Kamikaze

• Why is the plot of the poem considered complicated?

  It involves complex historical and emotional themes
• What will be explored for grades seven, eight, and nine?

  Allusion and symbolism
• Who is the poet of Camicazi?

  Beatrice Garland
• What does the mother refuse to do after the kamikaze pilot returns?

  Speak to him again
• What does the father carry on his journey as a kamikaze pilot?

  A flask of water and a samurai sword
• What does the sunrise symbolize in the poem?

  Patriotism and the beginning of a mission
• What is the father's mission as a kamikaze pilot?

  To crash his plane into an American warship
• How does the poem depict the father's emotional state?

  He is conflicted about his mission
• What does the mother reflect on regarding her husband after his return?

  What must have happened to change his mind
• What does the mother imagine her husband looking down at during his flight?

  Fishing boats below him
• What does the mother think about her husband's childhood memories?

  They caused him to turn back
• How does the community react to the kamikaze pilot's return?

  They treat him as though he no longer exists
• What does the mother think about her husband's death in life?

  It may be worse than dying as a kamikaze
• What does the poet hint at regarding the father's fate?

  He may have killed himself
• What does the word "embarked" imply in the poem?

  He got on a journey with uncertainty
• What does the simile comparing fishing boats to bunting suggest?

  It highlights the irony of celebration
• What are the key themes explored in the poem Camicazi?

  • Patriotism and sacrifice
  • The impact of war on families
  • The conflict between duty and personal feelings
  • The concept of honor in Japanese culture
• How does the poem use symbolism and allusion?

  • Sunrise symbolizes patriotism and mission
  • Samurai sword represents honor and ritual death
  • Fishing boats evoke childhood memories and irony
  • Powerful incantations suggest brainwashing and sacrifice
• What is the significance of the mother's silence towards her husband?

  • Reflects societal rejection
  • Indicates unresolved emotional conflict
  • Highlights the impact of war on family dynamics
• What is the role of the kamikaze pilot in the context of the poem?

  • Represents the tragic consequences of war
  • Embodies the conflict between duty and personal choice
  • Illustrates the cultural expectations of honor and sacrifice
• What unnatural act is suggested regarding the Japanese pilot?

  He is brainwashed into sacrificing his life
• How does the emphasis on the word "history" affect the pilots' motivations?

  It suggests they seek eternal remembrance
• What simile is used to describe the fishing boats?

  They are strung out like bunting
• What irony is present in the simile comparing boats to bunting?

  Bunting symbolizes celebration, contrasting death
• What does the pilot's idea of dying with a smile signify?

  Government propaganda promoting noble death
• How is the movement of the boats described in relation to a sword?

  They arc like a sword when swung
• What dual symbolism is present in the underwater flag imagery?

  Patriotism and surrender are conveyed
• What does the figure of eight symbolize in the context of the pilot's thoughts?

  It represents infinity and eternal life
• How does the movement of the fishes relate to the pilot's patriotism?

  Fishes' bellies swivel towards the Sun
• What memories does the pilot recall about his brothers?

  They are not sacrificing themselves
• What do pearls and pebbles symbolize in the pilot's thoughts?

  Pearls represent preciousness, pebbles worthlessness
• How does the mother remember her husband in relation to the pilot's sacrifice?

  She reflects on his memories and experiences
• What unique description is given to the mackerel caught by the pilot's father?

  They are marked with patterns like clouds
• What does the description of prawns as "feathery" suggest?

  It evokes the idea of flight and unnaturalness
• How are the whitebait described in relation to value and betrayal?

  They symbolize worth and treachery
• What connection is made between the tuna and the emperor?

  Tuna is likened to a Dark Prince, symbolizing the emperor
• How does the mother perceive the order for the pilot to sacrifice himself?

  She sees it as a corrupt betrayal
• What historical context is provided regarding the kamikaze pilots and American actions?

  Death cult led to atomic bomb usage
• What is the significance of the honorable death in the context of the poem?

  It reflects cultural views on self-sacrifice
• How does the imagery of ritual self-sacrifice relate to the pilot's decision?

  It suggests he feels compelled to end his suffering