Question 1: Briefly explain the historical and cultural context of 'Kamikaze' and how it influences the poem's themes.

Answer: The poem reflects on the Japanese kamikaze pilots of World War II, exploring themes of duty, shame, and the impact of war on individual identity.

Question 2: What is the main focus of this worksheet in relation to 'Kamikaze'?

Answer: To analyze the poem's structure, language devices, themes, and compare it with other Power and Conflict poems for essay writing.

Question 1: Analyze the significance of the line: 'a shaven head full of powerful incantations'. What does this reveal about the pilot's mindset?

Answer: It highlights the pilot's mental preparation, emphasizing the ritualistic and possibly hypnotic state that justifies his dangerous mission.

Question 2: Interpret the stanza describing the 'dark shoals of fishes'. How does this imagery contribute to the poem's themes?

Answer: The imagery of fishes suggests the natural world's indifference and contrasts human conflict, emphasizing the fragility of life and the destructive nature of war.

Question 1: Quote explosion: 'a tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous'. Analyze how this metaphor characterizes the fish and what it might symbolize.

Answer: The metaphor portrays the fish as powerful and regal, symbolizing nature's strength and perhaps the pilot's internal conflict between duty and morality.

Question 2: Identify a simile in the poem and discuss its effect on the reader.

Answer: An example is 'like a huge flag'. It emphasizes the grandeur and solemnity of the pilot's act, evoking patriotism or sacrifice.

Question 3: Find an example of personification in the poem and explain its purpose.

Answer: The phrase 'the wind was like a whetted knife' personifies the wind as dangerous, heightening the sense of threat and peril.

Question 1: Discuss how the theme of honour influences the pilot's decision-making and its representation in the poem.

Answer: The pilot's sense of duty and shame influence his actions; the poem explores how societal expectations of honour can lead to conflict within individuals.

Question 2: Compare the theme of power in 'Kamikaze' with that in 'Ozymandias'. Consider how each poem presents the concept of authority and its effects.

Answer: Both poems depict the transient nature of power—'Kamikaze' shows how societal and personal honour can manipulate individuals, while 'Ozymandias' illustrates the inevitable decline of human achievements and authority over time. The poems explore the fleeting and destructive aspects of power.

Question 3: Plan a paragraph for a comparative essay discussing how 'Kamikaze' and 'My Last Duchess' explore control and authority.

Answer: Students should consider how both poems depict characters wielding control— the pilot's internal conflict and societal pressure in 'Kamikaze', versus the Duke's manipulative control in 'My Last Duchess'. Both explore the corrupting influence of authority and the consequences of asserting power.

Question 1: Analyze the quote: 'her father embarked at dawn, with a flask of water, a samurai sword'. What does each element suggest about the narrative?

Answer: The imagery of dawn suggests new beginnings or sacrifice, the water indicates the journey or sustenance, and the sword symbolizes honor, conflict, and the martial ethos underpinning the pilot's duty.

Question 2: Examine the phrase: 'the dark shoals of fishes, with their luminous bellies'. How does this imagery deepen the poem's themes?

Answer: The luminous bellies evoke a surreal, almost ghostly image, emphasizing the contrast between life and death, and highlighting the natural world's indifference to human conflict.

Question 1: Draft a paragraph plan comparing the depiction of internal conflict in 'Kamikaze' and 'Exposure'. Include key quotes and themes.

Answer: Students should outline how both poems depict soldiers experiencing internal struggles—'Kamikaze' through the pilot’s shame and hesitation, and 'Exposure' through the soldiers’ mental anguish. Quotes like 'a shaven head' and 'but nothing happens' can be used to illustrate emotional turmoil, emphasizing the personal cost of war.