Power and Conflict poetry

• Who is the author of the poem "Exposure"?

  Wilfred Owen
• In what year was "Exposure" published?

  1917
• What does the phrase "Dawn massing in the east her melancholy army" suggest in the poem "Exposure"?

  It personifies the weather as an army attacking the soldiers.
• How are the freezing conditions depicted in "Exposure"?

  They are portrayed as dangerous as the enemy soldiers.
• What does the repetition of "But nothing happens" signify in "Exposure"?

  It heightens the tension and shows the soldiers waiting for death.
• How does "Exposure" connect to "Storm on the Island" by Seamus Heaney?

  Both poems present nature as a relentless force.
• What simile is used in "Storm on the Island" to describe the storm?

  The storm is compared to a "tame cat turned savage."
• What does enjambment in "Storm on the Island" reflect?

  It reflects the endless hitting of the sea spray against the windows.
• What does the title "Storm on the Island" suggest about the poem's themes?

  It serves as an extended metaphor for political disturbances in Ireland.
• Who wrote the poem "London"?

  William Blake
• In what year was "London" published?

  1794
• How does Blake describe 18th-century London in his poem?

  He presents a nightmarish vision filled with poverty and misery.
• What criticism does Blake make in "London"?

  He criticizes powerful institutions for doing nothing to help the poor.
• What does the phrase "mind forg'd manacles" imply in "London"?

  It conveys the psychological effects of long-term oppression.
• How does Blake's use of the adjective "charter'd" in "London" contribute to the poem's meaning?

  It suggests control and ownership over the streets and river.
• How does the ABAB rhyming structure in "London" reflect the poem's themes?

  It strengthens the sense of control and enclosure experienced by the poor.
• How does "My Last Duchess" connect to "London" in terms of power dynamics?

  Both poems explore themes of power and control, though in different contexts.
• What is the main subject of the poem "Ozymandias"?

  The broken statue of the tyrant Ozymandias in the desert.
• What does the poem "Ozymandias" critique?

  It critiques the tyranny of absolute power and human arrogance.
• Who was the poet that wrote "Ozymandias"?

  Percy Shelley
• What does the phrase "Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" reveal about Ozymandias's character?

  It highlights his arrogance and belief in his absolute power.
• What does the metaphorical use of "sands" in "Ozymandias" represent?

  It represents the transience of human achievement and the passage of time.
• How does "The Prelude" connect to "Ozymandias" in terms of nature's power?

  Both poems show nature triumphing over human power.
• What internal conflict is explored in "Checking Out Me History"?

  It relates to identity and the narrator's struggle with self-perception.
• What is the significance of the title "Checking Out Me History"?

  It suggests a reflection on personal and cultural identity.
• What does the emptiness of the desert in "Ozymandias" emphasize?

  It emphasizes the featurelessness of the desert and the vanishing of Ozymandias' achievements.
• How does nature triumph over human power in "Ozymandias"?

  The sands reclaim the statue and obliterate the Pharaoh's works.
• What realization does Wordsworth come to in "The Prelude"?

  He realizes his own insignificance in the face of the huge mountain.
• What does nature teach humans in both "Ozymandias" and "The Prelude"?

  Nature teaches humans their place in the world, showing that they are insignificant compared to its majesty.
• What internal conflict does the narrator face in "Checking Out Me History"?

  The narrator struggles with their identity due to a lack of knowledge about their Afro-Caribbean roots.
• Who is John Agard and what is he known for?

  John Agard is a poet known for promoting Afro-Guyanese culture.
• When did Guyana achieve independence?

  Guyana achieved independence in 1966.
• What historical event does '1066' refer to?

  It refers to the Norman Conquest.
• Who was Toussaint L'Ouverture?

  He was a former slave who rebelled against Haiti's French rulers.
• What is the significance of 'Nanny de maroon' in history?

  She was a leader of escaped slaves in Jamaica who fought against British slave owners.
• What does the metaphor "Bandage up me eye with me own history" represent?

  It represents the speaker being denied the opportunity to learn about their own history.
• How does irony function in the metaphor about the bandage?

  Irony is used because bandages usually help healing, but here they cause blindness.
• What does enjambment link in the phrase 'history' and 'identity'?

  It links the speaker's identity to their heritage and history.
• What imagery is used to describe Afro-Caribbean historical figures in "Checking Out Me History"?

  Light imagery is used, suggesting guidance for the speaker in building their identity.
• What does the phrase "Shutters and doors, all closed" signify in "Exposure"?

  It signifies the soldiers' feelings of not belonging and losing faith in their nation.