‘Power and Conflict’ Essay Questions, ordered in pairings
Ozymandias & My Last Duchess
Common themes and ideas: power, arrogance, transience
Both poems explore the arrogance, power and control of one individual over others.
Whereas Ozymandias’ power is shown to have diminished over time, Browning’s Duke, through a menacing warning to his next wife, appears set to continue his powerful grasp.
Possible questions:
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about power in ‘Ozymandias’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present powerful individuals in ‘My Last Duchess’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present the themes of power and identity in ‘My Last Duchess’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about identity in ‘My Last Duchess’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present memory in ‘My Last Duchess’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poet presents ideas about powerful relationships in ‘My Last Duchess’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the way the poet presents ideas about the power of time in ‘Ozymandias’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
Prelude & Storm on the Island
Common themes and ideas: power of nature, pride of man, fear
Both poems show humanity’s fear of nature’s overwhelming power.
Whereas Wordsworth depicts a spiritual realisation about the power of nature that leaves the speaker troubled, Heaney’s lighter tone emphasises that man’s fear of nature can be irrational.
Possible questions:
- Compare the ways poets present the power of the natural world in ‘Storm on the Island’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about power and pride in ‘The Prelude’ and one
- other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about the power of nature in ‘Storm on the Island’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about fear in ‘The Prelude’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
Tissue & London
Common themes and ideas: oppression, institutions, humanity, a cry for change
Both poems explore the impact of religious and political institutions on society, and ask for humanity to be kinder and more open.
Whereas Blake focuses on the city of London and the oppression of its poor inhabitants, Dharker uses the extended metaphor of ‘tissue’ to represent humanity and society as a whole.
Possible questions:
- Compare the ways poets present the power of institutions over ordinary people in ‘London’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present the power of humans in ‘Tissue’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poets present power in society in ‘London’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about power in ‘Tissue’ and one other poem from Power and Conflict.
- Compare the ways poets present the power of history in ‘Tissue’ and in one other poem in ‘Power and Conflict’.
Checking out me history & The Emigree
Common themes and ideas: identity, nostalgia, otherness, oppression
Both poems show the perspective of a person who feels marginalised in their society and their struggle for identity.
Whereas Rumens primarily explores the difficulties faced by immigrants whose ‘old’ and ‘new’ identities struggle for prominence, Agard’s poem explores how Western society deliberately blinds him to his true identity, leaving him no choice but to reclaim it for himself.
Possible questions:
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about identity in ‘The Emigrée’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present political conflict in ‘Checking Out Me History’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about memory in ‘The Emigree’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about anger in ‘Checking Out Me History’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about loss and absence in ‘The émigree’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
Charge of the Light Brigade & Bayonet Charge
Common themes and ideas: honour, patriotism, destruction, sympathy
Both poems explore the hellish effects of war on ordinary soldiers and reveal tensions between the purpose of war and the reality of war.
Whereas Tennyson emphasises the unity between comrades, Hughes emphasises the soldier’s complete isolation.
Possible questions:
- Compare how poets present the effects of war in ‘Bayonet Charge’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about the reality of war in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about the horrors of war in ‘Bayonet Charge’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about patriotism in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ and in one other poem from Power and Conflict.
Poppies & Kamikaze
Common themes and ideas: family, duty, memory, isolation
Both poems demonstrate the long-lasting effects of war on soldiers’ family members.
Whereas Weir writes about a mother’s memories and the loss of her son, Garland writes about a mother’s memories and the loss of her father.
Possible questions:
- Compare how poets present the effects of conflict on people in ‘Poppies’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present the wider effects of conflict in ‘Kamikaze’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present attitudes to identity in ‘Kamikaze’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poets present the effects of conflict on family relationships in ‘Kamikaze’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present attitudes to war in ‘Poppies’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about loss in ‘Poppies’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about guilt in ‘Kamikaze’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
Remains & War Photographer
Common themes and ideas: memory, death, guilt, suffering, apathy
Both poems explore the haunting memories caused as a result of experiencing death and suffering in warzones.
Whereas Duffy writes about the apathy of everyday people outside of warzones, Armitage writes about how soldiers in wars can become desensitised to killing and about the psychological impact this can have.
Possible questions:
- Compare the ways poets present individual experiences of conflict in ‘War Photographer’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present powerful memories in ‘Remains’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets presents the effects of conflict in ‘Remains’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the way poets present the theme of guilt caused by conflict in ‘War Photographer’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the way poets present traumatic memories of conflict ‘War Photographer’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways the poets presents the impact of conflict in War Photographer and one other poem from Power and Conflict.
- Compare the ways poets present experiences of war in ‘War Photographer’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poets present the consequences of conflict in ‘Remains’ and in in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about violence in ‘Remains’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
Exposure & Charge of the Light Brigade
Common themes and ideas: death, futility, sympathy
Both poems show the deadly effects of war on ordinary soldiers.
Whereas Tennyson glorifies the soldiers’ heroic sacrifices, Owen bitterly exposes the futility of war.
Possible questions:
- Compare the ways poets present the effects of conflict in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about the reality of war in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about patriotism in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ and in one other poem from Power and Conflict.
- Compare the ways poets present combatants’ experiences of conflict in ‘Exposure’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.
- Compare the ways poets present the reality of conflict in ‘Exposure’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the ways poets present the consequences of conflict in ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ and in in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
Exposure & Storm on the Island
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about the power of nature in ‘Exposure’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’. (Prepare comparison with Storm on the Island)
London & Ozymandias
- Compare the ways poets present ideas about anger in ‘London’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’
- Compare the way poets present ideas about the power of nature in ‘Ozymandias’ and one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’.