“Remains” by Simon Armitage: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Remains” by Simon Armitage

“Remains” by Simon Armitage, first published in 2008 in his acclaimed collection The Not Dead, possesses several notable qualities that contribute to its enduring impact. The poem is characterized by its raw and unflinching portrayal of trauma, utilizing vivid imagery and visceral language to convey the psychological turmoil experienced by the soldier narrator. Armitage employs a conversational tone and direct language, enhancing the poem’s accessibility and emotional resonance. The structure of the poem, with its irregular stanzas and enjambment, mirrors the fragmented nature of memory and the narrator’s struggle to process his experiences. Additionally, the poem’s exploration of guilt, remorse, and the lingering effects of violence serves as a powerful commentary on the psychological toll of war.

Text: “Remains” by Simon Armitage

On another occasion, we get sent out 
to tackle looters raiding a bank. 
And one of them legs it up the road, 
probably armed, possibly not. 

Well myself and somebody else and somebody else 
are all of the same mind, 
so all three of us open fire. 
Three of a kind all letting fly, and I swear 

I see every round as it rips through his life – 
I see broad daylight on the other side. 
So we’ve hit this looter a dozen times 
and he’s there on the ground, sort of inside out, 

pain itself, the image of agony. 
One of my mates goes by 
and tosses his guts back into his body. 
Then he’s carted off in the back of a lorry. 

End of story, except not really. 
His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol 
I walk right over it week after week.
Then I’m home on leave. But I blink 

and he bursts again through the doors of the bank. 
Sleep, and he’s probably armed, possibly not. 
Dream, and he’s torn apart by a dozen rounds. 
And the drink and the drugs won’t flush him out – 

he’s here in my head when I close my eyes, 
dug in behind enemy lines, 
not left for dead in some distant, sun-stunned, sand-smothered land 
or six-feet-under in desert sand,

 but near to the knuckle, here and now, 
his bloody life in my bloody hands.

Annotations of “Remains” by Simon Armitage

Stanza	Annotation
Stanza 1	The speaker describes being sent to confront looters at a bank. One of the looters runs away, and the speaker and two others open fire, possibly killing him.
Stanza 2	The speaker vividly recalls the moment of shooting, seeing each bullet hit the looter and the impact it has on his body.
Stanza 3	The looter is severely wounded (“inside out”) and in immense pain. One of the speaker’s comrades attempts to help by putting his intestines back into his body. The wounded man is then taken away in a truck.
Stanza 4	Despite the incident, the memory of the looter and the events haunt the speaker even after returning home (“on leave”). The memory replays in the speaker’s mind, disrupting his sleep and dreams.
Stanza 5	The speaker struggles with the traumatic memories, unable to escape them even with alcohol and drugs. The looter’s presence persists in the speaker’s thoughts, feeling like he is still fighting a battle.
Stanza 6	The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the ongoing impact of the incident. The looter’s life and death weigh heavily on the speaker’s conscience, feeling responsible for his fate.

Literary and Poetic Devices in “Remains” by Simon Armitage

Literary/Poetic Device	Example from the Poem	Explanation	Function
1. Anaphora	“probably armed, possibly not” (repeated)	Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.	Emphasizes the uncertainty and moral ambiguity surrounding the shooting, intensifying the speaker’s guilt and confusion.
2. Colloquial Language	“legs it,” “letting fly,” “guts,” “mates”	Use of informal, everyday language.	Creates a conversational tone, making the poem feel like a personal confession, increasing its emotional impact.
3. Enjambment	“I swear // I see every round as it rips through his life”	The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza.	Builds tension and momentum, mirroring the speaker’s fragmented memory and the chaotic nature of the event.
4. Imagery	“broad daylight on the other side,” “sort of inside out”	Vivid descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste).	Creates a visceral and graphic portrayal of the shooting, intensifying the emotional impact and the reader’s sense of the soldier’s trauma.
5. Irony	“End of story, except not really”	A statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.	Underscores the lasting psychological impact of the event, highlighting the irony of the phrase “end of story.”
6. Juxtaposition	“sun-stunned” and “sand-smothered”	Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts.	Contrasts the beauty of the landscape with the horrific violence that occurred there.
7. Metaphor	“blood-shadow”	A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which itis not literally applicable.	Represents the lingering psychological trauma of the event, haunting the speaker like a shadow.
8. Onomatopoeia	“rips”	A word that imitates the natural sounds of a thing.	Conveys the violence and brutality of the shooting.
9. Parallelism	“Sleep, and he’s probably armed, possibly not. // Dream, and he’s torn apart by a dozen rounds.”	Use of similar grammatical constructions to express ideas that are related or equal in importance.	Reinforces the recurring nature of the soldier’s trauma, emphasizing how it invades his sleep and dreams.
10. Personification	“pain itself, the image of agony”	The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman.	Emphasizes the sheer physical and emotional suffering of the victim.
11. Polysyndeton	“myself and somebody else and somebody else”	The use of several conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted.	Emphasizes the collective responsibility and the speaker’s attempt to distance himself from the act.
12. Repetition	“bloody” (repeated)	Repeating words or phrases for emphasis.	Intensifies the violence and the speaker’s guilt and remorse.
13. Rhetorical Question	Implied question: “Was he armed?”	A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected.	Highlights the uncertainty and moral ambiguity of the situation.
14. Simile	“like a ghost”	A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.	Conveys the haunting nature of the memory.
15. Symbolism	“blood,” “shadow,” “desert sand”	The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.	Blood symbolizes guilt and violence; shadow represents trauma and memory; desert sand suggests the foreign and hostile environment.
16. Tone	Confessional, guilt-ridden, haunted	The general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc.	Conveys the speaker’s psychological turmoil and moral struggle.
17. Understatement	“sort of inside out,” “tosses his guts back into his body”	The presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.	Heightens the horror of the scene through ironic detachment.
18. Verb Choice	“legs it,” “rips,” “bursts,” “flush,” “dug in”	Strong, active verbs.	Creates a sense of movement, violence, and psychological turmoil.
19. Volta	“End of story, except not really”	A turn or shift in a poem.	Marks the transition from the physical event to the psychological aftermath.
20. Caesura	“So we’ve hit this looter a dozen times // and he’s there on the ground,”	A break or pause in the middle of a line of verse.	Creates a pause for reflection and emphasis on the brutal reality of the situation.

Themes in “Remains” by Simon Armitage

1. Trauma and Memory: The poem delves into the enduring psychological trauma of war and the power of memory to haunt and torment. The speaker’s relentless flashbacks (“But I blink / and he bursts again through the doors of the bank”) and nightmares (“Dream, and he’s torn apart by a dozen rounds”) highlight the intrusive nature of traumatic memories, refusing to be buried in the past. The vivid imagery of the victim’s body (“sort of inside out, pain itself, the image of agony”) further reinforces the trauma’s lasting impact, revealing how it continues to replay in the speaker’s mind.
2. Moral Responsibility and Guilt: “Remains” grapples with the moral complexities of killing and the burden of guilt. The repeated phrase “probably armed, possibly not” underscores the uncertainty surrounding the looter’s threat, casting doubt on the necessity of the lethal force used. The speaker’s act of tossing the victim’s “guts back into his body” could be interpreted as a futile attempt to undo the violence, while the lines “his bloody life in my bloody hands” highlight the indelible stain of guilt that the speaker carries.
3. The Psychological Cost of War: The poem explores the profound and lasting psychological damage inflicted on soldiers. The speaker’s reliance on “drink and drugs” to “flush him out” underscores the desperate measures taken to cope with the trauma. The recurring image of the “blood-shadow” serves as a metaphor for the invisible wounds of war, haunting the speaker and disrupting his attempts to return to normalcy.
4. Dehumanization and Objectification: The poem subtly addresses the dehumanization inherent in war. The looter is reduced to a target, referred to impersonally as “one of them” and “this looter.” The graphic description of his injuries and the casual way his body is treated (“carted off in the back of a lorry”) further illustrate the loss of individual identity and the objectification of the victim in the context of conflict.

Literary Theories and “Remains” by Simon Armitage

Literary Theory	Application to “Remains”	References and Commentary
1. Trauma Theory	Examines how the poem portrays the psychological impact of violence and war trauma on the speaker.	The poem vividly describes the traumatic experience of shooting a looter and the haunting memories that follow, impacting the speaker’s mental state (“his bloody life in my bloody hands”). The repetition of the looter’s presence in dreams and memories underscores the ongoing trauma experienced by the speaker.
2. Postcolonial Theory	Analyzes the power dynamics and moral implications of the encounter between the soldiers and the looters, possibly in a colonial context.	The poem can be read as a critique of military intervention and its consequences, reflecting on the blurred lines between right and wrong in conflicts (“probably armed, possibly not”). The aftermath of the shooting raises questions about justice and accountability in such situations.
3. Reader-Response Theory	Focuses on how readers interpret and emotionally engage with the text, particularly regarding themes of guilt and responsibility.	Readers may empathize with the speaker’s internal struggle and moral dilemma, contemplating the ethical implications of violence in war. The poem’s emotive language and vivid imagery invite readers to reflect on the human cost of conflict and the lasting impact on individuals involved.

Critical Questions about “Remains” by Simon Armitage

• How does the poem’s use of language and imagery contribute to its exploration of trauma?
• The visceral language and graphic imagery in “Remains,” such as “sort of inside out,” “pain itself,” and “rips through his life,” evoke a sense of horror and revulsion, mirroring the speaker’s traumatic experience. The repetition of “bloody” intensifies the violence and the lingering guilt, while the colloquial language (“legs it,” “guts”) creates a sense of immediacy and authenticity, drawing the reader into the soldier’s disturbed psyche. This raw and unfiltered language reflects the fragmented nature of memory and the difficulty of processing trauma.
• To what extent is the poem a condemnation of war or a reflection on the psychological impact of conflict on soldiers?
• While the poem doesn’t explicitly condemn war, it powerfully portrays the psychological toll exacted on those who participate in it. The speaker’s PTSD, his inability to escape the recurring memory of the shooting, and his attempts to self-medicate with “drink and drugs” underscore the devastating consequences of violence. However, the poem avoids didacticism, focusing instead on the individual soldier’s experience, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions about the broader implications of war.
• What is the significance of the “blood-shadow” motif in the poem?
• The “blood-shadow” serves as a potent symbol of the enduring psychological trauma that haunts the speaker. It represents the guilt, remorse, and the indelible mark left by the act of killing. The shadow, which cannot be erased or escaped, reflects the inescapable nature of the soldier’s memories and the persistent presence of the victim in his mind. This motif also serves as a visual reminder of the moral complexity of the situation, as the speaker is forced to confront the consequences of his actions every time he encounters the shadow.
• How does the poem’s structure and form contribute to its overall meaning?
• The poem’s irregular stanzas and enjambment create a sense of fragmentation and disorientation, mirroring the speaker’s fractured psychological state. The volta, marked by the phrase “End of story, except not really,” signals a shift from the physical event to its enduring psychological aftermath. The final two lines, standing alone as a couplet, emphasize the speaker’s isolation and the inescapable nature of his guilt. This structure reflects the speaker’s struggle to make sense of his experience and the cyclical nature of trauma, highlighting the poem’s exploration of memory, guilt, and the psychological cost of war.

Thesis StatementTopics, Questions, and Thesis Statements about “Remains” by Simon Armitage

Topic	Question	Thesis Statement
1. Psychological Impact of Violence	How does the poem depict the psychological trauma experienced by soldiers involved in violent conflict?	In “Remains,” Simon Armitage vividly portrays the psychological toll of war on soldiers through the speaker’s haunting memories and guilt, revealing the lasting effects of violence on the human psyche.
2. Moral Ambiguity and Responsibility	What ethical questions does the poem raise about the use of force in conflict situations?	The poem “Remains” by Simon Armitage explores the moral ambiguity of violence in war, challenging readers to consider the consequences of military actions and the complex ethical dilemmas faced by soldiers in combat.
3. Memory and Trauma	How does the speaker’s memory of the shooting and its aftermath shape the poem’s narrative?	Through vivid imagery and introspective narration, “Remains” by Simon Armitage examines how traumatic memories persist and affect the speaker’s sense of identity, illustrating the enduring impact of violence on individual lives.
4. Critique of Military Intervention	To what extent does the poem critique the justification and consequences of military intervention?	Simon Armitage’s “Remains” critiques the justification and human cost of military intervention, highlighting the dehumanizing effects of violence and the ethical complexities involved in armed conflict.

Suggested Readings: “Remains” by Simon Armitage

1. Armitage, Simon. Interview with The Guardian. “Simon Armitage: ‘Poetry is a muscle that needs to be exercised.'” The Guardian, 31 Oct. 2008, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/08/simon-armitage-poet-laureate-radical-roots-rock-star-dreams
2. Armitage, Simon. The Not Dead. Faber & Faber, 2008.
3. Pinnington, David. Duffy and Armitage: Carol Ann Duffy and Simon Armitage and Pre-1914 Poetry. British Council Library, 2024, https://library.britishcouncil.lk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=136682.
4. Poetry Foundation. “Remains.” Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52189/remains-56d224604761f

Representative Quotations from about “Remains” by Simon Armitage

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
1. “I see every round as it rips through his life – / I see broad daylight on the other side.”	This quotation describes the vivid imagery of the speaker witnessing the impact of bullets on the looter, highlighting the immediacy and brutality of violence.	Trauma Theory: Analyzes how the poem portrays the psychological impact of witnessing and participating in violent acts, emphasizing the traumatic experience of the speaker.
2. “His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol / I walk right over it week after week.”	The speaker reflects on the persistent presence of the looter’s blood-shadow on the street, symbolizing the lasting imprint of violence on memory and conscience.	Memory Studies: Explores how memories of traumatic events, such as the shooting, continue to affect the speaker, shaping his perception of the world and his sense of self.
3. “Then I’m home on leave. But I blink / and he bursts again through the doors of the bank.”	The speaker experiences intrusive memories and flashbacks of the shooting even when away from the battlefield, illustrating the inescapable nature of trauma.	Psychoanalytic Theory: Examines the subconscious processes and defense mechanisms at play in the speaker’s attempts to cope with traumatic memories, such as repression and recurrence in dreams.
4. “Dream, and he’s torn apart by a dozen rounds. / And the drink and the drugs won’t flush him out – / he’s here in my head when I close my eyes,”	The speaker struggles with the inability to escape the memory of the looter, despite using alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms.	Cultural Studies: Analyzes how the poem critiques societal attitudes towards trauma and mental health, highlighting the inadequacy of conventional coping mechanisms in dealing with war-related trauma.
5. “His bloody life in my bloody hands.”	This line encapsulates the speaker’s sense of guilt and responsibility for taking the life of the looter, grappling with the moral consequences of his actions.	Ethical Criticism: Explores the ethical dilemmas faced by soldiers in combat situations, questioning the justification and accountability for violence in war.