New
New
Year 11
AQA
Revising key themes in the ‘Power and Conflict’ anthology
I can identify and compare themes across poems from the Power and Conflict anthology.
New
New
Year 11
AQA
Revising key themes in the ‘Power and Conflict’ anthology
I can identify and compare themes across poems from the Power and Conflict anthology.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- When comparing poems, pay attention to the specific theme within the question.
- Be open to comparing poems across different eras, movements, styles and content areas.
- Memory is a key theme across many of the ‘Power and Conflict’ poems.
- Poets from the anthology often explore the damaging effect of pride, the power of nature and harrowing inner conflicts.
Keywords
Theme - the main subject that is being discussed in a piece of writing
Omnipotence - having very great or unlimited power
Ephemeral - short-lasting
Futility - pointlessness or uselessness
Common misconception
Students may think that all 'Romantic' poems should be compared, all 'war' poems must be compared, all 'nature' poems must be compared.
The nuances of the question are the most important factor when deciding which poems to compare.
You may want to print out the table in the additional materials for pupils to use in this lesson.
Teacher tip
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
What is a theme in literature?
the writer's intentions in creating the text
the combination of methods a writer uses in a text
Q2.
Which of these is not a theme found in the Power and Conflict anthology?
identity
abuse of power
Q3.
Romantic poets often wrote about...
the effects of war
the power of memories
Q4.
Which poems best explore the theme of power of man?
'Exposure'
Q5.
Which of these poets were part of the Romantic movement?
Ted Hughes
Q6.
What does 'omnipotent' mean?
pointlessness or uselessness
short-lasting
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Instead of choosing poems based on the time they were written or their style, it's better to compare poems based on their presentation of key...
Q2.
Which poems from the 'Power and Conflict' anthology best explore the theme of memory?
'Bayonet Charge'
Q3.
These poems have been grouped together: 'Ozymandias', 'London' and 'My Last Duchess'. What key theme do they have in common?
power of nature
reality of conflict
Q4.
These poems have been grouped together: 'Ozymandias', 'Extract from The Prelude' and 'My Last Duchess'. What key theme do they have in common?
fear
guilt
Q5.
Which poem does not present the omnipotence of nature?
'Extract from The Prelude'
'Storm on the Island'
Q6.
Looking at the theme of trauma, which poem might you compare 'War Photographer' with?
'Storm on the Island'
'My Last Duchess'
Additional material
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