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Ozymandias - writers purpose
Shows how HUMAN POWER IS TRANSITORY / EPHEMERAL: IT DOESN’T LAST – all that’s left of Ozymandias’ great power is a broken statue of him
Suggests HUMAN POWER is used TO DOMINATE / OPPRESS / TERRORISE others; Ozymandias is a TYRANT (dictator)
Highlights POWER of TIME AND NATURE – human power passes, but TIME / NATURE ARE MORE POWERFUL AND EVERLASTING – final image is of the DESERT (NATURE)
Hints that ART IS POWERFUL: its greatness isn’t destroyed by time; even though the statue is broken, it still shows the sculptor’s great skill.
Storm on the island - writers purpose
To expose HUMAN ARROGANCE about nature – our SENSE OF SUPERIORITY OVER IT; think they can CONTROL it;
Narrator begins with CONFIDENCE – ASSERTS they are ready for the storm.
End CONTRASTS the opening: REVEALS THE POWER OF NATURE over human life; the narrator now expresses his FEAR of nature.
STRUCTURE:
1) Ending CONTRASTS the opening to show HOW MEANINGLESS THEIR CONFIDENCE IS; ends with their FEAR;
2) Poem = single stanza – reflects the UNENDING POWER OF THE STORM.
The Prelude - writers purpose
Wordsworth was a Romantic poet: shows a PROFOUND RESPECT FOR NATURE; Criticises HUMAN ARROGANCE to think that we can understand and control nature
To expose how NATURE IS IDEALISED by humans as BEAUTIFUL, MAGICAL, PEACEFUL - a FALSE IMAGE which TRIVIALISES nature
Reveals nature to be POWERFUL; DISTURBING; MENACING
Ends with Poet’s SELF-REFLECTION: he’s HAUNTED, TROUBLED; NATURE’S TRUTHS ARE BEYOND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING.
exposure - writers purpose
o NATURE MORE POWERFUL than humans;
o The freezing WINTER WEATHER IS THE REAL ENEMY – DEADLIER than the human enemy;
WINTER SEEMS ENDLESS; can’t be defeated
o Portrays the VULNERABILITY of the soldiers; They are VICTIMS OF NATURE’S POWER: they’re exposed to it and fear it will kill them;
o The soldiers’ HEROISM is in their ENDURANCE OF THE CONDITIONS;
Their SUFFERING IS ENDLESS – causes them to LOSE THEIR FAITH IN GOD
o Shows the soldiers’ DETERMINATION TO PROTECT THEIR HOMELAND – see it as their DUTY – they SACRIFICE THEMSELVES to the weather for this.
o ENDING: portrays how DOMINANT WINTER / NATURE ARE; the burying-party are there to bury the victims of the freezing weather.
o BLEAK ENDING – CONTRASTS the heroic view of war.
