Power and Conflict Poems - quotations Flashcards
“Ozymandias” - the land has been forgotten because the statue no longer holds power.
“I met a traveller from an antique land”
“Ozymandias” - the statue is missing pieces because there has been a transfer of power.
“two vast and trunkless legs of stone”
“Ozymandias” - the acts of humans are insignificant to the passing of time and all power will eventually be lost.
“round the decay”
“London” - the streets are controlled by the government as they hold all of the power.
“I wander through each chartered street”
“London” - repeated to emphasise the entire population is affected by this.
“in every”
“London” - the government is giving the people no escape from their control.
“the mind forged manacles i hear”
“Extract from, the Prelude” - mother nature has full control over him.
“led by her”
“Extract from, the Prelude” - appreciation of the power of nature compared to humans.
“a huge peak, black and huge”
“Extract from, the Prelude” - the mountain is eternal and will be on earth forever whereas humans do not.
“do not live like living men”
“My Last Duchess” - the duke only allows certain people to look at the painting so he doesn’t have to worry.
“the curtain I have drawn for you”
“My Last Duchess” - duke criticises her cheeriness and claims she was too friendly.
“too easily impressed; she liked whate’er”
“My Last Duchess” - the duke had the duchess killed because she was too flirtatious.
“then all smiles stopped”
“The Charge of The Light Brigade” - repetition to show emphasise the large number of men involved.
“rode the six hundred”
“The Charge of The Light Brigade” - people marvelled at their bravery or the public questioned the commands.
“all the world wonder’d”
“The Charge of The Light Brigade” - the soldiers should be remembered for trying despite knowing their fate.
“honour the light brigade, noble six hundred”
“Exposure” - repeated phrase to show they’re constantly waiting for a change but it never comes.
“but nothing happens”.
“Exposure” - they are questioning the meaning of war because it has no point.
“what are we doing here?”
“Exposure” - the soldiers are losing their faith because they are being allowed to suffer.
“love of God seems dying”
“Storm on the Island” - the island community is very close and they show they are to fight.
“we are prepared”
“Storm on the Island” - the sea which they once thought was on their side turns against them.
“spits like a tame cat turned savage”
“Storm on the Island” - they are at war as the wind is compared to a fighter plane attacking the island.
“we are bombarded”
“Bayonet Charge” - one solider is confused because the situation seems like a nightmare but it is real.
“suddenly he awoke”
“Bayonet Charge” - his patriotism has turned to fear as his heroic ideas have turned to reality
“patriotic tear”
“Bayonet Charge” - the soldier is wondering why he is there.
“he almost stopped”
“Remains” - the turning point in the poem where the speaker begins to talk about his PTSD.
“end of story, except not really”
“Remains” - trying to get rid of the memories through alcohol and cigarettes isn’t working.
“the drink and the drugs won’t flush him out”
“Remains” - the soldier feels completely responsible for the shooting and now lives with the guilt.
“his bloody life in my bloody hands”
“Poppies” - every soldier had their own separate lives and each loss was personal.
“individual war graves”
“Poppies” - the images of war are mixed with poignant images of home and family life.
“my stomach busy making tucks, darts, pleats”
“Poppies” - memories of leaving for school and coming back compared to leaving for the army and not.
“hoping to hear your playground voice catching on the wind”
“War Photographer” - emphasis of dark nature of the photos and their content could represent graves.
“spools of suffering set out in ordered rows”
“War Photographer” - reference to a photo of Vietnam War credited with helping end the war.
“running children in nightmare heat”
“War Photographer” - having the photos printed seems to confirm and solidify the suffering they show.
“a hundred agonies in black and white”
“Tissue” - light allows things to be seen rather than hidden which shows paper needs to be protected.
“paper that lets the light shine through”
“Tissue” - the importance of paper is shown as it is used to record family history.
“written in the names and histories”
“Tissue” - paper has to be treated with care and respect as it is delicate and fragile.
“pages smoothed and stroked”
“The Emigree” - the country has been invaded and the speaker is glorifying the situation.
“it may be at war, it may be sick with tyrants”
“The Emigree” - the city is described in bright, colourful terms to emphasise the speakers love for it.
“it tastes of sunlight”
“The Emigree” - the girls new city makes her feel threatened which contrasts with her old city.
“they accuse me of being dark in their free city”
“Checking Out Me History” - reference to British education system and how they choose what to teach.
“dem tell me wha dem want to tell me”
“Checking Out Me History” - made up nursery rhymes are taught by schools instead of real events.
“dem tell bout de dish ran away with de spoon”
“Checking Out Me History” - he is teaching himself and he is not letting others tell him otherwise.
“I carving out me identity”
“Kamikaze” - the beauty of nature made the pilot value life and rethink his actions.
“a green-blue translucent sea”
“Kamikaze” - shame is felt by the pilots family and they treat him as if he is dead.
“we too learned to be silent, to live as though he had never returned”
“Kamikaze” - the pilot regrets not following through on his orders as it would have been more noble.
“which had been the better way to die”
