English: Power and Conflict Poetry Flashcards
1
Q
“Shattered visage of lies”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Ozymandias
- Metaphor: Compares deception to a fragile mask or face that can break.
- Imagery: Conjures a visual of something once whole and powerful now destroyed.
- Symbolism: The broken visage represents the collapse of falsehood or pride.
- Tone: Crafted through word choice to be dark, disillusioned.
- Diction: Powerful, evocative words (“shattered,” “lies”) that heighten emotional impact.
2
Q
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Ozymandias
- Irony: Declares greatness, yet the statue is ruined—his legacy didn’t last.
- Hubris: Shows excessive pride and arrogance typical of a tragic figure.
- Alliteration: The repetition of the hard “k” sound in “king of kings” adds emphasis.
- Caesura: The pause after “Ozymandias” breaks the rhythm, creating dramatic effect.
- Symbolism: Represents the fleeting nature of power and human achievement.
- Tone: Initially boastful, but ultimately undercut by the poem’s imagery and decay.
- Contrast: Between the proud claim and the surrounding desolation.
3
Q
“Nothing besides remains. Round the decay / of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Ozymandias
- Alliteration: “Boundless and bare” and “colossal wreck” enhance the harsh, desolate tone.
- Imagery: Vivid visual of destruction and emptiness emphasizes the fall of power.
- Juxtaposition: Grandeur (“colossal”) contrasts with emptiness (“bare,” “nothing”).
- Enjambment: Carries meaning across lines, mimicking the endless stretch of desert.
- Irony: The ruler’s grand monument is now a ruin surrounded by nothing.
- Tone: Bleak, reflective, mocking the permanence once claimed.
- Symbolism: The wreck represents the inevitable decay of human ambition and empire.
4
Q
“Sneer of cold command”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Ozymandias
- Alliteration: Repetition of the harsh ‘c’ sound mirrors the character’s cruelty.
- Consonance: Strong ‘d’ and ‘c’ sounds create a sharp, cutting rhythm.
- Imagery: Evokes a visual of arrogance and authoritarian dominance.
- Tone: Harsh, critical — conveys a sense of disdain or tyranny.
- Characterisation: Reveals the ruler’s pride, cruelty, and detached authority.
- Symbolism: The sneer symbolizes the oppressive power and attitude of the king.
5
Q
“Marks of weakness, marks of woe”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
London
- Repetition: “Marks” is repeated to emphasize the lasting impact of suffering.
- Alliteration: The soft ‘w’ sounds in “weakness” and “woe” create a mournful tone.
- Imagery: Visually conveys physical and emotional suffering.
- Anaphora: Continues the poem’s pattern of repeated structures for emphasis.
- Tone: Bleak and sorrowful, reflecting the speaker’s despair at urban suffering.
- Diction: “Weakness” and “woe” highlight vulnerability and emotional pain.
6
Q
“In every cry of every man /
In every infants cry of fear”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
London
- Anaphora: Repetition of “In every” emphasizes the widespread nature of suffering.
- Repetition: “Cry” is repeated to highlight universal pain and despair.
- Juxtaposition: Adults (“man”) and children (“infant”) show that suffering spans all ages.
- Imagery: Auditory imagery of crying reinforces a haunting atmosphere.
- Tone: Distressed and empathetic, amplifying the poet’s emotional response.
- Alliteration: The hard ‘c’ in “cry” and “children” adds urgency and harshness.
7
Q
“Every black’ning church appalls”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
London
- Imagery: “Black’ning” creates a grim visual of corruption and decay.
- Symbolism: The Church represents morality; its “black’ning” suggests moral failure.
- Juxtaposition: The Church (a symbol of purity) is linked with darkness and horror.
- Tone: Accusatory and disillusioned, critiquing institutional hypocrisy.
- Diction: “Appalls” is emotionally charged, expressing horror or disgust.
- Alliteration: Subtle repetition of the ‘ch’ sound in “Church” and “appalls.”
8
Q
“Runs blood down palace walls”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
London
- Metaphor: Suggests the monarchy’s indirect responsibility for violence and oppression.
- Imagery: Vivid and violent—“blood” and “palace” create a shocking visual contrast.
- Symbolism: “Blood” represents sacrifice and suffering; “palace” symbolizes power and privilege.
- Juxtaposition: Places royal luxury beside the brutal cost paid by the people.
- Tone: Bitter and accusatory, hinting at unrest or revolution.
- Enjambment: The line flows into the next, mimicking the spread of blood or unrest.
9
Q
“We are prepared: we build our houses squat”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Storm on the Island
- Direct address: The inclusive “we” creates a sense of community and collective resilience.
- Enjambment: Carries the thought forward, reflecting a calm, matter-of-fact tone.
- Colloquial language: “Squat” is informal, emphasizing practicality and plainness.
- Tone: Initially confident and prepared, setting up contrast with later tension.
- Caesura: The colon breaks the line, reinforcing the shift from readiness to action.
- Structure: The simple, declarative sentence mirrors the sturdy, no-frills houses.
10
Q
“Spits like a tame cat
turned savage”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Storm on the Island
- Simile: Compares the sea/wind to a domestic cat suddenly becoming wild — shows unpredictability.
- Zoomorphism: Attributes animal behaviour to nature, making it feel alive and threatening.
- Contrast: “Tame” vs “savage” reflects the shift from calm to chaos.
- Personification: Implies the storm has intent or emotion — it “spits” aggressively.
- Tone: Sudden and violent, marking a change in mood.
- Imagery: Vivid and unsettling — creates a clear visual of betrayal or wild force.
11
Q
“We are bombarded with empty air”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Storm on the Island
- Metaphor: “Bombarded” suggests a violent attack, even though it’s just “air” — emphasizes fear.
- Oxymoron: “Bombarded” and “empty” clash — highlighting the invisible threat of nature.
- Military imagery: “Bombarded” links the natural world to war, conflict, and vulnerability.
- Tone: Helpless, anxious — nature feels overwhelming despite being intangible.
- Contrast: Power of the storm vs the emptiness of air underscores its unpredictability.
- Enjambment: Carries tension and uncertainty into the next line.
12
Q
“Strange, its a huge nothing we fear”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Storm on the Island
- Paradox: “Huge nothing” highlights the irrational, invisible power of fear.
- Oxymoron: Combines size (“huge”) with absence (“nothing”) to deepen the contradiction.
- Tone: Reflective and unsettled — ends the poem on a note of quiet tension.
- Caesura: The comma after “Strange” creates pause and emphasis.
- Irony: Despite all the preparation, the greatest threat is something intangible.
- Diction: “Strange” and “fear” evoke confusion and psychological vulnerability.
13
Q
“…But nothing happens”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Exposure
- Repetition: This phrase is echoed throughout the poem, reinforcing monotony and futility.
- Irony: The absence of action becomes more harrowing than combat itself.
- Structure: Acts as a refrain, marking emotional stagnation and hopelessness.
- Tone: Defeated and numb — shows the psychological impact of waiting.
- Diction: The word “nothing” powerfully captures the sense of meaninglessness.
14
Q
“Our brains ache in the merciless iced east winds that knive us”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Exposure
- Personification: The wind is given violent intent — it “knives” the soldiers.
- Sibilance: The ‘s’ sounds mimic the hiss of the wind and create a chilling atmosphere.
- Assonance: Long vowels slow the pace, adding to the dragging, painful effect.
- Imagery: Visceral and sensory — evokes pain, cold, and suffering.
- Tone: Bleak and intense — the mental and physical toll is immediate.
- Diction: Words like “merciless” and “knive” highlight cruelty and violence from nature.
15
Q
“Less deadly than the air that shudders black with snow”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Exposure
- Personification: The air “shudders,” suggesting fear or violence from nature itself.
- Juxtaposition: Compares weapons of war to the greater threat of the weather.
- Oxymoron: “Black with snow” combines light and dark, corrupting the usual purity of snow.
- Imagery: Dark, disturbing visual shows nature as harsh and unnatural.
- Tone: Menacing and surreal — highlights the unnatural horror of trench warfare.
- Metaphor: Snow becomes a weapon, intensifying the threat of the environment.
16
Q
“Slowly, our ghosts drag home”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
Exposure
- Metaphor: Refers to the soldiers as “ghosts,” suggesting they’re physically alive but emotionally/spiritually dead.
- Imagery: Haunting and slow-moving — evokes exhaustion and trauma.
- Tone: Hollow and mournful — reinforces the psychological toll of war.
- Diction: “Drag” implies lifelessness and effort, emphasizing depletion.
- Symbolism: “Home” becomes distant and alien, more associated with death than comfort.
- Alliteration: The soft ‘s’ sounds in “slowly” and “ghosts” create a ghostly, fading effect.
17
Q
“All flesh is grass”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
War Photographer
- Biblical allusion: Taken from the Bible (Isaiah 40:6), linking mortality to divine context.
- Metaphor: Compares human life to grass — fragile, fleeting, easily destroyed.
- Tone: Detached, solemn — reflects the photographer’s numb confrontation with death.
- Juxtaposition: The spiritual source contrasts with the brutal reality of war.
- Diction: “Flesh” is raw and physical, while “grass” is natural and impermanent.
- Symbolism: Represents the dehumanisation of war victims.
18
Q
“Spools of suffering set out in ordered rows”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
War Photographer
- Metaphor: “Spools of suffering” equates the film rolls to containers of pain and trauma.
- Alliteration: The ‘s’ sounds in “spools” and “suffering” soften the tone while reinforcing emotion.
- Juxtaposition: “Suffering” vs “ordered” contrasts chaos of war with the calm, methodical work of the photographer.
- Imagery: Visually suggests both the film rolls and gravestones, linking photography to death.
- Tone: Controlled but heavy — a quiet, clinical handling of horror.
- Symbolism: The “ordered rows” evoke both photos and graves, blurring the line between documentation and death.
19
Q
“Running children in a nightmare heat”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
War Photographer
- Imagery: Evokes a vivid and disturbing visual, referencing war photography and trauma.
- Juxtaposition: Innocence of “children” contrasts with the horror of “nightmare” and “heat.”
- Emotive language: “Nightmare heat” conveys panic, suffering, and fear.
- Allusion: References the famous Vietnam War photo of a napalm attack.
- Tone: Harrowing and urgent — brings the reality of conflict into sharp focus.
- Metaphor: “Nightmare heat” suggests more than just physical temperature — it’s psychological terror.
20
Q
“A hundred agonies in black and white”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
War Photographer
- Metaphor: “Agonies” refers to the photographs — each one capturing intense suffering.
- Monochrome imagery: “Black and white” reflects the literal photographs and the moral ambiguity or simplicity imposed on complex pain.
- Hyperbole: “A hundred” exaggerates the scale of suffering to highlight its impact.
- Tone: Detached yet sorrowful — presents suffering as something observed, not felt.
- Juxtaposition: Emotional agony reduced to flat imagery — critiques media desensitisation.
- Diction: “Agonies” is raw and visceral, clashing with the coldness of “black and white.”
21
Q
“That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
My Last Dutchess
- Dramatic monologue: Establishes the speaker’s voice and perspective from the very start.
- Possessive pronoun: “My” reveals the Duke’s controlling and possessive nature.
- Irony: She’s only “his” in death, frozen in a painting — not in life.
- Tone: Casual and controlled, masking underlying tension and pride.
- Symbolism: The painting symbolizes control — he can finally manage her gaze and behaviour.
22
Q
“Since not puts by /
The curtain I have drawn for you but I”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
My Last Dutchess
- Possessive language: “I have drawn” and “but I” highlight the Duke’s total control.
- Enjambment: The flow between lines mimics his smooth, rehearsed dominance.
- Symbolism: The curtain represents power — he decides who sees her and when.
- Irony: In death, he finally gains the obedience he couldn’t control in life.
- Tone: Cold and authoritative — he takes pride in his dominance even over a painting.
- First-person narration: Maintains his egocentric perspective throughout.
23
Q
“This grew; I gave commands / Then all smiles stopped together”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
My Last Dutchess
- Euphemism: “I gave commands” subtly masks the implication of murder.
- Irony: Understatement of such a violent act highlights the Duke’s lack of remorse.
- Caesura: The semicolon creates a pause, heightening tension and control.
- Tone: Cold, detached — shows the Duke’s emotional distance and calculated nature.
- Ambiguity: Leaves the method and motive unclear, adding to the menace.
- Enjambment: Keeps the flow steady, mirroring how casually he discusses ending a life.
24
Q
“Notice Neptune, though,
taming a seahorse”
What poem is it from? Analysis?
A
My Last Dutchess
- Mythological allusion: Refers to Neptune (Roman god of the sea), symbolising godlike power and dominance.
- Metaphor: The Duke likens himself to Neptune — controlling and taming others, like the Duchess.
- Symbolism: The sea-horse represents the Duchess (or women more broadly), small and delicate, needing to be ‘tamed’.
- Tone: Arrogant and boastful — ends the poem with a chilling display of control.
- Juxtaposition: Grand myth vs small creature mirrors the Duke’s power over the Duchess.
- Irony: He sees art (both the painting and the sculpture) as tools of dominance, not beauty.
25
**"It was an act of stealth / And troubled pleasure"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**The Prelude**
- Oxymoron: “Troubled pleasure” captures the tension between excitement and guilt.
- Tone: Reflective and uneasy — suggests a moral or emotional conflict.
- Enjambment: Line runs on, mirroring the flow of thought and movement.
- Diction: “Stealth” implies secrecy or wrongdoing, even in a natural setting.
- Foreshadowing: Hints at the darker shift in mood and tone to come.
- First-person narration: Makes the experience personal and introspective.
26
**"A huge peak, black and huge"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**The Prelude**
- Repetition: “Huge” repeated for emphasis — reflects the overwhelming impact of the mountain.
- Imagery: Stark visual of the peak creates a sense of scale and dominance.
- Tone: Awe-struck and fearful — nature is presented as powerful and unknowable.
- Diction: “Black” suggests menace and mystery.
- Caesura: The comma adds weight and pause, mirroring the speaker’s stunned reaction.
- Juxtaposition: Contrasts earlier peaceful tone with sudden terror.
27
**"There hung a darkness"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**The Prelude**
- Personification: “Darkness” is given physical presence — as if it’s alive and oppressive.
- Metaphor: Suggests emotional or psychological weight, not just literal absence of light.
- Tone: Ominous and reflective — captures the lasting impact of the experience.
- Imagery: Vague yet powerful — evokes mystery, fear, and internal turmoil.
- Enjambment (in context): Flows from previous lines, mirroring the ongoing effect of the event.
- Symbolism: “Darkness” represents the unknown and the sublime force of nature.
28
**"With trembling oars I turned"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**The Prelude**
- Metaphor: “Trembling oars” reflects the speaker’s fear — it’s not just the oars trembling, it’s him.
- Personification (implied): The oars seem to “tremble,” mirroring human emotion.
- Tone: Vulnerable and subdued — shows his awe and fear after confronting the mountain.
- Diction: “Trembling” conveys weakness, anxiety, and humility.
- Symbolism: Turning back symbolises a shift in mindset — from confidence to humility.
29
- **"Into the valley of Death"**
- **"Into the jaws of Death"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Charge of the Light Brigade**
- Biblical allusion: “Valley of Death” echoes Psalm 23 — gives the charge a sacred, solemn weight.
- Personification: “Jaws of Death” gives death a monstrous, predatory quality.
- Metaphor: Both lines turn the battlefield into a place ruled by death itself.
- Repetition (in context): Repeated across the poem to build rhythm and inevitability.
- Imagery: Vivid and dramatic — creates a sense of doom and glory.
- Tone: Heroic yet tragic — honouring bravery while foreshadowing loss.
30
**"Cannon to the right of them / Cannon to the left of them"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Charge of the Light Brigade**
- Repetition: Reinforces the soldiers’ complete entrapment and the chaos around them.
- Anaphora: Repeated sentence structure at the beginning of lines builds momentum and tension.
- Imagery: Creates a vivid battlefield scene — danger from every direction.
- Rhythm: The dactylic meter mimics the sound of galloping hooves or cannon fire.
- Tone: Urgent and relentless — emphasises bravery in the face of doom.
- Structure: Echoes the formation of the cavalry, visually enclosing the soldiers.
31
**"Where can their glory fade?"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Charge of the Light Brigade**
- Rhetorical question: Implies the soldiers' honour is eternal, demanding admiration.
- Tone: Reverent and respectful — elevates the fallen to heroic status.
- Alliteration: The soft ‘g’ in “glory” and “fade” adds a lyrical, mournful rhythm.
- Diction: “Glory” highlights the theme of noble sacrifice.
- Structure: Marks the shift from the chaos of battle to solemn reflection.
- Emphasis: The question form lingers, inviting the reader to honour the soldiers.
32
**"Honour the charge they made! /
Honour the Light Brigade /
Noble six hundred"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Charge of the Light Brigade**
- Repetition: “Honour” repeated for emphasis — reinforces respect and admiration.
- Imperative: Commands the reader to remember and revere the soldiers’ bravery.
- Collective noun: “Noble six hundred” elevates the entire group as one heroic entity.
- Tone: Patriotic and reverent — celebrates heroism despite tragedy.
- Rhythm: Strong, marching cadence mirrors military form and respect.
- Alliteration: “Noble” and “number” sounds create a formal, solemn finish.
33
**"Bullets smacking the belly out of the air"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Bayonet Charge**
- Onomatopoeia: “Smacking” mimics the harsh, violent sound of gunfire.
- Personification: The air is given a body (“belly”) — shows violence invading nature itself.
- Violent imagery: Graphic and physical — creates a chaotic, dangerous battlefield.
- Alliteration: Harsh 'b' sounds enhance the brutality of the moment.
- Metaphor: Describes the impact of bullets as an attack on the environment, not just people.
- Tone: Intense and overwhelming — captures panic and sensory overload.
34
**"He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Bayonet Charge**
- Simile: Compares the rifle to a “smashed arm” — conveys pain, uselessness, and trauma.
- Violent imagery: “Smashed” is graphic and unsettling, evoking injury and destruction.
- Diction: “Lugged” suggests weight, exhaustion, and reluctance.
- Tone: Bleak and dehumanising — reduces the soldier to a suffering machine.
- Symbolism: The rifle, meant for power, becomes a burden — critique of war’s futility.
35
**"In what cold clockwork of the stars"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Bayonet Charge**
- Metaphor: “Clockwork of the stars” suggests a mechanical universe — fate is rigid and impersonal.
- Alliteration: The repeated hard ‘c’ sound adds a cold, harsh rhythm.
- Imagery: Blends cosmic and mechanical — evokes something vast yet unfeeling.
- Tone: Existential and detached — questions the purpose of war and the soldier’s role.
- Juxtaposition: The grandeur of “stars” vs the brutality of battle heightens the tragedy.
- Symbolism: “Cold clockwork” represents the uncaring forces (like government or fate) that drive men to war.
36
**"King honour, human dignity, etcetera"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Bayonet Charge**
- Listing: Groups abstract patriotic ideals together to show how they’re lumped into meaningless rhetoric.
- Diction: Formal, noble words contrast sharply with the soldier’s lived chaos.
- Irony: These ideals are what soldiers are taught to fight for — yet here they’re dismissed.
- Tone: Bitter and disillusioned — shows a loss of faith in propaganda.
- Sarcasm: “Etcetera” trivialises the grand concepts, as if they’re too pointless to finish listing.
- Juxtaposition: Noble ideals vs brutal reality of war.
37
**"Steeled the softening of my face"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Poppies**
- Juxtaposition: “Steeled” vs “softening” contrasts strength with vulnerability.
- Metaphor: “Steeled” implies emotional armour — hiding grief and fear.
- Alliteration: The ‘s’ sound links the inner conflict of holding back emotion.
- Tone: Suppressed sorrow — reveals the silent pain of letting go.
- Diction: “Softening” shows natural emotion, while “steeled” shows conscious restraint.
- Symbolism: Reflects the mother’s attempt to stay strong for her son.
38
**"The world overflowing like a treasure chest"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Poppies**
- Simile: Compares the world to a “treasure chest” — full of promise, excitement, and value.
- Imagery: Evokes a vivid sense of abundance and opportunity.
- Tone: Hopeful and nostalgic — reflects a mother’s mixed feelings watching her child grow up.
- Diction: “Overflowing” suggests overwhelming emotion or potential.
- Symbolism: The treasure chest may symbolise youth, freedom, or the future.
- Contrast (in context): Sets up tension between potential and the threat of loss (especially in wartime).
39
**"Released a song bird from its cage"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Poppies**
- Metaphor: Suggests the act of letting her son go — possibly to war or independence.
- Symbolism: The “song bird” represents her child; the “cage” symbolises protection or childhood.
- Tone: Tender and sorrowful — reflects both love and loss.
- Imagery: Light and graceful, yet full of emotional weight.
- Contrast: The freedom of the bird vs the emotional restraint of the speaker.
- Alliteration: Soft ‘s’ sounds add to the gentle, reflective tone.
40
**"I traced / the inscriptions on the war memorial"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Poppies**
- Symbolism: The “war memorial” represents loss, remembrance, and the lasting impact of conflict.
- Tactile imagery: “Traced” evokes a gentle, almost reverent physical action — suggesting grief and longing.
- Tone: Reflective and mournful — a moment of quiet connection with those lost.
- Enjambment: The break across the line mimics the speaker’s emotional hesitation or fragility.
- Diction: “Inscriptions” implies permanence — in contrast to the fleeting nature of life.
- Metaphor (implied): Tracing the names may metaphorically express trying to hold on to memory.
41
**"Let the daylight break through capitals and monoliths"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Tissue**
- Metaphor: “Daylight” represents truth, clarity, or freedom; “monoliths” symbolise rigid structures like power or authority.
- Imagery: Contrasts light vs stone — fragility vs permanence.
- Juxtaposition: Soft, natural “daylight” breaking through hard, man-made “monoliths” challenges traditional ideas of strength.
- Symbolism: Suggests that even the strongest institutions can be altered or softened by human connection or nature.
- Tone: Hopeful and transformative — invites change and openness.
- Enjambment: Mirrors the flow of light breaking through barriers.
42
**"The sun shines through the borderlines"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Tissue**
- Metaphor: “Borderlines” represent man-made divisions — political, social, or emotional.
- Symbolism: “Sun” symbolises natural truth, unity, or higher understanding breaking through artificial constructs.
- Imagery: Light piercing through maps or paper — soft yet unstoppable.
- Juxtaposition: Nature (sun) vs human constructs (borders), highlighting the fragility of man-made power.
- Tone: Hopeful and liberating — encourages openness and connection.
- Enjambment: Reflects continuity and flow, echoing the breaking of boundaries.
43
**"The back of the Koran"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Tissue**
- Symbolism: The Koran represents spiritual authority, tradition, and deep cultural roots.
- Allusion: References a sacred text — adds weight and universality to the idea of paper.
- Juxtaposition: Combines the fragility of paper with the immense power of belief and guidance.
- Tone: Reverent and thoughtful — acknowledges the sacredness of written word.
- Imagery: Evokes the physicality of the holy book, linking the abstract with the tangible.
- Structure (in context): Part of a broader list that blends the personal, political, and spiritual uses of paper.
44
**"Of paper smooth and stroked"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Tissue**
- Tactile imagery: “Smoothed and stroked” appeals to touch — conveys intimacy and care.
- Alliteration: The soft ‘s’ sounds create a soothing, delicate tone.
- Personification: The paper is treated almost like skin — humanised and cherished.
- Tone: Tender and reflective — suggests love, memory, or reverence.
- Symbolism: Paper stands for human life, relationships, or fragility.
- Contrast (in context): Fragility of paper vs its emotional and spiritual significance.
45
**"My city hides behind me. They mutter death"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**The Emigree**
- Personification: The city is described as hiding — suggests it's fragile, threatened, or in need of protection.
- Possessive pronoun: emphasises speakers pride in her city
- Ambiguity: “They” is vague — adds mystery and universalises oppression or threat.
- Tone: Protective and defiant — the speaker shields what she loves.
- Juxtaposition: Love and violence coexist — the speaker’s devotion vs others’ destruction.
- Enjambment (in context): Creates a sense of urgency and emotional overflow.
46
**"The bright filled paperweight"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**The Emigree**
- Metaphor: The paperweight represents the speaker’s memory of her homeland — preserved, solid, and beautiful.
- Imagery: “Bright” and “filled” evoke colour, light, and detail — idealised and vivid.
- Symbolism: A paperweight holds things in place — symbolises clinging to the past or a frozen moment in time.
- Tone: Nostalgic and affectionate — portrays memory as something treasured.
- Juxtaposition (in context): The weight and stillness of the paperweight contrasts with the emotional fluidity of memory.
- Diction: “Filled” implies richness and abundance — even if imagined or idealised.
47
**"The white streets"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**The Emigree**
- Imagery: Evokes purity, innocence, and idealism — a dreamlike picture of the speaker’s homeland.
- Symbolism: “White” suggests peace, hope, or a blank slate — possibly contrasting with the reality of conflict or exile.
- Colour symbolism: White is often associated with goodness or perfection — links to the speaker’s nostalgia.
- Tone: Affectionate and innocent — reflects childlike memory or longing.
- Contrast (in context): The idealised “white” streets vs the political unrest or war that may have forced the speaker to leave.
- Diction: Simple yet powerful — the lack of detail mirrors a memory preserved in broad strokes.
48
**"I comb its hair and love its shining eyes"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**The Emigree**
- Personification: The city is given human qualities — the speaker treats it like a beloved child or companion.
- Tone: Loving and nurturing — deep emotional attachment is shown through gentle actions.
- Imagery: Soft, visual imagery of “shining eyes” and “hair” makes the city feel alive and beautiful.
- Metaphor: Combing the city’s “hair” reflects care and connection — a desire to preserve or perfect the memory.
- Symbolism: “Shining eyes” may symbolise hope, memory, or innocence.
- Juxtaposition (in context): Personal, domestic affection contrasted with political turmoil or exile.
49
**"Her father embarked at sunrise"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Kamikaze**
- Euphemism: “Embarked” gently hints at a journey with deadly intent — softens the idea of a suicide mission.
- Symbolism: “Sunrise” suggests hope, a new beginning, or honour — ironic given the mission’s fatal purpose.
- Juxtaposition: The beauty of “sunrise” contrasts with the grim reality of war and sacrifice.
- Ambiguity: The line leaves motives and outcomes open — mirroring the uncertainty of the story to come.
- Tone: Calm and detached at first — masks the emotional weight underneath.
50
**"One-way journey into history"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Kamikaze**
- Metaphor: Describes the suicide mission as a journey into legacy or remembrance.
- Irony: Implies glory, but his real fate is rejection and erasure — highlights the cost of honour.
- Tone: Solemn and reflective — captures the weight of cultural expectation.
- Diction: “One-way” emphasises finality and sacrifice.
- Juxtaposition: The idea of entering “history” contrasts with the personal consequences of his return.
- Symbolism: “Journey into history” suggests becoming part of a national myth — even if it means death.
51
**"The little fishing boats strung out like bunting"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Kamikaze**
- Simile: Compares boats to “bunting” — festive, delicate, and celebratory.
- Imagery: Gentle and picturesque — evokes a sense of peace and beauty.
- Juxtaposition: Peaceful fishing boats vs violent military purpose — highlights internal conflict.
- Symbolism: The boats may represent normal life, community, or innocence — everything the pilot would lose.
- Tone: Nostalgic and reflective — softens the poem and adds emotional depth.
- Diction: Words like “little” and “bunting” suggest fragility and warmth.
52
**"Green-blue translucent sea"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Kamikaze**
- Imagery: Vivid visual detail creates a serene, almost magical picture of the sea.
- Colour symbolism: “Green-blue” suggests nature, calm, and life — a contrast to destruction and war.
- Tone: Tranquil and mesmerising — reflects the emotional pull of nature.
- Symbolism: The sea represents life’s beauty and perhaps the reason he turns back.
- Diction: “Translucent” implies clarity, purity, and vulnerability — reinforcing the power of natural beauty.
53
**"Bandage up me eye with my own history / Blind me to my own identity"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Checking out me History**
- Metaphor: “Bandage” and “blind” suggest forced ignorance — history being used to obscure, not heal.
- Imagery: Powerful visuals of being physically blinded — reflects emotional and cultural suppression.
- Repetition: “Me own” emphasises ownership and the injustice of having it used against him.
- Tone: Angry and accusatory — exposes frustration at colonial education.
- Symbolism: Eyes and blindness symbolise awareness vs enforced ignorance.
- Diction: Harsh, direct language strengthens the protest-like quality of the line.
54
**"Of mountain dream /
fire woman struggle /
hopeful stream /
to freedom river"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Checking out me History**
- Metaphor: Nature imagery (mountain, stream, river) symbolises strength, resistance, and the journey toward liberation.
- Juxtaposition: “Fire” and “hopeful stream” contrast destruction and peace — showing the complexity of struggle.
- Symbolism: “Freedom river” represents the end goal — liberation and identity.
- Natural imagery: Associates heroic figures with elemental forces — powerful, unstoppable, organic.
- Tone: Uplifting and empowering — celebrates resistance and identity.
- Structure: Free verse and enjambment mimic the flowing movement of a stream or journey.
55
**"A healing star
among the wounded
a yellow sunrise"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Checking out me History**
- Metaphor: “Healing star” symbolises a guiding figure or hope emerging from pain.
- Juxtaposition: “Healing” vs “wounded” and “star” vs “sunrise” contrast pain and hope, night and day.
- Colour symbolism: “Yellow sunrise” represents warmth, clarity, and new beginnings.
- Imagery: Celestial and radiant — evokes a sense of awe and inspiration.
- Tone: Hopeful and reverent — honours those who bring light in darkness.
- Symbolism: “Star” and “sunrise” suggest rebirth, legacy, and enlightenment.
56
**"Dem tell me /
Dem tell me /
Wha dem want to tell me"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Checking out me History**
- Repetition: Emphasises frustration and the relentlessness of imposed narratives.
- Dialect: Caribbean Creole resists the dominance of standard English — asserting cultural identity.
- Tone: Defiant and accusatory — challenges biased education systems.
- Colloquialism: Creates authenticity and strengthens the personal voice.
- Structure: Opens the poem in a chant-like rhythm — urgent and confrontational.
- Contrast (in context): Opposes what he’s told vs what’s left out — sets up the poem’s central conflict.
57
**"I swear I see every round as it rips through his life"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Remains**
- Violent imagery: “Rips through his life” is graphic and shocking — forces the reader to confront the reality of war.
- Colloquial language: “I swear” adds authenticity and immediacy — like a real, raw confession.
- Alliteration: “Round” and “rips” create a harsh, jarring sound to mirror the violence.
- Enjambment (in context): Carries the violence across lines — like it continues in the speaker’s mind.
- Tone: Distressed and haunted — shows psychological trauma.
- Metaphor: “Rips through his life” suggests more than death — a tearing apart of identity and existence.
58
**"One of my mates go by and tosses his guts back into his body"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Remains**
- Graphic imagery: Shocking and vivid — forces the reader to confront the gore of war.
- Colloquial language: “Tosses” sounds casual, almost careless — reflects emotional numbness or coping.
- Juxtaposition: Casual tone vs horrific content — highlights the soldier’s desensitisation.
- Tone: Detached and bleak — suggests psychological defence mechanism.
- Diction: “Guts” is brutal and dehumanising — shows how war reduces people to bodies.
59
**"Possibly armed, possibly not"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Remains**
- Repetition: The phrase echoes through the poem — shows how the uncertainty haunts the speaker.
- Ambiguity: Highlights the moral confusion of war — did they kill an innocent man?
- Tone: Anxious and conflicted — speaker is torn between justification and guilt.
- Structure (in context): Early placement and later repetition show how this doubt stays with him.
- Juxtaposition: The simple contrast intensifies the internal torment — life or death hinged on a guess.
- Diction: “Possibly” weakens any certainty — reveals emotional fragility and trauma.
60
**"His bloody life in my bloody hands"**
| What poem is it from? Analysis?
**Remains**
- Repetition: “Bloody” emphasises both the violence and emotional weight of guilt.
- Metaphor: “Bloody hands” symbolise responsibility, echoing Macbeth — guilt that can’t be washed away.
- Ambiguity: “Bloody” can mean literal blood or act as a curse word — reflects both physical and emotional pain.
- Tone: Tormented and confessional — final realisation that the trauma is personal and lasting.
- Allusion: Potential link to Shakespeare’s Macbeth — themes of guilt, murder, and consequence.
- Structure: Ends the poem unresolved — no closure, only continued suffering.
61
Which poems link into the theme of the power of humans?
- Ozymandias
- London
- My Last Dutchess
- Tissue
- Checking Out Me History
62
Which poems link into the theme of the power of nature?
- Prelude
- Storm on the Island
- Exposure
- Tissue
- Kamikaze
63
Which poems link into the theme of conflict and war?
- Bayonet Charge
- Remains
- Poppies
- War Photographer
- Kamikaze
- Exposure
- Charge of the Light Brigade
64
Which poems link into the theme of loss and suffering?
- Poppies
- Remains
- War Photographer
- London
- Exposure
- Kamikaze
65
Which poems link into the theme of identity?
- Checking Out Me History
- The Emigree
- Kamikaze
- Tissue
66
Which poems link into the theme of memories?
- Remains
- Poppies
- Prelude
- War Photographer
- The Emigree
67
Which poems link into the theme of patriotism?
- Charge of the Light Brigade
- Bayonet Charge
- Kamikaze
- Poppies
68
Which poems link into the theme of anger?
- London
- My Last Dutchess
- Checking Out Me History
- Remains
69
Which poems link into the theme of pride?
- Ozymandias
- My Last Dutchess
- Checking Out Me History
- Charge of the Light Brigade
- Kamikaze
70
Which poems link into the theme of fear?
- Bayonet Charge
- Prelude
- Storm on the Island
- Exposure
71
Which poems link into the theme of guilt?
- Remains
- War Photographer
- Poppies
- Kamikaze
