power of humans

• humans often use their power to benefit themselves, rather than other people, and the misuse of power can lead to people being hurt

  or killed
• human power is ultimately insignificant compared to nature, which is vast and timeless
• my last duchess 


  The Duke is obsessed with power. He even controls who sees the portrait of his last Duchess.

  there are hints the Duke had his wife killed. I gave command, has a sinister tone. It’s lack of explanation, suggest he does not feel he has to count for his actions.

  The poems form also reflects his absolute power. Although there is a visitor present , we only hear the Dukes voice, and the use of rhyming couplets reflects his rigid control
• checking out me history 


  The speaker in the poem is angry that the people in charge of his education have given him a one-sided view of history. He has learnt lots about British history but nothing about Caribbean heroes

  Metaphors of blindness, for example, blind me to my own identity, show how the speaker feels he is being badly treated by those in power

  The poem is written with the historical misuse of power in mind. It mentions real figures from Caribbean history who revolt against slavery and European colonisation.
• ozymandias

  Ozymandias is presented as a ruler who abused his power he’s described as having a sneer of cold command, and his arrogantly, telling others rulers to look at his works, and despair

  However, the poem focuses on the temporary nature of the rulers power. Aussie Mia has no power. Now there is nothing left of his works, and even his statue has collapsed.

  Shelley uses irony to highlight the contrast between Aussie Mia belief in his own power, and the reality that all his achievements insignificant compared to the boundless desert
• tissue

  Paper is used to symbolise human power. Receipts can fly our lives like paper kites, but they’re fragile and easily destroyed hinting at its permanent, paper, maps, show, borderline and other man-made features, but the Sun shines through the wall alluding to natures enduring power.

  In the eight stand are the speaker talks about letting daylight break through capitals and monoliths. This is an image of a natural power being greater than human power. The capitals and monoliths represent human governments and buildings, but they are temporary compared to nature.