Remains by Simon Armitage - AQAContext

The context in which a poem was written can sometimes tell you more about its themes, message and meaning.

Some questions you might ask include:

• are aspects of the poet’s life reflected in the poem?
• is the time or place in which it was written reflected in the poem?

You will need to research the poet’s background to discover answers to these questions. But if you do write about a poem and its context, be careful to include only details that reveal something about the poem.

Context of 'Remains'

Simon Armitage’s poetry is known for its colloquial style, strong rhythms and voice. He deals with personal relationships, often drawing on his own life experience. He often uses the monologue form in his poetry to create immediate and moving characters. His delivery is deadpan and sometimes darkly humorous.

Armitage made a film for Channel 4 in 2007 called The Not Dead and has a collection of poems of the same name, from which this poem is taken. In preparation for this work, he interviewed veteran soldiers of different wars, including the Gulf War. The reference to ‘desert sand’ in this poem suggests that it reflects the experiences of soldiers in the Gulf War.

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