Poems - power and conflict Flashcards
Who wrote ‘Ozymandias’?
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
Context - ‘Ozymandias’ (3)
- Shelley was part of a poetic movement known as the ‘Romantics’ who focused on humanity and how it functioned, therefore we know this poem is making a political statement as it expresses criticism regarding the political authorities of his time.
- Ozium means ‘air’ and mandate means ‘to rule’ therefore the name Ozymandias implies he had power overall.
- Ozymandias is a Greek name for the Egyptian pharaoh Ramasses II.
Quotes - ‘Ozymandias’ (3)
- “Sneer of cold command”
- “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings”
- “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay/of that colossal wreck…”
How are power and conflict shown in ‘Ozymandias’? (4)
Ozymandias contains 4 forms of power:
- Abuse of power - Ozymandias was an unfair leader and treated his people poorly.
- Power doesn’t last - ‘Nothing beside remains’.
- Nature is more powerful - nature was powerful to defeat the ‘king of kings’.
- Love of power - sonnets are 14 line love poems; the only love visible in this is the love that Ozymandias has for himself and his abilities.
What poems can you link ‘Ozymandias’ to? (?)
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What is ‘Ozymandias’ about?
Ozymandias explores one of three perspectives of a traveller who tells a tale about an Egyptian pharaoh, King Ramesses II (called Ozymandias by the Greeks), who had the arrogance to believe that his power would create fear in all who were exposed to him. However, this poem is ironic as Ozymandias’ statue was created to project his greatness yet now ‘nothing beside remains. Round the decay / Of that colossal wreck’, showing that power doesn’t last thus presenting the view that eventually everything falls to dust.
Analyse - “Sneer of cold command” - Ozymandias (2)
- The noun ‘sneer’ implies that Ozymandias had little to no care for his people and shows the attitude of this once mighty king.
- “Cold command” speaks of the way he ruled: without heart or compassion; simply with power and by force.
Analyse - “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings” - Ozymandias (3)
- He saw his works as a reflection of his greatness and superiority and believed that he was incomparable.
- Shows he was boastful and arrogant.
- ‘King of kings’ is a phrase taken from biblical language, therefore, could imply that his subsequent obscurity was a punishment from God.
Analyse - “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay/of that colossal wreck…” - Ozymandias (6)
- ‘Colossal wreck’ The irony is that Ozymandias wanted this sculpture to stand as an impressive monument for all time, but it has eroded and is now a “colossal wreck.” - This phrase is an oxymoron as the adjective “colossal” refers to the once great sculpture, made to be a portrayal of his supremacy, yet “wreck” refers to what it has become.
- Caesura (breaks in the middle of a line) is symbolic of the belief that everything comes to an end; in this case, the leadership of Ozymandias.
- ‘Nothing beside remains’ shows that Ozymandias abused his power and cared for no one but himself and in return, his statue was neglected; eventually reduced to nothing.
- This also portrays the fragility of human existence - especially compared to the power of nature.
- This isolated sentence stands within the poem like the statue in the desert.
Who wrote ‘London’?
William Blake (1757-1828)
Context - ‘London’ (3)
- This is the oldest poem in the anthology
- He never lived a wealthy life and only became respected after he died
- Blake lived through the beginning of industrialization and it is thought that this poem was written about the French Revolution and rebelling
- William was fascinated by the bible, therefore, the poem is filled with biblical allusions (an object or circumstance from unrelated context is referred to covertly or indirectly. It is left to the audience to make the direct connection)
Quotes - ‘London’ (3)
- ‘I wander through each chartered street’
- ‘The mind-forged manacles I hear’
- ‘The hapless soldier’s sigh/Runs in blood down palace walls’
How are power and conflict shown in ‘London’? (2)
- Abuse of power - this is a very critical poem as Blake is angry at the church, monarchy and government for wrongfully using their power
- Abuse of power - they are mistreating the people of London and no one is doing anything to stop them as they are too powerful to be tamed
What poems can you link to ‘London’?
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Analyse - “I wander through each chartered street” - London (3)
- In this context, the adjective ‘chartered’ has the sense of “confined” or “mapped out” or “legally defined.”
- A “charter” often refers to a document issued by a government official that grants certain rights or privileges, therefore portraying the idea that the streets of London are increasingly the subject of government control.
- ‘Chartered’ is repeated in the next line ‘the chartered Thames’ in order to emphasise the idea that nobody realises how much they are being controlled and that through this poem, Blake is trying to make people understand and take back their power.
Analyse - “The mind-forged manacles I hear” - London (3)
- “Manacles” are shackles, handcuffs, anything that confines, or constricts. A representative of the idea that society is being restricted and brain-washed by the government, monarchy, and church as we are becoming their instruments of power.
- We are allowing ourselves to be controlled and manipulated as the manacles are ‘mind-forged’, implying that we are putting them upon ourselves and preventing society from improving and developing for we will be tied down for eternity as our future of submission to superiorities has been engraved into our minds.
- It could also mean that our minds will forever be controlled and restricted by the manacles the government has placed upon us until we do something about it.
Analyse - “The hapless soldier’s sigh/Runs in blood down palace walls” - London (5)
- ‘Hapless’ means unfortunate
- Metaphor
- If a soldier complains or has a negative attitude towards war/challenges the monarchy, then their punishment is having their blood against palace walls, meaning they’ve been killed.
- Criticises and blames the monarchy (George the third) as they didn’t do anything about it
- Symbolic of the fact that they have blood on their hands
What is ‘London’ about?
The church, government and monarchy were hated by Blake as he believed they abused and mistreated their power. It is the angriest poem in the anthology and is heavily critical as Blake is frustrated due to the people of London - specifically soldiers and children - being controlled and exploited by those with an unfair amount of power.
Who wrote ‘Extract from, The prelude’?
William Wordsworth ( 1770-1850 )
Context - ‘Extract from, The prelude’ (3)
- William Wordsworth’s poems are all about trying to restore the relationship between man and nature.
- This poem is a semi-autobiographical poem that deals with his life - from child to adulthood.
- He was a Romantics poet (not to do with love; about the power of nature)
Quotes - ‘Extract from, The Prelude’ (3)
- “One summer evening (led by her)”
- “Troubled pleasure”
- “The horizon’s bound, a huge peak, black and huge
How are power and conflict shown in ‘Extract from, The Prelude’? (2)
- Power of nature - ‘the horizon bound a huge peak’, shows that maybe nature is trying to teach him a lesson and punish him for going something bad.
- The conflict between right and wrong - the narrator feels guilty for ‘taking the boat’ but liked doing it nevertheless.
What poems can you link to ‘Extract from, The Prelude’?
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What is ‘Extract from, The Prelude’ about?
It is about a flashback to a time he stole a boat at home in the Lake District. The journey symbolises his emotional journey as a poet, which started with a mystic, and emotional connection with the power of nature (which is what being a Romantic is about). It also symbolises a journey within memory, looking for meaning.
This poem has a sexual subtext and could be viewed as a story of the narrator losing their virginity then having to face the conflict between right and wrong and the guilt they feel.
Analyse - “One summer evening (led by her)” - ‘Extract from, The Prelude’ (3)
- ‘Led by her’ personifies nature/mother nature; he is being lured by nature
- Gives nature a female identity; could be representative of a mother-figure guiding her child into adulthood.
- The forces driving the speaker – overpowering nature and a small frail boat – are given a feminine gender. This could link to the sexual subtext as he is being compelled by a woman and is doing something which he knows is wrong.
Analyse - “Troubled pleasure” - ‘Extract from, The Prelude’ (4)
- ‘Troubled pleasure’, an oxymoron to show how he found his environment intimidating yet beautiful. It is so beautiful and overwhelming that he feels as if he is trespassing, perhaps on nature’s secrets, therefore, may feel that he can’t enjoy it.
- It suggests mankind is selfish and ‘proud’ of taking from nature, which is truly dominant and overpowering. Man is arrogant and over-confident as nature is more powerful.
- Foreshadows the future of the poem
- Followed by a caesura (,) implying that he stopped for a moment to think about what he was doing but carried on anyway.
Analyse - “The horizon’s bound, a huge peak, black and huge” - ‘Extract from, The Prelude’ (3)
- Repetition of ‘huge’ indicates he feels intimidated as the peak begins to resemble a monster/something to be feared.
- Could be viewed as nature scaring him as a punishment for sinning/doing something he knew was wrong
- While the opening lines paint a picture of the speaker as one with nature, experiencing great joy in the peaceful waters, these lines mark an important change. The experience the speaker has here reveals that nature is not always man’s friend. In fact, there are mysterious and dangerous beings in nature. Nature is suddenly something not only to be enjoyed but something to be feared.
What can you say about the structure of ‘Extract from, The Prelude’? (4)
- Single stanza - to show the boy has grown up quite quickly. The reader is overwhelmed by the immensity of the poem as there are no breaks or pauses.
- Enjambment - the excitement but also the fear that rushes through him and takes over
- Caesura - stops him in his track and makes him reconsider, yet he carries on anyway
- Blank verse - the poem has no rhyme scheme but is written in iambic pentameter (lines of 10 syllables, with alternating stressed and unstressed syllables). Because of the influence of this poem, other philosophical poems were written in blank verse.
What can you say about the structure of ‘Ozymandias’? (3)
- Sonnet - portrays the king’s love of power as sonnets are usually love poems
- Iambic pentameter - follows a strict set of rules like his people had to during his time of ruling
- Single stanza - stands alone like the ‘colossal wreck’ does in the desert
What can you say about the structure of ‘London’? (2)
- ABAB rhyme scheme - a simple rhyme scheme but a complex poem, ironic
- Quatrain (4 line stanzas) - to show there are four people to blame: the monarchy, government, church and ourselves for allowing them to control us.
Who wrote ‘My Last Duchess’?
Robert Browning (1812-1889)
Context - ‘My Last Duchess’ (2)
- Browning’s inspiration for “My Last Duchess” was the history of a Renaissance duke, Alfonso II of Ferrara, whose young wife Lucrezia died in suspicious circumstances in 1561
- Robert Browning takes this brief anecdote out of the history books and turns it into an opportunity for readers to peek inside the head of a psychopath. Although Browning hints at the real-life Renaissance back-story by putting the word “Ferrara” under the title of the poem as an epigraph, he removes the situation from most of its historical details. It’s important to notice that the Duke, his previous wife, and the woman he’s courting aren’t named in the poem at all. Even though there were historical events that inspired the poem, the text itself has a more generalized, universal, nameless feel.
Quotes - ‘My Last Duchess’ (2)
- “She had/a heart - how shall I say? - too soon made glad […] she liked whate’er/she looked on, and her looks went everywhere.”
- “I gave commands/then all smiles stopped together.”
How are power and conflict shown in ‘My Last Duchess’? (2)
- Love of power - the Duke was intimidated that his Duchess was being looked at by other men as he felt he was losing his power
- Abuse of power - it is believed that the duke paid someone to kill his wife as he wanted to gain more control
What poems can you link to ‘My Last Duchess’? (?)
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What is ‘My Last Duchess’ about?
An anecdotal depiction of the psychology of a man obsessed with power who is conducting a marriage negotiation while discussing his previous marriage to the visitor.
Analyse - “She had/a heart - how shall I say? - too soon made glad […] she liked whate’er/she looked on, and her looks went everywhere.” - ‘My Last Duchess’ (3)
- She was interested in other men which made the Duke jealous
- “Too soon made glad”, monosyllabic (single syllable), shows he was short-tempered, frustrated, wanted to put a stop to it
- He felt a lack of control around her as she was not doing as he wished, therefore, he felt intimidated and powerless
Analyse - “I gave commands/then all smiles stopped together.” - ‘My last Duchess’ (5)
- He gave someone the command to kill her then ‘all smiles stopped’.
- Caesura at the end of ‘together’ signifies he put an end to it abruptly
- Caesura is used when talking about his wife; enjambment is used when he talks about himself
- He didn’t want to be seen as weak or have to lower himself in order to get what he wanted
- No sense of regret as he felt she had it coming
What can be said about the structure of ‘My Last Duchess’? (3)
- Iambic pentameter - strictly 10 beats per line, controlling, carefully words things, shows he is an abusive husband
- Dramatic monologue - he is the only one who we hear talking, shows he likes to be the most powerful as everything is always about him
- Single stanza - the duke is never going to change his attitude or his speech
Who wrote ‘Charge of the light brigade’?
Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
Context - ‘Charge of the light brigade’ (2)
- Made poet laureate by Queen Victoria, therefore wrote about current events and special occasions
- This poem was written about the Battle of Balaclava, the Crimean war
Quotes - ‘Charge of the light brigade’ (3)
- “Rode the six hundred”/”left of six hundred”/”noble six hundred”
- “Into the mouth of hell”
- “Sabring the gunners”
How are power and conflict shown in ‘Charge of the light brigade’? (1)
- Power of man - under 600 soldiers were killed at war by other soldiers. Man can create a deadly amount of pain and violence. Terrifying how people can do this to their own kind.
What poems can you link to ‘Charge of the light brigade’? (?)
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What is ‘Charge of the light brigade’ about?
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a failed military action involving the British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The ‘six hundred’ knew they were on a death mission but still held their heads high and carried on fighting without question.
Analyse - “Rode the six hundred”/”left of six hundred”/”noble six hundred” - ‘Charge of the light brigade’(2)
- Repeated throughout the poem, presents the idea that war will never end
- ‘Noble six hundred’, the soldiers should be honoured for their bravery. They signed an oath, therefore, it was their job to do and they did it without hesitation.
Analyse - “Into the mouth of hell” - ‘Charge of the light brigade’ (3)
- Biblical allusion portrays war as hell, something bad that should be sinned for but also representative that war is dangerous and it’s as if they’re riding into death voluntarily.
- Metaphorical
- Personifies the hell/the war as it’s going to eat them alive/they’re feeding themselves to the war
Analyse - “Sabring the gunners” - ‘Charge of the light brigade’ (2)
- Despite having no possibility of them all making it out alive, they still try their best to be brave and continue fighting
- Shows they are unprepared and didn’t know what they were getting themselves into
What can be said about the structure of ‘Charge of the light brigade’? (2)
- A ballad poem - typically arranged in quatrains with the rhyme scheme ABAB. Ballads are usually narrative, which means they tell a story.
- The last stanza is smaller than all of the others, symbolic of the fact that they lost a lot of their men along the way
Who wrote ‘Exposure’?
Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)
Context - ‘Exposure’ (3)
- He was a WW1 soldier - experienced first hand what it was really like being in the trenches
- Sent to a mental assylem to recoperate due to PTSD
- Owen was killed while leading his men one week before the armistice was signed ending the war
Quotes - ‘Exposure’ (3)
- “Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knive/us…”
- “But nothing happens”
- “Sudden successive flights of bullets streak the silence./Less deadly than the air that shudders black with snow”
How are power and conflict shown in ‘Exposure’? (1)
- Power of nature - the weather is more deadly than the enemy
What poems can you link to ‘Exposure’? (?)
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