remains analysis

• How does Armitage convey emotional depth in his poetry?

  Through seemingly prosaic observations
• How is the speaker in "Remains" interpreted by many?

  As a soldier
• What alternative interpretation does Jen suggest for the speaker's identity?

  As an ex-soldier turned police officer
• What incident does the speaker recount in the poem?

  Opening fire at a bank robber
• What psychological condition does the speaker suffer from?

  Shell Shocked PTSD
• What does the speaker's stoic tone suggest?

  A conditioned apathy towards violence
• What does the phrase "probably armed, possibly not" imply?

  The robber may not have warranted killing
• What does the collective pronoun "we" suggest about the speaker's colleagues?

  They share responsibility for the violence
• How does the speaker's use of "I" differ from "we"?

  It highlights his personal guilt and memory
• What does the line "pain itself" refer to?

  The agony of the robber's body
• What does the cold description of the body suggest?

  A detachment from the violence of death
• What does the phrase "end of story except not really" imply?

  That the trauma continues beyond the event
• How does the rhyme scheme contribute to the poem's themes?

  It reflects the haunting nature of memories
• What does the speaker's guilt stem from?

  His complicity in killing an unarmed man
• What does the alliteration of "dr" in lines 19-20 signify?

  The constant presence of guilt in his mind
• How does the speaker cope with his trauma?

  Through alcohol and drugs
• What paradox does the speaker's plight reveal?

  Life can be worse than death
• What does the imagery of "dug in behind enemy lines" suggest?

  A history of conflict and trauma
• What is the effect of the soothing imagery in lines 27-29?

  It contrasts death with the chaos of life
• How does the speaker view death in the poem?

  As a potential relief from suffering
• What does the phrase "bloody life in my bloody hands" reference?

  The guilt of killing another human being
• What does the final stanza's brevity signify?

  A lack of psychological closure
• What does the speaker's inability to forgive himself indicate?

  His deep moral guilt and self-loathing
• What are the key themes explored in "Remains"?

  • The psychological impact of war
  • Moral guilt and ambiguity
  • The nature of violence and death
  • The struggle for closure and forgiveness
• How does Jen suggest comparing "Remains" with another poem?

  • Compare with "War Photographer" by Carol Ann Duffy
  • Focus on psychological effects of war
  • Explore themes of trauma and guilt