Power And Conflict Flashcards
(15 cards)
London
Themes
Power of Nature
-uncontrollable, Transcendent powers
Power of control
-Mind Control
Power
-forced/manipulated into decisions
Power of humans
-cities appearance and life
Structure
ABAB Rhyme Scheme
-shows difference in class divided from rich to the power and how they live nexto but different to them.
-footsteps shows a perspective of walking around
-could show suffering is relentless and beats down people
Quotes
“The mind-forged manacles”
Mind has been cuffed and trapped, shows that the mind has forged a trap to remain them in their cycle, Idea of higher power having power over the mind. Keeps the poor in a cycle of poverty (poverty cycle). Wide effect from suffering (positive + negative)
“Plagues the marriage hearse”
Innocence Vs saudinance, juxtaposition in new beginnings and death. Ideas that marriage is just the beginning of death or that the hearse is a result of marriage showing that marriage and commitment will result in death.
Plagues shows a negative perception of marriage and that it spreads and attacks. May not be talking about the full off marriage just marriage from unforeseen circumstances is always a plague
Ozymandias
Percy Shelley
Themes:
Power of humans
-their deluded belief in ever lasting power
Power of nature
-nature is a transcendent power
Structure
Sonnet
-14 lines associated with love, shows Ozymandias love for himself.
Alternatively shows nature’s love to control and manipulate the human world.
Irregular rhyme scheme
-symbolizes lack of control and the irregularity of power and its inability to last
Narcissism tendency but is unable to control because of nature’s powers
Quotes
**“Half sunk. a shattered visage lies” **
“Half sunk” shows while his empire has gone his memory lives half there to humiliate him, alternatively could show that the story of his empire has become half sunken to the power of nature.
Sneer of cold command
-Irony, juxtaposes the weather conditions of the desert shows nature’s ability to re-define human limits.
-Harsh Alliteration, shows the harsh aspects of Ozymandias control over his people.
-Designed by a sculpture shows others perceptions on him and his control, Ironic as an average “less than” person has had a more lasting and recognizable impact than him
King of kings
-religious reference as Jesus is referred to as “king of all kings” .double meaning, either shows Ozymandias true belief he is the most powerful being which is now humorous as his empire is now nothing shows natures power to destroy the best
Other meaning could be to show Shelley’s mocking of religion, notorious for dislike to religion so to have such a humorous/disappointing character could be symbolic of how Shelley believes religion is pathetic. The power of nature beats religion
“Mighty and despair! Nothing besides remains”
-Remains, Destructive imagery. Excessive obstructive and destructive meanings
- Juxtaposed between the idea that only the mighty should set eyes on his work and he is now being counted by saying his work has nothing left.
- Mighty and despair shows that he values his work and believes its a symbol to be looked at into power and influence
Context
-Shelley was removed from Oxford due to his atheist beliefs and anti-religious views
Charge of the light brigade
key themes
- Power of humans
Structure
- dactylic diameter
Speaking in a poem flow with the foot remaining the same
Context
About the battle of Balaklava during the Crimean war. A misheard or misunderstood order led to 600 men charging into a valley with cannons positioned all around.
Key quotes
**“Theirs not to make reply,
They’re not the reason why
theirs but to do and die”*
- caesura shows the soldiers never had a moment to doubt the decision to charge into the valley
- repetition shows the repeated onslaught they are about to face, Foreshadowing their demise.
- “Theirs” shows even during heroic acts they still aren’t deserving to be named and honoured
- “reason why” shows that it’s not their duty to question why they are going to die and they should follow the order no matter what
- patriotism
“Into the valley of death
Rode the six hundred”
- Repeated several times to make a lasting point they were Charging at death himself
- metaphorically to show the extreme fatalities they will suffer
-psalm 23 shows religious contentions showing that to survive is by nothing but a religious miracle
“Honour the light brigade, noble six hundred!”
- direct command to the reader, Wants them to know their name.
- Wishes that they know the mistakes and the story of the 600
Kamikaze
Key Themes
- Power of war
- Power of Nature
- Power of Influence
- Power of Identity
- Power of memory
Structure
- 7 stanzas could link to the 6 years of war Japan faced and the 7th to show that the conflict has not left the father and the memory he leaves still remains.
- Wrote from a third perspective while referencing first hand events.
- Male pilot is never named which could be to show that due to his actions he isn’t deserving of the honors of his name and the idea that he should only be named if he completes his mission of the ultimate sacrifice
Quotes
“A shaven Head full of powerful Incantations”
- Shows how they have been brainwashed into believing in the war effort and the suggestions of what the war will include.
- Links to Patriotisms and the idea that they are to be patriotic to their nation.
- “Powerful Incantations” Shows that now that we have passed the point of the war people know that they were being brain washed however most still not choose to accept the father.
- Incantations is the idea of him being under a spell and being tricked into it.
“one-way journey into history”
- Plays with the concept of time as for him to being into history is to go into the past showing that he will have no future which juxtaposes the Japanese idea that you will be remembered as a hero for your service in WW2 as a kamikaze pilot
- Well aware that he will not be living the history that he will be apart of shows his duty of patriotism
- Poet could be mocking the idea of a Kamikaze pilot as its believed that they only incurred more casualties than they brought of Americans.
- Beliefs going through of his mind of the pros and cons and the confusion if he should continue into this guaranteed death.
“little fishing boats strung out like bunting”
- His departure is being treated as a good thing and a celebratory event.
- The incantations have now made him believe that him sacrificing himself is a good thing and is a positive, wider brainwash has happened for all in society
“He must have wondered which had been the better way to die”
- Powerful departure as it leaves us (Audience) with a question to think about and to understand, No opinion shared by the speaker or the poet.
- No question mark on the end as if we are being passed through thought, could suggest that in fact their is no question to be had in the readers mind and is either embarrassed or proud of the fathers choice.
- Figuratively suggests he has already died to everyone and is now just waiting his second death.
- First account for the mans actions and thoughts showing he is finally given time and belief which could link to how the Kamikaze pilots actions have began to become accepted overtime.
Poppies
Key Themes
- Power of Memory
- Power of War
- Power of Nature
Structure
- Enjambment and Caesura suggesting that the poet is between two minds with the memory and hope of the wars end.
- Written by an individual about their experience of missing a loved one due to war, Never explicitly told if they die or not.
Key Quotes
“Three days before armististaces Sunday”
- Sets the scene of remembrance
- Aware a significant event will take place as their is a direct memory of this date and the idea that will follow suit shortly,
- Shows a Post WW1 genre
“Sellotape bandaged around my hand”
- Suggests a motherly sacrifice with war imagery, wants to express that she is also hurting because of war.
- Around “my hand” could suggests that she is suffering to write the poem because of the pain and suffering she is facing.
- “Sellotape Bandaged” Shows a homely affect to the violence of war showing that while the war and conflict is happening away from home the conflicts suffering still spills over into the home. Shows the longer affects of war.
” I listened Hoping to hear your playground voice catching on the wind”
- Shows the power of nature has to bring back old memories as well as the power of memory to a happier less violent time.
- End with a sad metaphor to show that her life of sadness must go on and the memory of her son can only live on not his life.
- Pronouns come across as harsh, suggesting motherly love as she seems understanding with war until her boy is lost then she despises. (Affection)
- Separation anxiety of leaving her boy.
“Without a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf and gloves”
- War imagery showing the lasting part war has had on her as a whole.
- Shows she is alone in this now as he was her everything and that even her usual “reinforcements” have left her.
-Brings a sense of the impact that conflict has had at home with them referencing everyday items as support or parts of a war.
Tissues
Theme
- Power of Human Power
- Power of value
- Power of nature
Structure
- Extended Metaphor for the values of different people in society and the reiteration that we are all just human and all valued fairly.
-Mentions Materialism
Key quotes
“Tissues”
- Extended metaphor into society and that we are all just people when our titles and status is removed.
- Title suggests the true value of tissues is much greater than we imagined and that the value has been deflated as we expect that to be there at all times
- Title is referenced over the Quran the holy book of Islam to show the importance of the most expected in society and that while some hold power we are all just tissues when we get to the roots.
War Photgrapher
Themes
- Power of War
- Power of Memory
- Power of Humans
Structure
- Enjambment : Shows the development of the photos is quick and he must let it develop at that pace links to the impartiality of journalisms as well as the pace of the poem.
- Change in setting could show the inner conflict of his career as well as the external difference in the life of some.
Key Quotes
“half formed ghost”
- Shows several meaning : One suggests that this “ghost” is only half formed due to the photos , suggests that the memory of this person is only half formed in the photographers head and finally suggests that the camera has had the power to picture someone as they are dieing e.g. transforming into a ghost
- “ghost” could link to the idea of the ghosts of war which is related to the unknown factors and influences in war e.g the civilian casualties are ghosts to the militias and army’s
“Sundays Supplement”
- Location of the less important news showing the suffering is less important than other news.
- Pronunciation makes the writer spit it out almost in a fit of spite or anger that the suffering has been pushed to the side.
- “Supplement” Could suggest how we as the audience and himself have become desensitized to suffering and require a “supplement” of it to stay functional and human.
Extract From the Prelude
Structure
- Blank verse, No breaks makes the audience overwhelmed and symbolizes how young Wordsworth was overwhelmed by his experiences with nature
- Enjambment, Reflects Wordsworth’s desire to communicate and tell the story, Shows his eagerness to share the special occasion for him
- Iambic Pentameter, Lines of ten syllables with alternating stress and unstressed syllables
- Voltas changing from excitement to fear
Themes
- Views of Man
- Power of Nature
- Dominance and Pride
Key Quotes
“It was an act of stealth and troubled Pleasure”
- Connotes sneakiness and slyness - it is morally wrong
- Shows he is selfish, No thought for his actions
- Shows he knowns its wrong but the reward is too great for him to ignore
- Power of nature to make him commit sin because of its powers off attraction
- “Stealth” could suggest it was coordinated showing his desire for nature has been growing for a long time
- “Troubled Pleasure” suggests his arrogance, he feels entitled to enjoy it but worried that he will be caught
“The grim shape towered up between me and the stars”
- Personification of the mountain implies that nature is dangerous and uncontrollable
- Poets confidence has disappeared and he is no longer in power
- Portrays mans inability to escape the influence and grasp of natures powers
- “Stars” Suggest the ability to push for new limits that the Humans are not able to reach to affirm power
- “Between me” suggests that the mountain was an obstacle between him and the stars which are normally related to heaven showing the Natures power to control and obstruct Humans from their destiny
“Like living men, Moving slowly through the mind By day, and were trouble to my dreams”
- Suggests the lasting effects that the power of nature has had on him
- Shows how he will not be the same person following his encounter with the darks ide of nature and the intimidating side of nature
- Simile, suggest that his feeling was that like of a dream and the feeling that he cannot shake such a feeling and emotion which will stick within him
- Shows the power of nature is able to latch and control the person for an unknown period of time if it wishes to,
- “Trouble to my dreams” could suggest his meeting with nature has changed his life and the plans he has made for his future which have now become so small due to the overwhelming experience
Overview
The unnamed character in the poem speaks through his experience with nature from a dissolution perspective explaining the excitement he felt but the feeling that his actions were wrong and his initial excitement outweighed any doubt he had, Later his wish to escape from the intimidating and massive powers of Nature are clear and then finally the lasting effect that nature has had on him
Poets Context
- Wordsworth is a romantic poet which goes against this poem as he is seen to have become dissolution to the idea of Nature, Love is only ever really seen at the beginning and the idea that the character is in love with an untrue/ glorified perspective on nature and the realities of nature are much more grim.
My Last Duchess
Structure
- Repetition of “I” suggests his self interest comes before anyone else
- Dramatic Monologue suggests he is recounting for his problems and making sure that he is not suspected of wrong doing at any point
- Conversational Tone, Suggesting that he has become decensorcised to the issue
Context
- Wrote about an Italian duke whose wife died 3 years after marriage believed he might have had something to do with it
Key Quotes
“My last duchess painted on the wall”
- His past wife will have a stain on his future and will always remain a key part of his power and powers to control her
- Follows the Last Patriarchy as the female is never named and is referred to as his property throughout the play
- Suggests that either his actions to her or vice versa are going to leave a permeant scare/ memory on him
Exposure
Overview
- Poem written to show the true reality of life in the trenches and the boredom that is taken over, shows that the glorified idea of war was a lot of the time spent freezing and struggling to survive against nature and the life that they are in already.
Structure
- Regular Rhyme scheme suggests the normality of life and how its become monotonous to him
- Caesura suggest that rarely there is a pause to this way of life for fighting
- Repetition shows how the same actions are repeated and the continuation of war
- Sibilance is used to indicate the dangers of living in such a way
- Alliteration suggests the likeness to the usually schedule and the continuation of war
Themes
- Power of Nature
- Power of War
- Power of Man
- Power of Time
- Power of religion
Key Quotes
“Mercilies iced east winds that knives us…”
- During the opening suggests that the poet wants us to experience the action alongside the young soldiers who are there
- Personification of the weather could be used so that we as the reader understand that the soldiers are fighting against nature and everything it holds
- 1917 coldest winter on record
- Metaphorical could suggest how the line between who is their enemy has become so clouded due to war
- Suggests to the reader that we are not familiar with the powers that nature holds, only during the worst times will it have a true detrimental effect
- “us” Shows how its collective, including the enemy suggesting that the poet believes nature is targeting anyone and not just one side of the conflict
- “east” shows the writers attempt to build us into the plot, this wont have any relevance however will gives us details we would only know if we where there
“Silence, Sentries whisper, curious, nervous, But nothing happens.”
- Repeated ending to the stanza suggests the repetitiveness of war
- Builds suspense that is instantly evaporated, suggests that the poet doesn’t want to glorify the reality of war and prefers a real unbiased insight into the true life of war.
- Shows how war has changed the soldiers who would have likely valued silence into hating it and making them nervous
- “Sentries whisper” brings us back to the reality of war, lets us know we are not alone in the conflict and are just apart of a larger conflict
“Sudden Successive flight of bullets streak the silence, less deadly than the air”
- Repetition of “S” could show the consistency of which they fly
- The personification of the bullets to break the silence suggests that the poet wants us to understand the power behind each bullet and understand that each bullet was an individual decision by someone.
- Power of nature is stronger than the most deadly of mans weapons’
- Decensorcised to war
Storm on the Island
The Emegree
Checking out me History
Bayonet charge
Remains
Overview
- A series of interviews conducted on people with PTSD or a memory of war, This was one of the interviews as a result of the series. Showcases a man who is feeling the guilt of his actions in a combat zone and how it still effects him when he gets back from tour. Shows shared responsibility but how he must accept his consequences for what he has done
Structure
- Dramatic Monologue, suggests the freedom that the soldier has to run his mind and his true beliefs
- Enjambment, to increase the pace of the poem to show how quick a situation can develop and how you must live with it
- No punctuation, Suggests that he is just recounting how quick that its all developed suggests that the memory of war has clouded his vision of life
Key Themes
- Power of memory
- Power of war
- Power of Tough experiences
- Power of responsibility
Key quotes
“Myself and somebody else and somebody else”
- Other people are unnamed, could be intentional to show how while its crucial that someone else shares the experience and guilt with him it doesn’t matter who they are
- Shared responsibility for the actions they commit
- Lacks flowing English grammar, suggests a friendly undertone to the whole poem and how it was a very friendly interview
- Tries to downplay his impact and involvement in the actions as a part of the group
“I see”
- Repeated twice
- Explains his prior events in current tense suggests that he still has the memory of his actions and how it still “remains” apart of his life
- Suggests that it has played a crucial part in his character as a whole
- Anaphora
“His blood shadow stains the street”
- Suggests the lasting effect
- Finally addresses him as a person instead of a looter
- Unknown if literal or just in his mind it stays there
- “Blood shadow” suggest the true extent of war
“Sleep, and hes probably armed possibly not”
- Repeated from first stanza, shows how he is reliving the events even after the conflict he is still there
- Personal experience
- From his subconscious perspective
- Suggests that he has become apart of him and his life
- gives us a real account for what he sees and feels every time he tries to sleep it away
“dug in behind enemy lines”
- Shows even in his dreams he is still thinking about combat and how strategies are
- Operates at a level of secrecies which could suggest how the speaker wishes to keep his troubles silent but is struggling
- Also suggests that the memory is waiting to attack when he least expects it
- “dug in” suggest its gonna be there a while and wont be a temporary relief to his actions and will be there for a while
“His bloody life, in my bloody hands”
- Takes responsibility
- Unknown if he is swearing “bloody” or is actually on about the blood that is on his hands which is associated with guilt
- Comes across as he is finally understanding the results of his actions and the price he must pay because of his actions
