the emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience

showing no strong feeling or emotion; detached and impartial

expressing or influenced by tender feelings or emotions, often excessively

informal language or speech, used in everyday conversation

the everyday language spoken by people in a particular region or group

British English CC

Developing interpretations of ‘Remains’ with Simon Armitage

English

An introduction to themes in the Power and Conflict poetry anthology

Understanding the connections between Romanticism and Shelley's 'Ozymandias'

Analysing the concept of power in Shelley's 'Ozymandias'

Understanding the poem 'London'

Analysing ideas of power and conflict in Blake's 'London'

Writing introductions and topic sentences for poetry comparison

Understanding the poem 'Extract from the Prelude'

Analysing the poem 'Extract from The Prelude'

Comparing Romantic poets' attitudes to nature

Power and Conflict poetry: developing comparative essay writing skills

Understanding the poem 'My Last Duchess'

Analysing the poem 'My Last Duchess'

Comparing the presentation of power in 'My Last Duchess' and 'Ozymandias'

Understanding the poem 'Charge of the Light Brigade'

Analysing the poem 'Charge of the Light Brigade'

Understanding the poem 'Exposure'

Analysing the poem 'Exposure'

Understanding the poem 'Bayonet Charge'

Analysing the poem 'Bayonet Charge'

Comparing conflict in war poems from the Power and Conflict anthology

Understanding the poem 'Storm on the Island'

Analysing the poem 'Storm on the Island'

Understanding the poem 'Remains'

Analysing the Poem 'Remains'

Understanding the poem 'Poppies'

Analysing the poem 'Poppies'

Understanding the poem 'War Photographer'

Analysing the poem 'War Photographer'

Comparing 'Poppies' and Duffy's 'War Photographer'

Understanding the Poem 'Kamikaze'

Analysing the Poem 'Kamikaze'

Comparing 'Power and Conflict' war poems

In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems connected by the themes of power and conflict. In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons between poems.

In 'A World at War: Poetry', pupils explore how poets presents the atrocities of World War One through their poetry. In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry', pupils analyse how a variety of different wars have been presented through poetry.

In this unit, pupis explore 12 of the 15 poems from the 'Power and Conflict' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. Pupils study the poems in three groups, and they pause after each group to compare how those poems present common themes.

Poetry anthology: first study

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of serious mental health issues including eating disorders, self-harm, suicide or attempted suicide, or the aftermath of such an event.

Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

"The bullet passed through the man's body"

"I see every round as it rips through his life"

Which image does Armitage describe as being “lodged in Rob’s mind” and “striking”?

It refers to the soldier’s remains left on the battlefield.

It refers to the emotional and psychological “remains” in Rob’s mind.

It refers to the physical body left behind.

It refers to the aftermath of war in the community.

What is the significance of the title 'Remains'?

To avoid becoming too emotionally involved with the subject.

Why does Simon Armitage describe his writing process as being “dispassionate”?

What word beginning with 'v' describes language that is the everyday language spoken by people in a particular region or group?

It reflects the rigid structure of military life.

What does the final couplet of the poem 'Remains' achieve, according to Armitage?

It shows he writes detached from personal emotion to protect his objectivity.

It shows he prefers to write about scientific subjects.

It indicates he uses extensive research before writing.

It shows he writes about subjects he finds comfortable and familiar.

How does Armitage’s description of writing "under laboratory conditions" relate to his poetic approach in 'Remains'?

Is the statement true or false? The poem 'Remains' appears in a collection of poetry written by Simon Armitage, called 'The Lost Dead'.

The soldier's wife describing his condition after returning from war.

A soldier describing his personal experience.

Who is the speaker in Simon Armitage's poem 'Remains'?

The poem 'Remains' is written in which tense?

It highlights the public nature of the killing.

It indicates the speaker's desire to move on.

It shows the speaker's belief in justice.

It emphasises the lasting psychological impact.

In the poem 'Remains', how does the line "his blood-shadow stays on the street" reflect the speaker's trauma?

the speaker uses formal, structured language to convey emotions.

the speaker uses casual, everyday language to reflect an authentic experience.

the speaker uses poetic and lyrical language to reflect inner thoughts.

the speaker uses complex, academic language to explain his trauma.

The language in 'Remains' can be described as colloquial. This means...

It conveys a sense of detachment from the violence.

It emphasises the soldier’s meticulousness in handling the body.

It shows the soldier’s disgust at the situation.

It reflects the soldier’s intense emotional reaction to the violence.

In the poem 'Remains', which of the following best describes the effect of the words "tosses" "guts" and "body"?

Starter Quiz

Is the statement true or false? The poem 'Remains' appears in a collection of poetry written by Simon Armitage, called 'The Lost Dead'.