War leaves scars that are not always visible. In Remains, Simon Armitage explores the lasting psychological effects of conflict through the experience of a soldier who is haunted by combat. Unlike traditional war poetry, which often focuses on physical bravery or sacrifice, Armitage delves into the emotional and mental consequences of warfare, particularly guilt, trauma and the struggle to reconcile past actions with everyday life.

READ NOW: Remains by Simon Armitage

Context

Remains was written by Simon Armitage, a contemporary British poet and playwright who explores the experiences of modern soldiers. The poem draws inspiration from accounts of British soldiers returning from conflicts such as the Iraq War.

Armitage presents a modern perspective on warfare, emphasising the internal battles soldiers face even after leaving the battlefield. The poem highlights the psychological toll of war, particularly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and examines how society often struggles to understand or acknowledge this invisible suffering.

Summary: What is Remains by Simon Armitage about?

The poem is a first-person account of a soldier recalling an incident during a patrol. The event is described matter-of-factly at first, but the soldier’s guilt and trauma gradually emerge.

• Stanza 1: The soldier recounts the incident, using casual, conversational language, showing the contrast between the horrific act and his attempt to normalise it.
• Stanza 2: Memories of the incident haunt him, replaying like a film, revealing the psychological weight of his actions.
• Stanza 3: The soldier struggles to escape these memories, but the trauma persists, affecting his daily life and emotional state.

Key Themes

• Psychological Trauma: The poem explores how violent experiences continue to affect soldiers long after the battlefield, manifesting as nightmares, intrusive thoughts and emotional detachment.
• Guilt and Moral Conflict: The soldier grapples with his conscience, questioning the morality of his actions and feeling responsible for the life he took.
• Reality vs. Perception: Armitage highlights the contrast between how soldiers experience war and how civilians perceive it, often simplifying or misunderstanding its psychological impact.
• The Lasting Impact of War: Remains shows that the effects of war are not confined to the battlefield but can dominate everyday life, leaving invisible scars that are difficult to heal.

Key Quotes and Analysis

• “Probably armed, possibly not.”
  → This repeated phrase highlights the soldier’s uncertainty and moral ambiguity, reflecting his internal conflict and the difficulty of distinguishing right from wrong in combat.
• “Well myself and somebody else and somebody else / are all of the same mind.”
  → The casual tone initially downplays the act, creating a stark contrast with the psychological consequences that follow.
• “His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol / I walk right over it week after week.”
  → Powerful metaphor: the blood-shadow represents lasting guilt. The image of walking over it emphasises how the soldier cannot escape the memory.
• “Sleep, and he’s probably armed, possibly not.”
  → The cyclical repetition mirrors intrusive thoughts and PTSD, showing how the memory haunts the soldier constantly, including in sleep.

Hidden Meanings and Analysis

Remains explores the internal consequences of war, emphasising that the psychological impact can be as devastating as physical injury. The use of colloquial, conversational language makes the speaker relatable, while also highlighting the attempt to normalise or suppress traumatic memories.

The poem also critiques societal indifference: soldiers often return home to civilians who cannot fully understand the mental toll of their experiences. Trauma becomes a constant, inescapable companion, haunting the soldier in moments that should be ordinary, such as walking down a street or trying to sleep.

Exam-Style Question Prompt

Compare the ways Armitage in Remains and one other poet of your choice present the impact of conflict on individuals.

Potential comparisons:

• Exposure (Wilfred Owen) – physical and emotional suffering in WWI soldiers.
• War Photographer (Carol Ann Duffy) – emotional burden and public apathy.
• In Flanders Fields (John McCrae) – sacrifice, remembrance and duty.

Why This Poem Matters

Remains is essential reading for understanding modern conflict and the psychological toll on soldiers. It moves away from glorifying heroism to focus on the lasting internal consequences of violence, making it highly relevant for GCSE and A-Level students studying contemporary war poetry. The poem’s themes of guilt, trauma and moral conflict provide rich material for essay comparison and analysis.

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