London by William Blake

This page delves into Blake's poem "London," another key Power and Conflict poem that critiques the societal issues in 18th-century London. The poem paints a bleak picture of a city corrupted by greed and inequality.

Vocabulary: "Chartered" - refers to the government giving wealthy individuals exclusive rights, setting up the theme of power from the start.

The poem's structure and literary devices are analyzed in detail:

• Cyclical structure suggesting never-ending suffering
• Use of anaphora with the phrase "in every" to emphasize the extent of suffering
• Consistent iambic tetrameter reflecting order and control, but also relentless oppression

Highlight: The poem breaks from iambic tetrameter in places, possibly reflecting how people can't free themselves from societal restraints.

Blake's criticism extends to various aspects of society:

• The church's failure to provide moral guidance
• The impact of the industrial revolution on the city's environment
• The loss of innocence, particularly in children

Quote: "And mark in every face I meet / Marks of weakness, marks of woe" - This line emphasizes the universal nature of suffering in the city.

The page concludes with a comparison to another Power and Conflict poem, "Tissue," noting similarities in their portrayal of human power as a source of oppression, but differences in their proposed solutions.

Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

This page provides a detailed analysis of Shelley's sonnet "Ozymandias," a Power and Conflict poem that explores themes of power and its impermanence. The poem describes a ruined statue of a once-powerful king, now forgotten in the desert.

Vocabulary: Ozymandias - Greek word meaning "mandate to rule," suggesting power from the title itself.

The poem's structure and language are carefully examined:

• The use of a traveler's account to distance the narrator from direct criticism
• Negative language throughout the poem to attack the concept of power
• Alliterative repetition of the 'c' sound to reflect the harsh nature of Ozymandias's rule

Highlight: The irony of Ozymandias's boastful inscription contrasted with the ruined state of his statue emphasizes the poem's message about the transience of power.

The analysis also touches on Shelley's background as a Romantic poet and pacifist, and his anti-monarchy stance in the 19th century.

Example: The phrase "King of Kings" is noted as a biblical reference, suggesting Ozymandias's godlike self-perception.

The sonnet form is discussed as a metaphor for power structures, with Shelley using it to suggest that even poetic forms, like power, are subject to change.

Quote: "Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" - This line encapsulates the irony of Ozymandias's lasting legacy.