Remains

• Remains is written by Simon Armitage - The poet laureate and wrote Remains to explore the psychological impacts of war
• "Probably armed, possibly not"

  • Reflects soldier's guilt
  • Reflect soldier's doubt
• "I see every round as it rips through his life"

  • Vivid / graphic imagery reflects brutality of war
  • Inescapable memory
• "End of story, except not really"

  • Volta
  • Persistence of trauma
• "His blood shadow stays on the street"

  • Metaphor for lasting impact on soldiers
  • PTSD of soldier
  • Blood symbolises guilt
• "His bloody life in my bloody hands"

  • Blood symbolises guilt
  • "Bloody" is colloquial language
  • Themes of guilt and responsibility
  • Literal / metaphorical
• Connections:

  • War Photographer - Power of memory
  • Remains - Power of war, Power of conflict
• • Power of memory
  • Power of humans
  • Conflict of mind