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GCSE Power and Conflict Poems Annotated PDF: Ozymandias, London & More

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GCSE Power and Conflict Poems Annotated PDF: Ozymandias, London & More
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Louise Woolnough

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The Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology PDF explores themes of power, conflict, and human nature through classic poems. This analysis focuses on three key works: "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley, "London" by William Blake, and "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning. These poems offer profound insights into the nature of power, societal issues, and human relationships.

Key points:
• Examines poetic techniques like imagery, structure, and tone
• Analyzes themes of power, decay, oppression, and control
• Provides context for each poem's historical and social background
• Offers detailed breakdowns of language and literary devices
• Compares and contrasts the poets' approaches to similar themes

1/15/2023

293

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

My Last Duchess by Robert Browning

Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" is a chilling dramatic monologue that explores themes of power, jealousy, and control within a Renaissance Italian setting. This Power and Conflict poem is narrated by the Duke of Ferrara as he shows a portrait of his late wife to an emissary.

The poem begins with the Duke drawing attention to the portrait:

"That's my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands."

Highlight: The possessive tone in "my last Duchess" immediately establishes the Duke's sense of ownership over his wife, even after her death.

Browning uses enjambment throughout the poem, creating a conversational flow that mimics natural speech:

"Will't please you sit and look at her? I said 'Frà Pandolf' by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)"

Vocabulary: Enjambment - the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause.

The Duke's character is gradually revealed through his words, showing him to be controlling, jealous, and possibly murderous:

"She had A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad, Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere."

Example: The Duke's displeasure at his wife's friendly nature suggests his extreme possessiveness and inability to tolerate her independence.

Browning's use of caesura (pauses within lines) adds to the Duke's hesitant, calculating tone:

"Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without Much the same smile?"

The poem builds to a chilling climax as the Duke hints at the Duchess's fate:

"I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands As if alive."

Quote: "Then all smiles stopped together" - This ominous line strongly implies that the Duke had his wife killed for her perceived transgressions.

The poem concludes with the Duke smoothly transitioning back to business, demonstrating his cold, calculating nature:

"Will't please you rise? We'll meet The company below, then. I repeat, The Count your master's known munificence Is ample warrant that no just pretense Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;"

This GCSE Power and Conflict Poetry analysis reveals Browning's masterful use of dramatic monologue to explore themes of power, control, and the dangerous consequences of unchecked authority. "My Last Duchess" is a key text in the Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology PDF, offering rich material for comparison with other poems in the collection.

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

View

Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" is a powerful sonnet that explores themes of power, hubris, and the transient nature of human achievements. The poem describes a ruined statue of an ancient king in the desert, serving as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of power and empire.

The poem begins with a framing device, as the narrator recounts a story told by a traveler from an "antique land." This technique creates distance and adds credibility to the tale. The description of the statue builds gradually, mirroring the process of a sculptor creating their work.

Highlight: The poem's structure, with its gradual reveal of the statue's condition, reinforces the theme of decay and the passage of time.

Shelley uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the statue's remains:

"Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command..."

Example: The "sneer of cold command" still visible on the statue's face emphasizes the king's arrogance and the lasting impression of his tyrannical rule.

The poem's volta, or turning point, occurs when the inscription on the pedestal is revealed:

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

This ironic statement contrasts sharply with the desolate scene described, highlighting the futility of Ozymandias' boasts.

Vocabulary: Hubris - excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to downfall.

The final lines emphasize the vastness of the desert and the insignificance of human achievements in the face of time and nature:

"Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, The lone and level sands stretch far away."

Quote: "The lone and level sands stretch far away" - This powerful image underscores the theme of nature's supremacy over human endeavors.

Shelley's use of alliteration, such as "boundless and bare," enhances the poem's musicality and reinforces its themes. The rhyme scheme (ABABACDC EDEFEF) adds structure to the poem, contrasting with the chaotic scene described.

This Power and Conflict poem analysis reveals Shelley's critique of tyranny and the ephemeral nature of power, making it a key text in the GCSE Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology.

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

View

London by William Blake

William Blake's "London" offers a scathing critique of urban life in late 18th-century England. This Power and Conflict poem uses vivid imagery and repetition to paint a bleak picture of a city plagued by oppression, poverty, and moral decay.

The poem is structured in four quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme, mirroring the regimented nature of London society. Blake's use of first-person narration creates an immediate and personal tone:

"I wander through each chartered street, Near where the chartered Thames does flow, And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe."

Vocabulary: Chartered - mapped out, regulated, or controlled.

The repetition of "chartered" emphasizes the restrictive nature of London society, where even natural features like the Thames are subject to human control.

Highlight: Blake's use of anaphora (repetition of words at the beginning of lines) reinforces the sense of oppression and collective experience.

The second stanza introduces the powerful metaphor of "mind-forged manacles," suggesting that the people of London are imprisoned by their own thoughts and societal constraints:

"In every cry of every man, In every infant's cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-forged manacles I hear:"

Definition: Mind-forged manacles - mental restrictions or limitations imposed by society or self.

Blake uses specific examples to illustrate the city's suffering:

"How the chimney-sweeper's cry Every black'ning church appalls, And the hapless soldier's sigh Runs in blood down palace walls."

These images connect the plight of the poor (chimney sweepers) with religious hypocrisy (blackening churches) and the consequences of war (soldier's blood), critiquing various forms of institutional power.

Example: The "black'ning church" could represent both physical pollution and moral corruption within religious institutions.

The final stanza presents a disturbing image of a "youthful harlot" cursing, linking the innocence of a newborn with the corruption of prostitution:

"But most through midnight streets I hear How the youthful harlot's curse Blasts the new-born infant's tear, And blights with plagues the marriage hearse."

Quote: "And blights with plagues the marriage hearse" - This powerful oxymoron combines marriage (typically associated with life and joy) with death, emphasizing the poem's bleak outlook.

This GCSE Power and Conflict Poetry analysis reveals Blake's masterful use of imagery and sound to create a haunting portrait of urban despair, making "London" a crucial text in the Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology PDF.

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

View

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

View

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

View

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

View

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

View

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

View

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

View

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SuSSan, iOS User

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average App Rating

13 M

Students use Knowunity

#1

In Education App Charts in 12 Countries

950 K+

Students uploaded study notes

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

Stefan S, iOS User

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

SuSSan, iOS User

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying

GCSE Power and Conflict Poems Annotated PDF: Ozymandias, London & More

user profile picture

Louise Woolnough

@louisewoolnough_lqfd

·

1 Follower

Follow

The Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology PDF explores themes of power, conflict, and human nature through classic poems. This analysis focuses on three key works: "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley, "London" by William Blake, and "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning. These poems offer profound insights into the nature of power, societal issues, and human relationships.

Key points:
• Examines poetic techniques like imagery, structure, and tone
• Analyzes themes of power, decay, oppression, and control
• Provides context for each poem's historical and social background
• Offers detailed breakdowns of language and literary devices
• Compares and contrasts the poets' approaches to similar themes

1/15/2023

293

 

10

 

English Literature

24

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

My Last Duchess by Robert Browning

Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" is a chilling dramatic monologue that explores themes of power, jealousy, and control within a Renaissance Italian setting. This Power and Conflict poem is narrated by the Duke of Ferrara as he shows a portrait of his late wife to an emissary.

The poem begins with the Duke drawing attention to the portrait:

"That's my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands."

Highlight: The possessive tone in "my last Duchess" immediately establishes the Duke's sense of ownership over his wife, even after her death.

Browning uses enjambment throughout the poem, creating a conversational flow that mimics natural speech:

"Will't please you sit and look at her? I said 'Frà Pandolf' by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)"

Vocabulary: Enjambment - the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause.

The Duke's character is gradually revealed through his words, showing him to be controlling, jealous, and possibly murderous:

"She had A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad, Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere."

Example: The Duke's displeasure at his wife's friendly nature suggests his extreme possessiveness and inability to tolerate her independence.

Browning's use of caesura (pauses within lines) adds to the Duke's hesitant, calculating tone:

"Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without Much the same smile?"

The poem builds to a chilling climax as the Duke hints at the Duchess's fate:

"I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands As if alive."

Quote: "Then all smiles stopped together" - This ominous line strongly implies that the Duke had his wife killed for her perceived transgressions.

The poem concludes with the Duke smoothly transitioning back to business, demonstrating his cold, calculating nature:

"Will't please you rise? We'll meet The company below, then. I repeat, The Count your master's known munificence Is ample warrant that no just pretense Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;"

This GCSE Power and Conflict Poetry analysis reveals Browning's masterful use of dramatic monologue to explore themes of power, control, and the dangerous consequences of unchecked authority. "My Last Duchess" is a key text in the Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology PDF, offering rich material for comparison with other poems in the collection.

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

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Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" is a powerful sonnet that explores themes of power, hubris, and the transient nature of human achievements. The poem describes a ruined statue of an ancient king in the desert, serving as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of power and empire.

The poem begins with a framing device, as the narrator recounts a story told by a traveler from an "antique land." This technique creates distance and adds credibility to the tale. The description of the statue builds gradually, mirroring the process of a sculptor creating their work.

Highlight: The poem's structure, with its gradual reveal of the statue's condition, reinforces the theme of decay and the passage of time.

Shelley uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the statue's remains:

"Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command..."

Example: The "sneer of cold command" still visible on the statue's face emphasizes the king's arrogance and the lasting impression of his tyrannical rule.

The poem's volta, or turning point, occurs when the inscription on the pedestal is revealed:

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

This ironic statement contrasts sharply with the desolate scene described, highlighting the futility of Ozymandias' boasts.

Vocabulary: Hubris - excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to downfall.

The final lines emphasize the vastness of the desert and the insignificance of human achievements in the face of time and nature:

"Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, The lone and level sands stretch far away."

Quote: "The lone and level sands stretch far away" - This powerful image underscores the theme of nature's supremacy over human endeavors.

Shelley's use of alliteration, such as "boundless and bare," enhances the poem's musicality and reinforces its themes. The rhyme scheme (ABABACDC EDEFEF) adds structure to the poem, contrasting with the chaotic scene described.

This Power and Conflict poem analysis reveals Shelley's critique of tyranny and the ephemeral nature of power, making it a key text in the GCSE Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology.

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

London by William Blake

William Blake's "London" offers a scathing critique of urban life in late 18th-century England. This Power and Conflict poem uses vivid imagery and repetition to paint a bleak picture of a city plagued by oppression, poverty, and moral decay.

The poem is structured in four quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme, mirroring the regimented nature of London society. Blake's use of first-person narration creates an immediate and personal tone:

"I wander through each chartered street, Near where the chartered Thames does flow, And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe."

Vocabulary: Chartered - mapped out, regulated, or controlled.

The repetition of "chartered" emphasizes the restrictive nature of London society, where even natural features like the Thames are subject to human control.

Highlight: Blake's use of anaphora (repetition of words at the beginning of lines) reinforces the sense of oppression and collective experience.

The second stanza introduces the powerful metaphor of "mind-forged manacles," suggesting that the people of London are imprisoned by their own thoughts and societal constraints:

"In every cry of every man, In every infant's cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-forged manacles I hear:"

Definition: Mind-forged manacles - mental restrictions or limitations imposed by society or self.

Blake uses specific examples to illustrate the city's suffering:

"How the chimney-sweeper's cry Every black'ning church appalls, And the hapless soldier's sigh Runs in blood down palace walls."

These images connect the plight of the poor (chimney sweepers) with religious hypocrisy (blackening churches) and the consequences of war (soldier's blood), critiquing various forms of institutional power.

Example: The "black'ning church" could represent both physical pollution and moral corruption within religious institutions.

The final stanza presents a disturbing image of a "youthful harlot" cursing, linking the innocence of a newborn with the corruption of prostitution:

"But most through midnight streets I hear How the youthful harlot's curse Blasts the new-born infant's tear, And blights with plagues the marriage hearse."

Quote: "And blights with plagues the marriage hearse" - This powerful oxymoron combines marriage (typically associated with life and joy) with death, emphasizing the poem's bleak outlook.

This GCSE Power and Conflict Poetry analysis reveals Blake's masterful use of imagery and sound to create a haunting portrait of urban despair, making "London" a crucial text in the Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology PDF.

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

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volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

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Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

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Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

volta
furning
-Builds
up
the description of the statue
much like a sculpture Builds up
their work
Percy
Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)
Ozymandia

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average App Rating

13 M

Students use Knowunity

#1

In Education App Charts in 12 Countries

950 K+

Students uploaded study notes

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

Stefan S, iOS User

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

SuSSan, iOS User

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying