Anthology Flashcards
Ozymandias // Power of Nature or Humans
“the lone and level sands stretch far away.” - Zooms out to contrast with the ruined statue’s size - reveals the true level of ruin Ozymandias’ rule has come to - almost mocking - Nature always rules supreme.
“Half sunk a shattered visage lies” - Sunk shows he was born by the earth - mother - has authority over him. Additionally, shows Earth literally taking back power.
Ending doesn’t rhyme like the rest of the poem does - nothing ever ends as expected - metaphor for Ozymandias’ reign and its collapse to nature.
London // Power of Humans
“mind-forged manacles” - Humans are so weak they can’t even control themselves - possibly London is more powerful than them?
“blackening church appalls” - Cannot control themselves even when commanded by higher being - corruption?
Regular structure suggests continuous cycle - humans powerless to break free of cycle they are in.
Exposure // Power of Nature
“mad gusts tugging on the wire” - Personification suggests that nature is in control of the battle - more powerful than humans - nature is the true enemy.
“Pale flakes like fingering stealth come feeling for our faces” - Personification, almost suggests preying on a small helpless child - horror creature?
Repetition of “But nothing happens.” suggests that natures power is passive, and that no real effort is being made.
War Photographer // Effects of Conflict
“All flesh is grass” - So many people have died that the grass is literally made of flesh. Mental effect - can’t look at a normal scene without seeing the horrors of war.
“A stranger’s features faintly start to twist before his eyes” - Has begun to have hallucinations about war and what he has seen - “stranger’s features” suggests detail - he will never forget the horrific nature of what he has seen.
“half-formed ghost” - Dead, but not remembered - he will be the only one to think about him - mutilated by explosion - horrific death?
Exposure // Effects of Conflict
Repetition of “But nothing happens.” - Suggests extreme boredom - war feels like it never ends - feeling of being trapped/in a cycle - compares with pain for hellish cycle.
“All their eyes are ice” - Physical effect that they are freezing cold - they are almost turning to solid, ice. Mental effect of them having to pick up and carry dead friends + soldiers - not crying, but clearly distressed.
“For love of God seems dying” - They have stopped believing in God’s love, as if God were loving, he would never put anyone into this situation.
War Photographer // Reality of Conflict
“don’t explode beneath the feet of running children in a nightmare heat” - Contrast used to show the true brutal reality of conflict. Simple weather issues in UK contrasts to the horrific death of thousands in a war.
“The reader’s eyeballs prick with tears” - The reality that many people in first world countries do not care about the pain and suffering that exists in war-torn countries - they care more about their pre-lunch beers and fancy baths.
