remains

• What is the main theme of the poem "Mother Any Distance" by Simon Armitage?

  The impact of war and PTSD
• What does the soldier in the poem feel guilty about?

  His involvement in shooting a bank looter
• What are the repercussions of war explored in the poem?

  • PTSD
  • Guilt and trauma
  • Difficulty adjusting to civilian life
• What event does the soldier relive in the poem?

  The shooting of a bank looter
• How does the soldier cope with his guilt at home?

  Through drinking and drug use
• Who is Simon Armitage?

  A poet and playwright born in 1963
• What significant role did Simon Armitage take on in 2019?

  He became the Poet Laureate
• What is the purpose of the documentary "The Not Dead"?

  • Raise awareness about PTSD
  • Highlight the impact of war on soldiers
  • Encourage societal recognition of veterans' struggles
• What was the focus of the poetry collection "The Not Dead"?

  Soldiers suffering from PTSD after Iraq
• How does the poem "Remains" begin?

  In media res, during an action scene
• What does the phrase "probably armed, possibly not" suggest about the looter?

  Uncertainty about the looter's threat level
• What does the speaker's use of "tosses" imply about the soldiers' attitude towards death?

  They show a lack of care or respect
• How does the structure of the poem reflect the soldier's mental state?

  • Breakdown in stanza length mirrors chaos
  • Enjambment separates reality from memory
  • Caesura indicates finality and impact of war
• What does the imagery of "pain itself, the image of agony" convey?

  Intense suffering experienced by the looter
• What does the speaker's transition from "we" to "my" signify?

  Shift from shared blame to personal guilt
• How does the poem depict the concept of memory and guilt?

  Memory haunts the soldier, causing distress
• What literary device is used when the poem opens in media res?

  It creates immediate confusion for the reader
• What does the phrase "his bloody life in my bloody hands" suggest?

  Guilt and responsibility for the looter's death
• What themes are explored in Simon Armitage's poetry?

  • The impact of war on soldiers
  • Guilt and trauma
  • The struggle with mental health
  • Societal perceptions of masculinity
• How does the poem "Remains" reflect modern literature themes?

  It addresses mental health and emotional struggles
• What does the breakdown of stanza length at the poem's end signify?

  It reflects the speaker's emotional breakdown
• What does the term "internal chaos" refer to in the poem?

  The soldier's struggle with guilt and memories
• What does the term "blood-shadow" symbolize in the poem?

  The lasting impact of guilt and death
• How does the poem illustrate the concept of PTSD?

  Through the soldier's flashbacks and guilt
• What societal comment does Armitage make through the poem?

  Soldiers are unprepared for the realities of war
• What does the phrase "dug in behind enemy lines" imply about the soldier's state of mind?

  He feels trapped by his memories and guilt
• What does the term "stream of consciousness" refer to in the poem?

  A flow of uncensored thoughts and emotions
• How does the poem challenge traditional views of masculinity?

  By portraying vulnerability and emotional struggle
• What is the significance of the title "Remains"?

  It reflects the lasting effects of trauma
• How does the poem depict the relationship between memory and reality?

  They merge, causing confusion and distress
• What does the phrase "six-feet-under in desert sand" refer to?

  The death of the looter in the war zone
• What does the poem suggest about the societal perception of soldiers returning from war?

  They often face misunderstanding and lack of support
• How does Armitage use language to convey the soldier's emotional state?

  Through colloquial language and vivid imagery
• What does the phrase "the drink and the drugs won’t flush him out" imply?

  Substances cannot erase his memories and guilt
• What does the term "guilt" refer to in the context of the poem?

  The remorse felt for killing the looter
• How does the poem illustrate the chaos of war?

  Through disjointed structure and vivid imagery
• What does the phrase "lost their respect for life" suggest about soldiers?

  They become desensitized to violence and death
• What does the poem suggest about the soldier's journey towards acceptance?

  It involves confronting his guilt and memories
• What does the term "dramatic monologue" mean in the context of the poem?

  A speech by a single character revealing thoughts
• How does the poem reflect the theme of societal expectations for soldiers?

  It challenges the notion of emotional stoicism