remains by simon armitage

what are the the themes

conflict ,suffering , reality of war

content meaning purpose

written to coincide with a tv documentary about those returning from war with ptsd based on guardsman troman , who fought in iraq in 2003 speaker describes shooting a looter dead in iraq and how it has effected him . this is to show the reader that mental suffering can persist long after physical conflict is over.

context

poem coincided with increased awareness of ptsd amognst the military, and aroused smpathy amoungst the public-many of whowere opposed to the war

form and structure

monologue , is told in the present tense to convey a flash back (is a symptom of ptsd) first for stanzas are set in Iraq last three are at home set in the aftermath enjambment between lines and stanzas conveys his conversation of tone and give it a fast pace especially when talking about the horror of killing. repetion of “probably armed possibly not” conveys guilt and bitterness .

“remains”

images and suffering remain

“legs it up the road “

informal language = authentic voice

“then he is carted of in the back of a lorrey”

reduction of humanity to waste or cattle

“he is here in my head when i close my eyes- dug in behind enemy lines”

metaphor for a war in his head ptsd is entrenched

“bloody life in my bloody hands”

alludes to macbeth the warrior with ptsd and lady Macbeth with bloody hands and guilt