enjambment: "And the drink and the drugs won't flush him out"

• Analysis: The use of enjambment here reflects the speaker's ongoing struggle to cope with his memories. The continuous flow of the line mirrors the relentless nature of his trauma, suggesting that no matter what he does, he cannot escape the haunting images.

Form & Structure Points

• Dramatic Monologue: The poem is structured as a dramatic monologue, allowing readers to experience the soldier's thoughts and emotions directly.
• Colloquial Language: Creates a contrast between the casual tone and the serious subject matter, emphasising the normalisation of violence.
• Enjambment: Reflects the continuous and inescapable nature of the soldier's trauma, mirroring the flow of his troubled thoughts.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "Remains," Armitage explores the psychological impact of war through colloquial language and vivid imagery. The casual tone in "On another occasion, we got sent out" contrasts with the gravity of the situation, suggesting desensitisation to violence. The repetition in "Probably armed, possibly not" emphasises the soldier's uncertainty and guilt, questioning whether the killing was justified. Violent imagery in "I see every round as it rips through his life" conveys the brutal reality of war, while the metaphor "His bloody life in my bloody hands" symbolises the soldier's overwhelming guilt. Enjambment in "And the drink and the drugs won't flush him out" reflects the inescapable nature of his trauma. Through these devices, Armitage conveys the lasting psychological effects of war on soldiers...