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16 Dec 2025
โข
Exploring Power and Conflict Poems
Daisy๐ช
@ringedplanet_
War Poetry: The Human Cost of Conflict
Ever wondered what actually goes through a soldier's mind during battle? Remains by Simon Armitage gives you that brutal insight. Based on a real guardsman's experience in Iraq, it shows how killing someone can haunt you forever. The poem uses everyday language like "legs it up the road" to make the horror feel authentic and immediate.
Charge of the Light Brigade takes a completely different approach to the same theme. Tennyson celebrates the courage of 600 cavalry soldiers riding into certain death during the Crimean War. Whilst Armitage shows the psychological aftermath, Tennyson focuses on honour and duty with phrases like "Noble six hundred."
Kamikaze explores another angle - what happens when a soldier chooses life over duty. Beatrice Garland's pilot turns back from his suicide mission after seeing the beauty of nature, only to face a different kind of death through social rejection. His family treats "him as though he no longer existed."
Quick Tip: Notice how each poet uses different perspectives - the traumatised survivor, the celebrating nation, and the conflicted family.
Exposure and Bayonet Charge both capture the immediate terror of warfare. Owen shows soldiers dying not from bullets but from cold, whilst Hughes freezes time to show a soldier's bewilderment mid-charge. Both reveal how patriotic ideals crumble when faced with the reality of combat.
Poppies and War Photographer shift focus to those left behind. Weir presents the mother's perspective with tender domestic imagery mixed with military language, whilst Duffy criticises society's indifference to distant conflicts. Both poems ask whether we truly understand the cost of war.
Power, Identity and Social Protest
Think your voice doesn't matter? These poets prove otherwise. Checking Out Me History shows John Agard fighting back against a Eurocentric education system that ignored black historical figures. He deliberately uses Caribbean Creole alongside standard English, refusing to conform to expected literary norms.
London presents William Blake as an angry observer of inequality in 1794. His repetitive language - "In every cry of every man" - hammers home how poverty affects everyone whilst the powerful remain comfortable in their "chartered streets."
The Emigrรฉe takes a different approach to identity and displacement. Carol Rumens creates a speaker who refuses to let political oppression destroy her positive memories of home. Despite being forced to flee, she declares her city "hides behind me" - showing her strength.
Key Insight: Notice how these poems use different techniques to challenge authority - dialect, repetition, and defiant imagery.
The power of nature emerges as another crucial theme. Ozymandias uses a crumbling statue to show how even the mightiest rulers become forgotten. Shelley's "lone and level sands" stretch far beyond human ambition, making pride seem pointless.
Storm on the Island and Extract from The Prelude both show nature's ability to humble humans. Heaney's islanders prepare confidently for a storm, only to discover they fear "a huge nothing." Wordsworth's mountain encounter transforms a boy's relationship with nature from playful to fearful.
My Last Duchess reveals the darkest side of power through a Duke who murdered his wife for being too friendly. His casual mention that "all smiles stopped together" shows how some people view others as possessions to control.
Tissue concludes by questioning what really matters - the fragile paper that controls our lives, or the equally fragile human tissue that experiences them.
We thought youโd never ask...
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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 itโs 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 didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm 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 ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
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 itโs 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 didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm 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 ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
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
Exploring Power and Conflict Poems
Daisy๐ช
@ringedplanet_
Poetry can reveal the raw truths about human experience in ways that stick with you long after you've read them. The Power and Conflict anthology brings together voices from different centuries and conflicts, exploring how war, power, and social injustice... Show more
War Poetry: The Human Cost of Conflict
Ever wondered what actually goes through a soldier's mind during battle? Remains by Simon Armitage gives you that brutal insight. Based on a real guardsman's experience in Iraq, it shows how killing someone can haunt you forever. The poem uses everyday language like "legs it up the road" to make the horror feel authentic and immediate.
Charge of the Light Brigade takes a completely different approach to the same theme. Tennyson celebrates the courage of 600 cavalry soldiers riding into certain death during the Crimean War. Whilst Armitage shows the psychological aftermath, Tennyson focuses on honour and duty with phrases like "Noble six hundred."
Kamikaze explores another angle - what happens when a soldier chooses life over duty. Beatrice Garland's pilot turns back from his suicide mission after seeing the beauty of nature, only to face a different kind of death through social rejection. His family treats "him as though he no longer existed."
Quick Tip: Notice how each poet uses different perspectives - the traumatised survivor, the celebrating nation, and the conflicted family.
Exposure and Bayonet Charge both capture the immediate terror of warfare. Owen shows soldiers dying not from bullets but from cold, whilst Hughes freezes time to show a soldier's bewilderment mid-charge. Both reveal how patriotic ideals crumble when faced with the reality of combat.
Poppies and War Photographer shift focus to those left behind. Weir presents the mother's perspective with tender domestic imagery mixed with military language, whilst Duffy criticises society's indifference to distant conflicts. Both poems ask whether we truly understand the cost of war.
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
Power, Identity and Social Protest
Think your voice doesn't matter? These poets prove otherwise. Checking Out Me History shows John Agard fighting back against a Eurocentric education system that ignored black historical figures. He deliberately uses Caribbean Creole alongside standard English, refusing to conform to expected literary norms.
London presents William Blake as an angry observer of inequality in 1794. His repetitive language - "In every cry of every man" - hammers home how poverty affects everyone whilst the powerful remain comfortable in their "chartered streets."
The Emigrรฉe takes a different approach to identity and displacement. Carol Rumens creates a speaker who refuses to let political oppression destroy her positive memories of home. Despite being forced to flee, she declares her city "hides behind me" - showing her strength.
Key Insight: Notice how these poems use different techniques to challenge authority - dialect, repetition, and defiant imagery.
The power of nature emerges as another crucial theme. Ozymandias uses a crumbling statue to show how even the mightiest rulers become forgotten. Shelley's "lone and level sands" stretch far beyond human ambition, making pride seem pointless.
Storm on the Island and Extract from The Prelude both show nature's ability to humble humans. Heaney's islanders prepare confidently for a storm, only to discover they fear "a huge nothing." Wordsworth's mountain encounter transforms a boy's relationship with nature from playful to fearful.
My Last Duchess reveals the darkest side of power through a Duke who murdered his wife for being too friendly. His casual mention that "all smiles stopped together" shows how some people view others as possessions to control.
Tissue concludes by questioning what really matters - the fragile paper that controls our lives, or the equally fragile human tissue that experiences them.
We thought youโd 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 โ all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: Literary Analysis
Most popular content in English Literature
Most popular content
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us โ 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 itโs 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 didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm 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 ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
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 itโs 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 didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm 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 ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
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