AQA Power and Conflict Poetry Comparison, ‘Ozymandias’ and ‘London’.

If you’re preparing for your GCSE English Literature exam, mastering the AQA Power and Conflict Poetry Comparison is crucial. One of the most commonly compared pairs is ‘Ozymandias’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley and ‘London’ by William Blake—two poems with strong political messages, vivid imagery, and rich historical context.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How to approach the comparison question

• Key similarities and differences between Ozymandias and London

• Tips for analysing structure, language and context

• A sample comparison paragraph

• Common pitfalls to avoid

Whether you’re aiming for a Grade 5 or pushing towards a Grade 9, this article will help you feel confident in tackling any poetry comparison question.

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Understanding the AQA Power and Conflict Cluster

The Power and Conflict cluster in the AQA anthology contains 15 poems. In the exam, you will be given one printed poem from the cluster and asked to compare it with another poem of your choice from the list. This question is worth 30 marks and contributes significantly to your overall English Literature grade.

Typical Exam Question:

Compare how the poets present power in ‘Ozymandias’ and one other poem from Power and Conflict.

You are not expected to write everything you know about both poems. Instead, focus on comparing key ideas such as power, loss, human arrogance, suffering, or control—and how these are conveyed through language, form, structure, and context.

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How to Structure Your Poetry Comparison

Use this structure to keep your essay focused and analytical:

1. Introduction

• Briefly introduce both poems.

• Mention the key theme you’re exploring (e.g. power, control, corruption).

• Avoid listing techniques—keep it thematic.

2. Main Paragraphs (3-4 ideally)

Each paragraph should:

• Compare a theme or idea (e.g. the abuse of power)

• Use evidence from both poems

• Analyse language, structure, and form

• Include contextual information where relevant

Use comparative phrases like:

• Similarly / In contrast

• Whereas / Unlike

• Both poets suggest…

3. Conclusion

• Sum up your main comparisons.

• Reflect on the overall message or effect of each poem.

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Key Comparison: Ozymandias vs London

Let’s explore how Ozymandias and London compare in terms of themes, language, structure, and context.

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1. Theme: The Abuse and Fragility of Power

Ozymandias:

• Shelley presents power as temporary and illusory.

• The statue of the once-great king is now ruined and forgotten.

• The quote “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” is ironic—there are no works left.

• Power is undermined by time and nature.

London:

• Blake shows institutional power (the Church, Monarchy) as oppressive and corrupt.

• He presents the city’s poor as victims of systemic control.

• “The mind-forg’d manacles I hear” suggests mental imprisonment caused by authority.

📝 Comparison Point:
Both poets are critical of power—Shelley critiques the arrogance of rulers, while Blake exposes the ongoing suffering caused by power structures.

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2. Language and Imagery

Ozymandias:

• Uses ironic language to emphasise the futility of power.

• “Colossal wreck” juxtaposes grandeur with ruin.

• Imagery of decay: “Half sunk, a shattered visage”.

London:

• Powerful sensory language: “cry of every Man”, “infant’s cry of fear”.

• Repetition of “every” builds a sense of hopelessness.

• Blake’s imagery is emotive and disturbing: “black’ning Church”, “blood down Palace walls”.

📝 Comparison Point:
Shelley uses detached irony and visual imagery, while Blake uses emotive and auditory language to criticise power. Both show that power ultimately causes destruction or suffering.

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3. Structure and Form

Ozymandias:

• A Petrarchan sonnet—a traditional love poem form, used ironically.

• The turn (volta) highlights a shift from power to ruin.

• Written in iambic pentameter, though not rigidly.

• The fragmented rhyme mirrors the broken statue.

London:

• Four stanzas of regular ABAB rhyme reflect the rigid, controlled environment.

• Repetition mimics the monotony of oppression.

• The poem reads like a lament or protest.

📝 Comparison Point:
Shelley’s poem is structurally fractured, echoing the decay of empire. Blake’s controlled form mirrors societal oppression. Both use structure to reinforce their themes.

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4. Contextual Insight

Ozymandias:

• Written in 1818 during a time of political revolution and anti-authoritarianism.

• Inspired by the decay of ancient empires (Ramses II).

• Shelley was a Romantic poet, challenging establishment power and promoting individualism.

London:

• Written in 1794, just after the French Revolution.

• Blake believed in the power of the individual against institutions.

• Critical of industrialisation, the Church, and monarchy.

📝 Comparison Point:
Both poems reflect a Romantic distrust of authority, but while Ozymandias reflects on the impermanence of political power, London highlights the immediate human cost of oppression.

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Sample Comparison Paragraph (Grade 8/9 Level)

In both ‘Ozymandias’ and ‘London’, the poets explore the corrupting nature of power, but approach it through different lenses. In ‘Ozymandias’, Shelley critiques the arrogance of rulers through the image of a ruined statue: “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” The use of irony here reveals how Ozymandias’s grand claims have crumbled with time, suggesting the ephemeral nature of political power. In contrast, Blake’s ‘London’ presents power as a present, inescapable force. The metaphor “mind-forg’d manacles” conveys how the people are psychologically imprisoned by institutions like the Church and Monarchy. While Shelley reflects on how power is ultimately defeated by time, Blake focuses on power’s ongoing grip on society, showing the emotional and physical toll it takes. Both poets, however, use their work as a form of protest, warning readers of the dangers of unchecked authority.

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Examiner Tips: What Gets Top Marks?

✅ Embed quotations naturally—avoid “quote dumping.”

✅ Analyse the effect of language (what does it suggest, imply, symbolise?).

✅ Compare throughout—don’t just write about one poem and then the other.

✅ Include context, but keep it relevant (not a history lesson).

✅ Use precise terminology—e.g. “volta”, “semantic field”, “iambic pentameter”.

✅ Stay focused on the question—link every point back to the theme.

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Common Pitfalls to Avoid

❌ Writing about just one poem for too long.

❌ Over-explaining context at the expense of analysis.

❌ Listing techniques without exploring their effect.

❌ Not comparing—simply describing each poem in isolation.

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Boost Your Grade: Revision Tips

• Make a comparison table of all 15 poems in the Power and Conflict cluster.

• Practise planning responses using past paper questions.

• Memorise 3-4 short, high-impact quotes per poem.

• Annotate your anthology and re-read your notes regularly.

• Watch explainer videos or listen to podcasts to reinforce themes.

• Try timed practice—45 minutes for a comparison is good training.

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Other Strong Comparison Pairings

Aside from Ozymandias vs London, other powerful combinations include:

• My Last Duchess vs Ozymandias – obsession with control and legacy.

• The Prelude vs Storm on the Island – human vs nature.

• Remains vs War Photographer – trauma of war.

• Charge of the Light Brigade vs Bayonet Charge – patriotic vs realistic portrayals of battle.

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Final Thoughts

The AQA Power and Conflict comparison question is your chance to show off deep thinking, analytical skills, and poetic understanding. Don’t just describe—interpret, compare, and explore the deeper meanings behind the poets’ choices.

Ozymandias and London are excellent poems to compare because they both challenge how power is used, remembered, and resisted—but in very different ways. Understanding those nuances will help you write an essay that stands out.

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📌 Bonus: Quick Quote Bank