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14 Dec 2025
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AQA GCSE Power and Conflict Poems Mindmaps
Alana
@alana_ibvr
1 / 5
Kamikaze
Ever wondered what could make a kamikaze pilot turn back from a suicide mission? This poem explores the devastating consequences when honour clashes with human instinct.
The poem tells the story of a Japanese pilot who abandons his kamikaze mission after childhood memories flood back. He remembers building cairns with his brothers and sees peaceful fishing boats below - moments that remind him of life's beauty. The "powerful incantations" suggest he was brainwashed by propaganda into believing death was honourable.
> Remember: The pilot's return brings shame, not relief. His family disowns him completely.
When he returns home, his family treats him as if he's dead. The irony is brutal - he saved his life but lost everything that made it worth living. The poem uses enjambment to show how memories caught him off guard, while the "figure of 8" pattern of the flag suggests the endless cycle of war and patriotism.
This poem brilliantly exposes how toxic patriotism can destroy families and individuals, questioning whether dying for your country is always heroic.
Exposure
Imagine waiting in freezing trenches where the weather is deadlier than the enemy. Owen's "Exposure" captures the brutal reality of World War I soldiers facing nature's merciless assault.
The poem's structure mirrors the soldiers' endless waiting - eight stanzas where "nothing happens" except suffering. The repetition of this phrase emphasises the monotony and futility of their situation. Owen uses present tense to make us feel trapped alongside the soldiers.
> Key insight: The "merciless iced east winds" are personified as the real enemy, more dangerous than German attacks.
Weather becomes weaponised through violent imagery like winds that "knive us" and attacks of freezing rain. The alliteration in "flowing flakes that flock" creates an eerie, threatening atmosphere. These men are literally exposed - to cold, disease, and death.
The poem's circular structure (ending where it began) suggests nothing changes, hope fades, and even their faith in God crumbles. Owen wanted people back home to understand that war wasn't glorious - it was slow, cold torture.
Bayonet Charge
What happens when patriotic dreams collide with battlefield terror? Hughes throws us into the chaotic mind of a soldier mid-attack, where noble ideals crumble under gunfire.
The poem uses violent enjambment to mirror the soldier's disorientation as he charges with his bayonet. One moment he's "dazzled with rifle fire" - a word that usually describes beautiful things, creating disturbing contrast with the deadly reality he faces.
> Watch for: The transformation from patriotic believer to traumatised survivor happens in just three stanzas.
The yellow hare becomes a powerful metaphor for the soldier himself - panicked, frantic, and caught in violence beyond its control. Hughes shows how "the patriotic tear" (past tense) has dried up, replaced by raw survival instinct.
The "cold clockwork of the stars and nations" suggests war is a mechanical, emotionless machine that grinds on regardless of individual suffering. The soldier's "terrors touchy dynamite" warns he might explode from psychological pressure - a clear reference to what we now call PTSD.
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Picture 600 cavalry soldiers riding straight into certain death because of a military blunder. Tennyson's poem transforms this tragic mistake into a celebration of blind courage and patriotic duty.
The famous "Valley of Death" (a biblical reference) sets the scene where soldiers face "cannon to right of them, cannon to left of them." This repetition emphasises they're completely surrounded, yet "not a single man dismayed" - showing incredible unity and bravery.
> Historical fact: This really happened in 1854 during the Crimean War - a miscommunicated order sent cavalry against artillery.
"Theirs but to do and die" captures the military mentality perfectly - soldiers don't question orders, they follow them. The repetition of "rode the six hundred" honours each individual while the rhythm mimics galloping horses charging into battle.
Unlike the Kamikaze pilot who turned back, these soldiers never wavered. Tennyson uses heroic language like "noble" and "boldly" to frame their sacrifice as glorious, though the reality was a devastating military disaster that killed most of them.
Remains
What if killing someone in war haunted you forever? Armitage's brutal poem shows how modern soldiers carry the psychological "remains" of their actions long after leaving the battlefield.
The soldier's graphic account of shooting a looter in Iraq reveals immediate uncertainty - "possibly armed, probably not." This doubt becomes his psychological torture, replaying endlessly in his mind through flashbacks and nightmares.
> Modern reality: "The drunk and drugs won't flush him out" - showing how PTSD can't be easily treated or forgotten.
The violent imagery is deliberately shocking - "dozen rounds" tearing someone apart, described as "pain itself, the image of agony." Armitage uses informal language mixed with brutal honesty to show how soldiers really talk about their experiences.
The poem's structure breaks down at the end (final two-line stanza) mirroring the soldier's mental breakdown. "Every round... rips through his life" emphasises the victim's humanity - he wasn't just a target, but someone with family and dreams, making the guilt unbearable.
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Most popular content: War Poetry
Most popular content in English Literature
English - inspector calls quotes and analysis
Quotes from every main character
English Literature10
Most popular content
English - inspector calls quotes and analysis
Quotes from every main character
English Literature10
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
AQA GCSE Power and Conflict Poems Mindmaps
Alana
@alana_ibvr
These powerful war poems explore how conflict affects soldiers across different eras, from World War I trenches to modern warfare. Each poem reveals the harsh realities behind patriotic ideals and the lasting psychological impact of war on those who fight.
Kamikaze
Ever wondered what could make a kamikaze pilot turn back from a suicide mission? This poem explores the devastating consequences when honour clashes with human instinct.
The poem tells the story of a Japanese pilot who abandons his kamikaze mission after childhood memories flood back. He remembers building cairns with his brothers and sees peaceful fishing boats below - moments that remind him of life's beauty. The "powerful incantations" suggest he was brainwashed by propaganda into believing death was honourable.
> Remember: The pilot's return brings shame, not relief. His family disowns him completely.
When he returns home, his family treats him as if he's dead. The irony is brutal - he saved his life but lost everything that made it worth living. The poem uses enjambment to show how memories caught him off guard, while the "figure of 8" pattern of the flag suggests the endless cycle of war and patriotism.
This poem brilliantly exposes how toxic patriotism can destroy families and individuals, questioning whether dying for your country is always heroic.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Exposure
Imagine waiting in freezing trenches where the weather is deadlier than the enemy. Owen's "Exposure" captures the brutal reality of World War I soldiers facing nature's merciless assault.
The poem's structure mirrors the soldiers' endless waiting - eight stanzas where "nothing happens" except suffering. The repetition of this phrase emphasises the monotony and futility of their situation. Owen uses present tense to make us feel trapped alongside the soldiers.
> Key insight: The "merciless iced east winds" are personified as the real enemy, more dangerous than German attacks.
Weather becomes weaponised through violent imagery like winds that "knive us" and attacks of freezing rain. The alliteration in "flowing flakes that flock" creates an eerie, threatening atmosphere. These men are literally exposed - to cold, disease, and death.
The poem's circular structure (ending where it began) suggests nothing changes, hope fades, and even their faith in God crumbles. Owen wanted people back home to understand that war wasn't glorious - it was slow, cold torture.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Bayonet Charge
What happens when patriotic dreams collide with battlefield terror? Hughes throws us into the chaotic mind of a soldier mid-attack, where noble ideals crumble under gunfire.
The poem uses violent enjambment to mirror the soldier's disorientation as he charges with his bayonet. One moment he's "dazzled with rifle fire" - a word that usually describes beautiful things, creating disturbing contrast with the deadly reality he faces.
> Watch for: The transformation from patriotic believer to traumatised survivor happens in just three stanzas.
The yellow hare becomes a powerful metaphor for the soldier himself - panicked, frantic, and caught in violence beyond its control. Hughes shows how "the patriotic tear" (past tense) has dried up, replaced by raw survival instinct.
The "cold clockwork of the stars and nations" suggests war is a mechanical, emotionless machine that grinds on regardless of individual suffering. The soldier's "terrors touchy dynamite" warns he might explode from psychological pressure - a clear reference to what we now call PTSD.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Picture 600 cavalry soldiers riding straight into certain death because of a military blunder. Tennyson's poem transforms this tragic mistake into a celebration of blind courage and patriotic duty.
The famous "Valley of Death" (a biblical reference) sets the scene where soldiers face "cannon to right of them, cannon to left of them." This repetition emphasises they're completely surrounded, yet "not a single man dismayed" - showing incredible unity and bravery.
> Historical fact: This really happened in 1854 during the Crimean War - a miscommunicated order sent cavalry against artillery.
"Theirs but to do and die" captures the military mentality perfectly - soldiers don't question orders, they follow them. The repetition of "rode the six hundred" honours each individual while the rhythm mimics galloping horses charging into battle.
Unlike the Kamikaze pilot who turned back, these soldiers never wavered. Tennyson uses heroic language like "noble" and "boldly" to frame their sacrifice as glorious, though the reality was a devastating military disaster that killed most of them.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Remains
What if killing someone in war haunted you forever? Armitage's brutal poem shows how modern soldiers carry the psychological "remains" of their actions long after leaving the battlefield.
The soldier's graphic account of shooting a looter in Iraq reveals immediate uncertainty - "possibly armed, probably not." This doubt becomes his psychological torture, replaying endlessly in his mind through flashbacks and nightmares.
> Modern reality: "The drunk and drugs won't flush him out" - showing how PTSD can't be easily treated or forgotten.
The violent imagery is deliberately shocking - "dozen rounds" tearing someone apart, described as "pain itself, the image of agony." Armitage uses informal language mixed with brutal honesty to show how soldiers really talk about their experiences.
The poem's structure breaks down at the end (final two-line stanza) mirroring the soldier's mental breakdown. "Every round... rips through his life" emphasises the victim's humanity - he wasn't just a target, but someone with family and dreams, making the guilt unbearable.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: War Poetry
Most popular content in English Literature
English - inspector calls quotes and analysis
Quotes from every main character
English Literature10
Most popular content
English - inspector calls quotes and analysis
Quotes from every main character
English Literature10
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user