Remains

• Who wrote this poem?

  Simon Armitage
• "On another occasion, we get sent out"


  • IN MEDIA RES - by starting the poem mid-action, Armitage creates a sense of confusion and being overwhelmed for the reader, as they do not know what is happening. This mimics the soldiers confusion, as they are not emotionally prepared for what comes next.
  • The phrase 'we get sent out' implies that the soldiers have to undertake these tasks frequently, highlighting the harsh day to day lives of soldiers.
• "Probably armed, possibly not."


  • PARRALELISM - (equally weighted syllables) this suggests that the soldier is sort of weighing up the his position and fault that is leading to his guilt, he believes he may have killed an innocent man.
  • ANAPHORA - the fact that this sentence is repeated throughout the poem perhaps suggests that the solider is plagued by this thought, or that it reflects how often soldiers are put into these unfair situations.
• "Then I'm home on leave. But I blink"

  • CEASURA - The caesura interrupts the sentence, breaking its rhythm, mimicking how the PTSD/guilt of his action interrupt his every day life. Or the caesura provides finality to the sentence, but is quickly shut down by the conjunctive 'but' which implies even when he can escape war, he still cant escape his psychological suffering.
  • ENJAMBENT + IRONY - you usually blink to make something go away, but the use of enjambment highlights how his guilt is carried on with him.
• "I see broad daylight on the other side"


  • IRONY - light is usually a symbol of hope and new life, however in this occasion, it the death of another person.
  • JUXTAPOSITION - The use of the phrase 'broad daylight' is also ironic, as it is surpossed to be a time of sanctuary away from the night. But this person has been killed in the middle of the day, possibly reflecting the strange normality of the event, juxtaposing the grotesque nature of the event.
• "His bloody life in my bloody hands."


  • EXPLETIVE - the expletive (swear word) bloody suggests that the man is now emotional, and that he has discarded the narrative that distances himself from the event. He finally admits guilt and that the event has ruined his life.
  • REPETITION - the repetition of 'bloody' implies the men are bound together and he cannot separate himself from the mans death.
  • ILLUSION - the phrase 'bloody hands' is possible an illusion to Lady Macbeth, a character overcome by guilt. So, Armitage is hinting at the guilt this soldier feels and the path it is leading him down.
• What collection of poems is Remains a part of?

  Belongs to a collection of poems called 'The not dead' which was paired with a channel 4 documentary in 2007. He interviewed numerous veterans to produce these.
• Where does Remains take place?

  The reference to 'desert sands' in Remains suggests that it reflects the experiences of the Golf War, a war viewed as pointless by the public during its time.
• What is the structure and form of Remains?

  • The poem is a dramatic monologue written in the present tense. This resemble some sort of flashback and a sense of realism. Possible reflecting a symptom of PTSD.
  • The shifting blame in the poem could be implied as the speaker trying to ignore his guilt. Through the repeated references to other people 'we' 'all three of us' 'three of a kind' he is trying to disperse the guilt, this eventually ends up being pointless. Showing the relentless nature of his feelings.
• What is the overall idea of Remains?

  Armitage is trying to outline the reality of war. Soldiers are expected to become numb towards violence/suffering and incorporate it into their every day lives. However Armitage points out how this is cruel and will eventually lead to psychological suffering.