Remains

    AQA
    GCSE

    Simon Armitage's 'Remains' is a dramatic monologue based on the testimony of a British soldier who served in Basra, Iraq. The narrative traces a specific incident where the speaker and his patrol shoot a looter, followed by the graphic disposal of the body. The poem pivots from the collective action of the war zone to the singular, isolating psychological aftermath of PTSD once the soldier returns home on leave. It explores the permanence of trauma, as the memory of the looter's death intrudes upon the speaker's everyday life, defying attempts to numb the guilt with substance abuse. The text serves as a stark critique of the psychological cost of modern warfare.

    0
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    4
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • AO1: Trace the shift from the collective 'we' to the isolated 'I' to demonstrate the enduring psychological burden of the looter's death.
    • AO2: Analyse the colloquial register ('legs it', 'mates') juxtaposed against visceral imagery ('tosses his guts') to show the normalization of violence.
    • AO2: Evaluate the structural use of the volta ('End of story, except not really') and the cyclical nature of the trauma ('blood-shadow').
    • AO3: Contextualize through Armitage's documentary source material ('The Not Dead') and the contemporary understanding of PTSD in modern warfare.

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have identified the colloquial language; now explain how this creates a jarring effect against the violent imagery."
    • "Ensure your comparison is integrated. Instead of writing about Poem A then Poem B, compare them point by point."
    • "Your context regarding PTSD is relevant, but ensure it is linked to specific textual evidence rather than general knowledge."
    • "Develop your analysis of the ending. How does the final couplet resolve or complicate the themes of guilt and memory?"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • AO1: Trace the shift from the collective 'we' to the isolated 'I' to demonstrate the enduring psychological burden of the looter's death.
    • AO2: Analyse the colloquial register ('legs it', 'mates') juxtaposed against visceral imagery ('tosses his guts') to show the normalization of violence.
    • AO2: Evaluate the structural use of the volta ('End of story, except not really') and the cyclical nature of the trauma ('blood-shadow').
    • AO3: Contextualize through Armitage's documentary source material ('The Not Dead') and the contemporary understanding of PTSD in modern warfare.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Allocate 45 minutes: 5 minutes planning the comparison, 35 minutes writing, 5 minutes checking.
    • 💡Select a second poem that offers a strong thematic contrast or similarity (e.g., 'War Photographer' for internal conflict or 'Bayonet Charge' for the reality of combat).
    • 💡Do not treat the poems separately; use connective phrases ('Similarly', 'In contrast', 'Conversely') to weave the analysis together.
    • 💡Focus on the 'volta' or turning point in both poems to structure the argument around the progression of conflict.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Treating the poem as a standalone text and failing to develop a sustained comparison with a second poem.
    • Describing the events of the shooting (narrative retelling) rather than analysing the speaker's psychological disintegration.
    • Asserting 'PTSD' as a label without analysing how the text constructs the symptoms of trauma (flashbacks, substance abuse).
    • Imbalanced treatment of the two poems; the printed poem is analysed in detail while the memory poem is superficial.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Compare
    How
    Present
    Explore
    Examine

    Ready to test yourself?

    Practice questions tailored to this topic