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Lesson 9 of 33
  • Year 10
  • Eduqas

Developing interpretations of ‘Remains’ with Simon Armitage

I can use Simon Armitage’s comments to develop my interpretations of the poem ‘Remains’.

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Lesson 9 of 33
New
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  • Year 10
  • Eduqas

Developing interpretations of ‘Remains’ with Simon Armitage

I can use Simon Armitage’s comments to develop my interpretations of the poem ‘Remains’.

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Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Armitage uses personal perspective, colloquial and vernacular language to ensure accuracy and authenticity.
  2. He says the most important moment in Remains is the "blood-shadow".
  3. Armitage reveals a tension between the poet and the speaker, emphasising the themes of power and conflict.
  4. He describes the final lines as "naked" and "vulnerable" illuminating their emotional impact.
  5. Armitage's ideas can help develop interpretations of the poem.

Keywords

  • Trauma - the emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience

  • Dispassionate - showing no strong feeling or emotion; detached and impartial

  • Sentimental - expressing or influenced by tender feelings or emotions, often excessively

  • Colloquial - informal language or speech, used in everyday conversation

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

Common misconception

Most poems are deeply personal or emotional and are written spontaneously from the heart.

Armitage suggests that writing poetry about traumatic events can be a methodical process. He states that keeping some emotional distance can be helpful.


To help you plan your year 10 English lesson on: Developing interpretations of ‘Remains’ with Simon Armitage, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Consider using discussion as a way to respond to the videos.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology for this lesson. The poem is also available in the additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Is the statement true or false? The poem 'Remains' appears in a collection of poetry written by Simon Armitage, called 'The Lost Dead'.

Correct Answer: false, f, F, False

Q2.
Who is the speaker in Simon Armitage's poem 'Remains'?

The soldier's wife describing his condition after returning from war.
Correct answer: A soldier describing his personal experience.
A doctor treating the soldier's wounds.
A fellow soldier recounting the battle.

Q3.
The poem 'Remains' is written in which tense?

past
Correct answer: present
future

Q4.
In the poem 'Remains', how does the line "his blood-shadow stays on the street" reflect the speaker's trauma?

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.
Correct answer: It emphasises the lasting psychological impact.

Q5.
The language in 'Remains' can be described as colloquial. This means...

the speaker uses formal, structured language to convey emotions.
Correct answer: 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.

Q6.
In the poem 'Remains', which of the following best describes the effect of the words "tosses" "guts" and "body"?

Correct answer: 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.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which image does Armitage describe as being “lodged in Rob’s mind” and “striking”?

"End of story"
Correct answer: "Blood shadow"
"The bullet passed through the man's body"
"I see every round as it rips through his life"

Q2.
What is the significance of the title 'Remains'?

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

Q3.
Why does Simon Armitage describe his writing process as being “dispassionate”?

To make the poem easier to understand.
To make the poem sound more dramatic.
To make the poem more sentimental.
Correct answer: To avoid becoming too emotionally involved with the subject.

Q4.
What word beginning with 'v' describes language that is the everyday language spoken by people in a particular region or group?

Correct Answer: vernacular

Q5.
What does the final couplet of the poem 'Remains' achieve, according to Armitage?

It provides a sense of closure.
It reflects the rigid structure of military life.
Correct answer: It ends the poem with vulnerability.
It creates a formal, orderly conclusion.

Q6.
How does Armitage’s description of writing "under laboratory conditions" relate to his poetic approach in 'Remains'?

Correct answer: 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.

Additional material

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