english poems

• "Checking out me own history": 'This concluding line serves as a declaration of empowerment and self-discovery. By asserting agency with the phrase "checking out," the speaker signifies an active engagement with their own history and identity.
• "I met a traveller from an antique land" (ozymandias) 


  The use of the word "antique" evokes a sense of distant past and suggests that the civilisation in question is no longer in existence
• "Look on my works, ye mighty and despair" (ozymandias)


  This line further emphasizes ozymandias's arrogance and pride as he challenges other rulers to compare themselves to his achievements
• "I met a traveller from an antique land" - stanzas 1-2


  This opening line sets the scene for the poem, indicating that the speaker encountered a traveler who had visited a distant and ancient civilization.
• "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone" (1 ozymandias)


  The vivid imagery-rich phrase describes the remains of a colossal statue lying in the desert. The gargantuan adjective vast emphasizes the statue's immense size while the adjective "trunkless" suggests that the upper part of the body has been lost over time, similar to the legacy of ozymandias which has been lost over time
• "Half sunk, a shattered visage lies" (ozymandias) (1)


  the imagery of "half sunk" conveys a sense of decay and erosion emphasizing the fleeting nature of human achievements and the inevitable passage of time
• "Half sunk, a shattered visage lies" (ozymandias) (2)


  The term "visage" refers to the facial expression or features of a person, highlighting the focus on Ozymandias's likeness. The use of "lies" suggests that the face is lying prone or fallen, further emphasizing its ruin and disrepair.
• "My name is ozymandias king of kings" 


  The use of the phrase "king of kings" emphasizes ozymandias's status as a supreme ruler suggesting his dominance and authority over others. This line underscores the theme of hubris as Ozymandias boasts his greatness even as his empire lies in ruins
• "There once was a country" - emigree


  the opening line establishes the speakers nostalgic reminiscence of their homeland which is now distant and unaccesible. The use of "once" suggests a past time of stability and familiarality whilst "was" implies a sense of loss or change
• "It may be sick with tyrants..." - emigree (1)


  in this line the speaker acknowledges the possibility of oppression or authoritarianism in their homeland, recognizing the darker realities that may exist alongside their idealized memories
• "It may be sick with tyrants..." - emigree (2)


  the use of "may be sick with tyrants" conveys a sense of moral ambiguity and conflict reflecting the speakers difficult relationship with the corruption of war
• "It tastes of sunlight..." - emigree


  the sensory imagery evokes the speaker's sensory experience of their homeland emphasizing its warm and vibrancy. The metaphor of "sunlight" suggests a sense of positivity and optimism associated with the homeland, highlighting its capacity to evoke feelings of comfort and nostalgia
• "The worst news I receive of it cannot break my original view..." - emigree(1)


  here the speaker reflects on their resilience in maintaining a positive and idealised perception of their homeland despite recieving negative news about its current state.
• "The worst news I receive of it cannot break my original view..." - emigree(2)


  The phrase "cannot break my original view" suggests the strength of the speaker's emotional attachment and nostalgia for their homeland which remains unshaken by external forces
• "He must wondered which had been the better way to die" - kamikaze


  The phrase, looking in hindsight "which had been the better way to die" suggests that the pilot questioned the morality and significance of his actions weighing the value of duty against the desire for self-preservation, highlighting the futility of war.
• "A shaven head full of powerful incantations" - kamikaze


  the noun phrase"shaven head" symbolises the pilots renunciation of his personal identity and individuality in service of his duty to the emperor.
• "A shaven head full of powerful incantations" - kamikaze


  The mention of the noun phrase "powerful incantations" suggests the ritualistic and spiritual nature of the pilots preparations, highlighting the cultural and idealogical context of his actions.
• "No longer the father we loved" - kamikaze 


  the phrase "no longer the father we loved" suggests a communal loss and disillusionment as the pilot's actions have irreversably altered the family dynamic and shattered their previous image of him as a fatherly figure.
• "But halfway there she thought" -kamikaze (1)


  The povital adjective "halfway" demonstrates a pivotal moment of hesitation or uncertaintity indicating that the pilots resolve wavered as he approached his target.
• "But halfway there she thought" -kamikaze (2)


  This quote adds depth to the portrayal of the pilot's internal struggle and raises questions about the nature of courage and duty in the face of moral dilemmas.
• "Dem never tell me bout dat"


  The quote expresses frustration from the speaker at the eurocentric nature of the education system and of historical education. The repetition of "dem" emphasises the plurality of those responsible for shaping historical narratives, such as educators and institutions.
• "Bandage up me eye"


  The metaphorical "bandage" implies a covering or blindness that needs to be removed, suggesting a process of awakening or enlightenment. By using the possessive pronoun "me" the speaker asserts ownership over their own narrative and identity
• "Dem tell me" 


  This phrase encapsulates the frustration of the speaker with the dominant historical narratives imposed upon them. The use of caribbean creole such as "dem" for "them" adds authenticity and evokes a sense of cultural identity
• I wander thr'o each charter'd street


  The controlling adjective "charter'd suggests that the streets are controlled or owned by others perhaps representing the oppressive forces or societal constraints
• "How the youthful harlot's curse" - LONDON

  the speaker describes the haunting sound of the youthful harlot's curse echoing through the midnight streets of London. This imagery evokes a sense of darkness and moral decay suggesting the presence of corruption and vice in urban society.
• "How the chimney sweepers cry" / "Every blackening church appalls"


  Here the speaker describes the haunting sound of the chimney sweeper's cry echoing against the backdrop of the city's churches. The Juxtaposition of chimney sweepers and churches highlights the stark contrast between the lives of the marginalized chimney-sweepers and the religious institutions that symbolize power and authority.
• "And the hapless soldiers sigh /Runs in blood down palace walls"

  This line evokes an image of a soldiers sigh, symbolising the suffering and sacrifice of those who serve in the military. The use of the the metaphor "runs in blood down palace walls" suggests the futility and tragedy of war as well as the complicity of the ruling class perpetuating violence and aggression
• "A mark in every face I meet / Marks of weakness, marks of woe" (1)


  These lines depict the observations of the people they encounter in the city noting the signs of suffering and vunerability evident in their expressions.
• "A mark in every face I meet / Marks of weakness, marks of woe" (2)

  The repetition of the depressive noun "marks" emphasizes the ubiquity of these signs of distress, suggesting that they are persuasive throughout society.
• "Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knife us" -Exposure


  The metaphor "merciless iced east winds that knife us" highlights the brutal conditions faced by the soldiers on the battle field. The wind is personified as merciless and compared to a knife, emphasising its cutting and piercing nature
• "But nothing happens"


  While not explicitly a metaphor, the repeated refrain but nothing happens can be interpreted metaphorically to convey a sense of futility and stagnation experienced by the soldiers as they wait in the trenches
• "pale flakes with fingering stealth come to our faces" 


  The phrase "pale flakes with fingering stealth" serves as a metaphor for the falling snow which is personified as having stealthy, sneaky fingers. This metaphor creates a sense of unease and apprehension suggesting that the snow is like an unseen enemy that is gradually encroaching upon the soldiers.
• "As we cringe in holes, back on forgotten dreams and stare, snow dazed." - Exposure


  The metaphorical use of "snowdazed suggests that the soldiers are disorientated and overwhelmed by the relentless snowfall. The snow is depicted as a suffocating and disorienting force that clouds their senses and blurs their perceptions.
• "half a league, half a league/ Half a league onward - COLB


  The opening line sets the tone for the poem, emphasizing the relentless forward movement of the Light Brigade as they advance into battle. The repetition of "half a league"creates a sense of urgency and momentum, highlighting the speed and determination of the soldiers as they ride into the fray
• "Into the valley of death/ Rode the six hundred"


  The line depicts the perilous journey of the light brigade as they enter the battlefield. The forboding noun phrase "valley of death" conveys a sense of forboding and danger suggesting the extreme risk faced by the soldiers
• "Theirs not to reason why/ But to do or to die "


  This line captures the stoic stoic acceptance of duty and fate by the soldiers of the light brigade. The powerful phrase "not to reason why" suggests that the soldiers are not concerned with questioning their orders or contemplating reasoning for change
• "Cannon to the right of them/ cannon to the left of them/ cannon in front of them" - COLB


  This line emphasises the overwhelming fire power faced by the light brigade from all sides. The repetition of "cannon" creates a sense of relentless bombardment highlighting the extreme danger and vunerability of the soldiers as they charge into the midst of the enemy's guns
• "Thats my last duchess painted on the wall" - MLD


  The possessive pronoun "my" suggests that the Duchess was the speakers possession indicating his attitude towards ownership and control. The fact she is portrayed as a painting on the wall further reinforces the idea that she is treated as an object or possession rather than a person with her own agency.
• "She had / A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad" - MLD

  The metaphor of "a heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad" sugggests that the duchess was easily pleased or delighted, perhaps indicating her capacity for love or happiness. However the speaker's hesitation in describing her reflects his disdain for emotional openess and suggests that he viewed her happiness as excessive/inappropriate.
• "This grew; I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together" -MLD

  The phrase "all smiles stopped together" serves as a chilling metaphor for the moment when the duchesses happiness and joy abruptly ceased.