Kamikaze

• What is the main theme explored in the poem "Kamikaze" by Beatrice Garland?


  The poem explores a daughter's reflection on her relationship with her father, a Kamikaze pilot who chose not to complete his suicide mission.

  
• How does the daughter relate her father's experience to the world around him?


  She relates his experience to the natural beauty of the world.
• What cultural expectations are highlighted in the poem regarding the father's return home?

  He was shunned by his family due to the cultural expectations placed upon them in Japan.

  
• What does the daughter recount in the poem "Kamikaze"?

  • The journey of her father on a kamikaze mission
  • The things he took with him
  • Her father's memories of childhood
  • The father's return and rejection by the community

  
• What symbols are mentioned in the poem that relate to the father's experience?

  The fishing boats and fish act as symbols in the poem.
• Who does the daughter tell the story of her father to?

  She tells the story to her children.
• What does the father remember while flying over the sea?

  He remembers his childhood on the beach with his brothers.
• How does the poem shift perspectives throughout the narrative?

  It shifts from the father's perspective to the daughter's perspective.
• What painful irony is presented in the poem regarding the father's motivations?

  He sought death to be remembered and immortalized by respect.
• What are the conflicts explored in the poem "Kamikaze"?

  • Conflict between individuals and societal expectations in Japan
  • Conflict within families due to societal pressure
  • Conflict between nature and man

  
• What does the poem suggest about the fate of kamikaze pilots?

  It explores the futility of avoiding a fate set out by authority or government.
• What is the significance of the title "Kamikaze"?

  The title refers to the Japanese pilots who flew suicide missions during WWII.
• How does the poem convey the impact of war on those left behind?

  It shows the perspective of someone trying to understand their father's motivations for going to war and returning.

  
• What narrative perspective is used in the poem "Kamikaze" and what effect does it have?

  The poem is written from a daughter's perspective in the third person, creating a sense of detachment.
• What does the daughter feel about her father's return home?

  She feels a sense of distance and detachment from her father's life.
• What themes are explored in Beatrice Garland's poetry collection "The Invention of Fireworks"?

  • Life and death within the natural world
  • Mankind as a threat to nature and itself
  • Seeking solace in the power of nature

  
• What literary influences does Beatrice Garland cite for her writing?

  She cites John Donne, John Clare, and Seamus Heaney as influences.
• What cultural values are highlighted in the poem regarding honor in Japanese society?

  Honor is regarded as incredibly important, and one person's dishonor can stain their whole family.
• How does the poem depict the relationship between humanity and nature?

  It emphasizes the imbalance of power, showing nature as more powerful than mankind.
• What does the imagery of the "figure of eight" symbolize in the poem?

  It symbolizes infinity and the eternal nature of nature compared to the transience of humanity.
• What does the father trade by choosing to live instead of completing his mission?

  He trades being remembered and honored for being forgotten and ignored.
• How does the poem illustrate the ongoing impact of conflict across generations?

  It shows how the impact of conflict is passed down from generation to generation.
• What does the repetition of the word "safe" signify in the poem?

  It signifies the father's focus on safety and life.
• What does the poem suggest about the father's feelings towards his decision to return home?

  It suggests he may wonder which had been the better way to die.
• What does the poem "Kamikaze" ultimately reflect on regarding life and death?

  It reflects on the value of life and the sacredness of nature.
• What does the first punctuation in the poem signify?

  It signals that the poem is deserving of notice.
• What does the poem suggest about the father's existence in relation to the community?

  The poem suggests that the father physically survives but is dead to the community and society he returned to.

  
• Who tells the story in the poem?

  The story is told by a daughter who never knew her father.
• What perspective is the poem "Kamikaze" written from?

  The poem is written from a daughter's perspective in the third person.
• How does the shift in narrative perspective affect the poem?

  The shift from third person to first person signifies a dramatic change and shows the impact of war on the speaker.
• What does the final line of the poem signify about the speaker's relationship with her father?

  The final line signifies that she is detached from the culture that gave him the option of dying as a Kamikaze pilot.

  
• What does the structure of the poem reflect?

  • The theme of conflict within the poem.
  • Tightly controlled stanza lengths of 6 lines reflect order and obedience expected of a soldier.
  • Juxtaposed by free verse and enjambment, suggesting individuality and desires of the father.

  
• What is enjambment in poetry?

  Enjambment is a sentence that runs over multiple lines.
• What does the structural juxtaposition in the poem suggest about the father's desires?

  The structural juxtaposition suggests that the father had his own desires and individuality within the constraints imposed by the Japanese government.

  
• What does the last word "die" signify in the poem?

  The last word "die" creates a sense of futility and inevitable fate for the soldier.
• What themes are explored in the poem regarding conflict and identity?

  • Conflict between identities (father vs soldier).
  • The title "kamikaze" establishes his role as a soldier.
  • The reference to "her father" humanizes him, showing he has a life outside his mission.
  • The contrast highlights the conflicting roles of the man.

  
• What imagery is used to reinforce the patriotism of kamikaze pilots?

  Patriotic imagery is littered throughout the poem, such as "her father embarked at sunrise".
• How does the speaker view patriotism in relation to nature?


  The speaker sees patriotism within nature, such as fish being "like a huge flag".
• What does the father's rejection of death signify in the poem?

  The father's rejection of death signifies a shift from identity as a patriotic soldier to that of a father appreciating life.
• What are the roles of soldier vs father in the poem?

  • Transition from soldier to father is established at the start.
  • Patriotism leads to metaphorical death rather than literal.
  • Choosing life results in the metaphorical death of his honour.