Understanding the poem 'Remains'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Armitage comments on the traumatic effects of war in ‘Remains’.
Key learning points
- The poem’s title may reflect the long-lasting unpleasant effects of war.
- In ‘Remains', Armitage explores the PTSD and other disorders that many veterans deal with.
- The poem is taken from a collection called ‘The Not Dead’, based on interviews with soldiers from Iraq and Gulf Wars.
- The speaker’s battle with PTSD may reflect the long-term effects of conflict that are left unnoticed by society.
Keywords
Trauma - the emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience
Veteran - an ex-member of the armed forces
Aftermath - the consequences of a significant unpleasant event
Atrocities - extremely violent acts
Common misconception
War links to conflict solely due to the violence and brutality between opposing sides whilst fighting.
War can also link to mental conflict long after the fighting is done as we see in Armitage's poem.
Teacher tip
Sharing with pupils what you liked/disliked/noticed about the poem after the second read through in learning cycle 1 may help them feel comfortable expressing their authentic feelings.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.If something 'remains' with you what might that mean?
Q2.If war imagery is described as 'graphic' that means...
Q3.What does the word 'atrocity' mean?
Q4.What is a looter?
Q5.The word 'ambiguous' means...
Q6.Internal conflict is...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience is known as...
Q2.'Remains' focuses not on the act of war but on the of war.
Q3.Who does the speaker in 'Remains' described in the poem?
Q4.In the poem ‘Remains’, Armitage highlights…
Q5.What is it suggest that the soldier in 'Remains' is suffering from?
Q6.The documentary Simon Armitage wrote about veterans from the Iraq and Gulf Wards was called...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding the poem 'Remains', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding the poem 'Remains', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the 'Power and Conflict' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.