Power of Humans

1) Humans often use power to benefit themselves rather that other people, and the misuse of power can lead to people being hurt or killed. 

2) Human power is ultimatley insignificant compared to nature, which is vast and timeless.

3) Human can abuse their power... but human power is ultimately temporary.

1) The Duke seems obessesd with power- he even controls who sees the portrait of his last duchess. 

2) There are hints the Duke had his wife killes- "I gave commands; Then all smiles stoppped" has a sinister tone. It's lack of explanation suggests that he does not feel that he has to account of his actions.

3) The poem's form also reflects his absolute power- although there is a visitor present, we only hear the Duke's voice. The use of rhyming couplets reflects his rigid control.

1) The speaker in the poem is angry that the people in charge of his education have given him a one-sided view of history- he leaarnt loads about British history, but nothing about his about Carribean heroes.

2) Metaphors of blindness "Blind me to me own identy", reflect how the speaker feels he's been badly treated by those in power.

3) The poem is written in historical misuses of power in mind, it mentions real figures from Caribbean history who revolted against slavery and European colonisation.

1) Ozymandias is presented as a ruler who abused his power- he's described as having a "a sneer of cold command" and as arrogantly telling other rulers to look at his works and "despair".

2) However, the poem focuses on the temporary nature of the ruler's power. Ozymandias has no power now- there is nothing left on his "works" and even his statue had collapsed.

3) Shelley uses irony to highlight the contrast between Ozymandias's belief in his own power and the reality that all his achievements are insignificant compared to the "boundless" desert.

1) Paper is used to symbolise human power- receipts can "fly our lives like paper kites" but they're fragile and easily destroyed, hinting at its impermanence. Paper maps show "borderline" and other man-made features, but the sun "shines through" them, alluding to nature's enduring power.

2) In the 8th stanza, the speaker talks about letting "daylight breaking through capitals and monoliths", this an image of natural power being gretaer than human power because "capitals and monoliths" represent human governments and buildings but they are temporary compared to nature.