Question 1: What is the speaker describing in the opening lines of 'Remains'? How does this set the tone for the poem?

Answer: The speaker describes a violent event, likely a conflict or war incident, which introduces themes of trauma and guilt, establishing a somber tone.

Question 2: Identify and explain the significance of the phrase 'probably armed, possibly not'. How does it affect our understanding of the event?

Answer: This phrase suggests uncertainty and chaos, highlighting the unpredictability of war and the speaker's confusion, emphasizing the traumatic impact.

Question 3: Quote Explosion: Focus on the line 'His blood-shadow stays on the street'. What imagery and effects does this metaphor create?

Answer: The phrase 'blood-shadow' uses a metaphor to suggest lingering trauma and guilt, with 'stays' implying that the violence haunts the place and the speaker emotionally.

Question 4: How does the use of the word 'remains' throughout the poem reinforce its themes?

Answer: The word 'remains' highlights the lasting physical and psychological scars of war, emphasizing the enduring impact of violence.

Question 5: Examine the line 'His hands in the air, and the image of the body'. What language devices are used here, and what is their effect?

Answer: The line uses imagery and possibly a gesture of surrender, which humanizes the victim and emphasizes the horror and helplessness in war.

Question 6: In the stanza describing the aftermath, what does the phrase 'sort of inside out' imply about the speaker's mental state?

Answer: It suggests confusion, disorientation, and emotional turmoil, reflecting the lasting psychological impact of the event.

Question 7: Quote Explosion: Analyze the phrase 'I see every round as it rips through his life'. What does this reveal about the speaker's perspective?

Answer: The phrase uses vivid imagery to depict violence, with 'rips through his life' emphasizing the destructive effect of war on individuals and the speaker’s guilt.

Question 8: How does the poem explore the theme of memory and trauma? Refer to specific lines in your answer.

Answer: The poem explores memory and trauma through vivid, haunting imagery and phrases like 'blood-shadow' and 'remains', which suggest that the violence stays with the speaker and continues to affect him emotionally, indicating the lasting nature of trauma.

Question 9: Compare 'Remains' with another poem from the Power and Conflict anthology that deals with conflict or war, such as 'Ozymandias'. How do both poems reflect on power and its effects?

Answer: Both poems examine the destructive nature of power—'Remains' through the personal trauma of war and its aftermath, and 'Ozymandias' through the hubris of rulers. 'Remains' focuses on individual guilt and psychological scars, while 'Ozymandias' highlights the impermanence of power and pride.

Question 10: Identify and analyze the use of an example of personification in 'Remains'. How does it contribute to the poem's mood?

Answer: An example is 'blood-shadow stays', where the shadow is personified as something that can stay and linger, creating a haunting mood and emphasizing the lasting impact of violence.

Question 1: Draft a brief essay plan discussing how the poet uses imagery, word choice, and structure to depict trauma and guilt.

Answer: Introduction: overview of themes of trauma and guilt. Body: analysis of specific images ('blood-shadow'), language ('rips'), and structure (enjambment) that evoke the ongoing psychological impact. Conclusion: how these elements deepen the reader's understanding of the lasting scars of war.