POWER & CONFLICT POETRY │ GCSE ENG LIT
Power & Conflict Poetry Anthology
Booklet
Poem Themes 1-2
In-Depth Poem Analysis 2 - 20
Ozymandias
Kamikaze
War Photographer
Poppies
The Emigrēe
Brief Poem Analysis 20 - 60
Bayonet Charge
Charge of the Light Brigade
Remains
London
Extract From, The Prelude
My Last Duchess
Exposure
Storm on the Island
Checking Out Me History
Tissue
Past Paper Questions 60 - 75
1
, POWER & CONFLICT POETRY │ GCSE ENG LIT
In-Depth Poem Analysis
Ozymandias (Perce Bysshe Shelley)
The Poem concerns the discovery of a semi-destroyed and decaying statue of Ramesses II,
also known as Ozymandias, and shows how power deteriorates and will not last forever
Synopsis (Summary)
Report from a stranger of a statue in a desert
Statue is falling apart and decaying
The sculptor has made it in a way that portrays the cruelty of the king
o His pedestal claims he was ‘king of kings’, showing his arrogance
o These claims bring irony as his statue is surrounded by endless featureless desert
Context
Percy Shelley was a radical, romantic poet; he was strongly anti-monarchy, a pacifist an
atheist, anti-religion, and supported social justice
o He wanted to end the oppression of ordinary people, inspired by the French
Revolution – he got expelled from Oxford University for publishing an atheist
pamphlet and delivering it to religious figures
o At 19, he got married after running off from his first wife who killed herself
o He came from a wealthy family, and was set to have a comfortable life with
inheritance and a government role from his grandfather
Shelley focussed on the subjective and the emotional, contrasting with enlightenment
values
2
, POWER & CONFLICT POETRY │ GCSE ENG LIT
o During the enlightenment, writers would centre their work on the beauty of nature
and simplicity of the past, with an appreciation of the sublime, the overwhelming
power and awe of the natural world.
o Writers would protest the present / future of mankind by returning to the past, and
within their writing repurpose old literary conventions
o There was a rejection of institutions of power, and poetry was used to spread
messages and political ideas which needed to be accessible to all
Shelly’s first reference is Ramesses II, who was an Egyptian pharaoh from 1279-1239 BC,
and believed to be the pharaoh involved in Moses’ exodus
o He was later defeated by 12 tribes of Israel, and used the throne name ‘Ozymandias’
o He is the subject of the poem – his statue had just been discovered at Shelley’s time
of writing, which made it a very topical piece of content to reference in the poem
o Shelley and Horace Smith had been challenged to write a poem about it
o Ramesses is remembered for his tyrant and miliary exploits – he had a large empire
over Egypt and Vassals, as well as being remembered for his defeat
o King George III arguably has an impact over Shelley’s poem, as his poem was
written during his reign; he had reigned longer than any king before, but he had
outstayed his welcome
He had engaged in many military conflicts and was remembered for
oppression and tyranny
o Shelley was a pacifist and positioned himself against Georges’ military exploits –
some consider George III the inspiration for Ozymandias
Shelley explores the idea of conflict within the poem
o It is thought that Shelley, a radical romantic poet who often criticised society in his
works, was making implicit links between Ramesses’ powerful but violent reign with
that of George III
o The poem engages in the issues of being a tyrant, and explores them through the
discussion of a huge statue in the desert
All of the pharaoh’s works haven’t lasted, and the statue is almost destroyed
This decay reflects how exploits which are impression but not morally good,
will be criticised and forgotten about after they end.
o The poem explores the conflict between man, time and memory – Ozymandias was
largely forgotten, even though he thought his memory would last forever
o The poem also touches on the power of art and words, as many people may not
have remembered Ozymandias, but part of the statue remained, as well as the
words placed on the inscription
Overall, the message of the poem could be considered to be a reminder that power will not
last forever
The Title – ‘Ozymandias’
Greek name for Ramesses II of Egypt – Shelley studied ancient Greek, not Egyptian
Polysyllabic title, suggests the poem will tackle complex issues
Sounds exotic to contemporary audiences, encouraging them to read and engage
Simple, one word title to narrow the focus of the poem onto a single person/entity
3
, POWER & CONFLICT POETRY │ GCSE ENG LIT
4
Power & Conflict Poetry Anthology
Booklet
Poem Themes 1-2
In-Depth Poem Analysis 2 - 20
Ozymandias
Kamikaze
War Photographer
Poppies
The Emigrēe
Brief Poem Analysis 20 - 60
Bayonet Charge
Charge of the Light Brigade
Remains
London
Extract From, The Prelude
My Last Duchess
Exposure
Storm on the Island
Checking Out Me History
Tissue
Past Paper Questions 60 - 75
1
, POWER & CONFLICT POETRY │ GCSE ENG LIT
In-Depth Poem Analysis
Ozymandias (Perce Bysshe Shelley)
The Poem concerns the discovery of a semi-destroyed and decaying statue of Ramesses II,
also known as Ozymandias, and shows how power deteriorates and will not last forever
Synopsis (Summary)
Report from a stranger of a statue in a desert
Statue is falling apart and decaying
The sculptor has made it in a way that portrays the cruelty of the king
o His pedestal claims he was ‘king of kings’, showing his arrogance
o These claims bring irony as his statue is surrounded by endless featureless desert
Context
Percy Shelley was a radical, romantic poet; he was strongly anti-monarchy, a pacifist an
atheist, anti-religion, and supported social justice
o He wanted to end the oppression of ordinary people, inspired by the French
Revolution – he got expelled from Oxford University for publishing an atheist
pamphlet and delivering it to religious figures
o At 19, he got married after running off from his first wife who killed herself
o He came from a wealthy family, and was set to have a comfortable life with
inheritance and a government role from his grandfather
Shelley focussed on the subjective and the emotional, contrasting with enlightenment
values
2
, POWER & CONFLICT POETRY │ GCSE ENG LIT
o During the enlightenment, writers would centre their work on the beauty of nature
and simplicity of the past, with an appreciation of the sublime, the overwhelming
power and awe of the natural world.
o Writers would protest the present / future of mankind by returning to the past, and
within their writing repurpose old literary conventions
o There was a rejection of institutions of power, and poetry was used to spread
messages and political ideas which needed to be accessible to all
Shelly’s first reference is Ramesses II, who was an Egyptian pharaoh from 1279-1239 BC,
and believed to be the pharaoh involved in Moses’ exodus
o He was later defeated by 12 tribes of Israel, and used the throne name ‘Ozymandias’
o He is the subject of the poem – his statue had just been discovered at Shelley’s time
of writing, which made it a very topical piece of content to reference in the poem
o Shelley and Horace Smith had been challenged to write a poem about it
o Ramesses is remembered for his tyrant and miliary exploits – he had a large empire
over Egypt and Vassals, as well as being remembered for his defeat
o King George III arguably has an impact over Shelley’s poem, as his poem was
written during his reign; he had reigned longer than any king before, but he had
outstayed his welcome
He had engaged in many military conflicts and was remembered for
oppression and tyranny
o Shelley was a pacifist and positioned himself against Georges’ military exploits –
some consider George III the inspiration for Ozymandias
Shelley explores the idea of conflict within the poem
o It is thought that Shelley, a radical romantic poet who often criticised society in his
works, was making implicit links between Ramesses’ powerful but violent reign with
that of George III
o The poem engages in the issues of being a tyrant, and explores them through the
discussion of a huge statue in the desert
All of the pharaoh’s works haven’t lasted, and the statue is almost destroyed
This decay reflects how exploits which are impression but not morally good,
will be criticised and forgotten about after they end.
o The poem explores the conflict between man, time and memory – Ozymandias was
largely forgotten, even though he thought his memory would last forever
o The poem also touches on the power of art and words, as many people may not
have remembered Ozymandias, but part of the statue remained, as well as the
words placed on the inscription
Overall, the message of the poem could be considered to be a reminder that power will not
last forever
The Title – ‘Ozymandias’
Greek name for Ramesses II of Egypt – Shelley studied ancient Greek, not Egyptian
Polysyllabic title, suggests the poem will tackle complex issues
Sounds exotic to contemporary audiences, encouraging them to read and engage
Simple, one word title to narrow the focus of the poem onto a single person/entity
3
, POWER & CONFLICT POETRY │ GCSE ENG LIT
4
