Kamikaze Poem Analysis: Themes, Structure, and Quotes

English Literature

Revision note

The Kamikaze poem by Beatrice Garland explores the inner turmoil of a Japanese pilot who turns back from his suicide mission. This analysis delves into the poem's themes, structure, and context.

Key points:

Examines the conflict between duty and personal desires
Highlights the consequences of the pilot's decision
Explores themes of shame, honor, and family relationships
Utilizes vivid imagery and symbolism to convey emotions

3/13/2023

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Page 1: Setting the Scene and Initial Journey

The first page of the Kamikaze poem analysis introduces the protagonist and sets the stage for his fateful journey.

Beatrice Garland, born in 1938, crafts a narrative that begins with a Japanese pilot embarking on a kamikaze mission during World War II. The poem's opening stanza paints a vivid picture of the pilot's departure:

Quote: "Her father embarked at sunrise / with a flask of water, a samurai sword / in the cockpit, a shaven head / full of powerful incantations"

This imagery establishes the cultural and historical context, emphasizing the ritualistic nature of the kamikaze mission.

The Kamikaze poem structure employs enjambment to create suspense and reflect the pilot's internal struggle. As the journey progresses, the pilot becomes distracted by the sight of fishing boats and the sea below.

Highlight: The poem juxtaposes the violence of the mission with peaceful, natural imagery, creating a stark contrast that underlines the pilot's inner conflict.

The use of similes and metaphors enriches the Kamikaze poem themes analysis:

Fishing boats "strung out like bunting" on a "green-blue translucent sea"
Fish shoals moving "like a huge flag waved first one way / then the other in a figure of eight"

These comparisons serve to humanize the pilot and connect him to his past, foreshadowing his eventual decision.

Vocabulary: Kamikaze - Literally "divine wind," referring to Japanese suicide pilots in World War II.

The poem's themes of conflict, patriotism, and the power of nature and memories begin to emerge, setting the stage for the pilot's internal struggle between duty and personal desire.

Kamikaze
1
juxtaposes
normal
Journeys
5
modal
verb
-speculativne
distracting
himself 15
from
mission
Beatrice
Garland
(b. 1938)
"divine wind

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Page 2: The Pilot's Decision and Its Consequences

The second page of the Kamikaze poem analysis PDF delves deeper into the pilot's decision to turn back and the lasting impact on his life and family.

The poem shifts to the perspective of the pilot's daughter, recounting the story to her own children. This narrative framing device adds layers of complexity to the Kamikaze poem themes analysis, as we see the long-term consequences of the pilot's choice through generations.

Example: The daughter describes her father's return: "And though he came back / my mother never spoke again / in his presence, nor did she meet his eyes"

This passage illustrates the severe social and familial consequences of the pilot's decision to abandon his mission. The Kamikaze poem themes analysis essay could explore how the concept of shame and honor in Japanese culture is portrayed through these reactions.

The poem's structure becomes more fragmented in this section, mirroring the disjointed nature of memory and the fractured family relationships:

Highlight: The use of enjambment and short, declarative sentences emphasizes the emotional weight of the family's rejection.

The children's initial acceptance of their father, followed by their gradual adoption of the adults' behavior, adds another layer to the Kamikaze poem themes:

Quote: "only we children still chattered and laughed / till gradually we too learned / to be silent, to live as though / he had never returned"

This progression demonstrates the power of social conditioning and the loss of innocence.

The poem concludes with a powerful line that encapsulates the Kamikaze pilots' inner turmoil in poetry:

Quote: "And sometimes, she said, he must have wondered / which had been the better way to die."

This final statement invites readers to consider the complex nature of honor, duty, and personal choice in the face of societal expectations.

Definition: Inner turmoil - A state of great distress, confusion, or uncertainty.

The Kamikaze poem analysis reveals a nuanced exploration of the long-lasting effects of war on individuals and families, challenging readers to contemplate the true nature of heroism and sacrifice.