Ozymandias
What is the condition of the statue as described in Ozymandias?
The statue is in ruins, with only two vast and trunkless legs standing upright and a shattered face half-buried in the sand.
How does the repetition of “rain” in the opening lines affect the mood?
The repetition creates a somber, hypnotic rhythm that mirrors the relentless nature of the rain and sets the melancholic tone of the poem.
What do the two plaits in the poem symbolize?
The two plaits symbolize the balance between strength and weakness, as well as the coexistence of contrasting qualities.
Who wrote A Walk to the Jetty?
Jamaica Kincaid
The playwright of A Taste of Honey
Shelagh Delaney
What is ironic about the inscription on the statue’s pedestal?
The inscription boasts of Ozymandias's power and commands others to "look on my works and despair," yet the surrounding desert is barren, and his works have crumbled to dust.
What does the rain symbolize in the poem?
The rain symbolizes both the relentlessness of death, the potential purification and release it brings, and the speaker’s sense of loss and detachment.
What does the “wide ribbon” represent in the poem?
The “wide ribbon” represents unity, equality, and justice as it ties the plaits together harmoniously.
What is the significance of the jetty in the story?
The jetty symbolizes the protagonist's transition from childhood to adulthood and her journey towards independence. It is a physical and emotional threshold she must cross to embark on her new life.
... is a movement in theatre that examines social and class issues using family and domestic settings.
Kitchen Sink teathre
What role does nature play in the poem?
Nature is depicted as a powerful and relentless force that erodes and overtakes human achievements, symbolized by the encroaching desert sands burying the statue.
Who wrote Rain?
Edward Thomas
What is the significance of the phrase “The weak and the strong were strong together”?
It emphasizes the idea that unity and cooperation create greater strength than individual power alone.
Describe Annie's emotions as she walks to the jetty.
a mix of excitement, apprehension, and nostalgia: she experiences a sense of anticipation for her new life but also reflects on her memories and the familiar places she is leaving behind.
How does Jo describe the condition of the new flat that they move into?
"comfortless"
basic, cramped, and freezing.
What is the broader message about human achievement?
The poem suggests that all human achievements, no matter how grand, are temporary and will eventually be forgotten or reclaimed by nature.
What does the speaker mean by “washing me cleaner than I have been since I was born into this solitude”?
The speaker imagines the rain symbolically purifying them in death, washing away the loneliness and hardships they have endured throughout life.
Why is the metaphor of the plaits effective in exploring the theme of justice?
The metaphor captures the coexistence of opposites, showing how balance and fairness can exist in harmony despite differences.
Mention themes of this prose? (10 for each)
Coming of Age
Identity and Self-Discovery
Family Dynamics
Cultural/Generation Conflict
Loss and Separation
How does Jo’s relationship with Geof differ from her relationship with Helen?
Geof provides Jo with care, support, and stability, unlike Helen, who is often neglectful, critical, and self-centered.
"I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—'Two vast and trunkless legs of stone…"
Why does Shelley pass the narrative to the "traveller"?
Shelley probably wanted to distance himself from the political messages of the poem, so he opened his poem with the detached narrative of a traveller.
In what ways is the poem reflective of Edward Thomas’s personal struggles?
The poem reflects Thomas’s struggles with depression, his feelings of alienation, and his contemplation of mortality, particularly during his wartime service.
What does the final line, “I could feel how it was distributed,” suggest about the speaker’s understanding of justice?
It implies that justice is an internal experience, felt through balance and harmony, rather than something that is always outwardly visible or easily explained.
What role does nostalgia play in the protagonist’s journey to the jetty?
Nostalgia plays a significant role in the protagonist’s journey, as she reminisces about her childhood and the familiar aspects of her life. This longing for the past contrasts with her anticipation for the future, highlighting the bittersweet nature of her transition.
“Drink, drink, drink, that's all you're fit for.”
Whose line is it?
What does it imply?
Jo.
Jo expresses her frustration and resentment toward Helen’s behavior, highlighting her anger toward Helen’s alcoholism and neglect.