Hugh Major HD01 Q: Discuss the ways in which poets explore the effect and power of time on culture,

in the two poems from your selection. The most powerful force on this planet is time. Having the ability to completely erode or erase many different, and unique cultures and beliefs into dust. Time can leave many ancient and possibly magnificent worlds and civilisations, as ruins, myths or a forgotten memory; never to be remembered again. I believe both Bhatt and Shelly show the strength and force of time with the brutality of the English colonists; erasing the culture and beliefs of India. While Shelly instead presents us the remains of a fallen and forgotten kingdom, lead by an arrogant and self-centred king; where now a ruined, damaged statue stands in an empty, isolated and deserted-desert. Sujata Bhatt in A Different History instantly hints towards culture through religious allusion Great pan is not dead . I believe Bhatt uses the adjective great to suggest the ancient Greek God of nature is an important figure. While Greek mythology and ancient Greek culture has long since died out and been replaced by Christianity and consumerism. However Bhatt ins ists that he is not dead he simply emigrated to India. I believe Bhatt uses the verb emigrated to convey the idea of worship of nature, may have been neglected and forgotten in the western world ; are still presently occurring in Indiawhere the gods roam freely. The plural gods implies to me that there are many things such as nature that are worshiped. Bhatt use of simile suggests the gods are disguised as snakes or monkeys, the impression I am given, conveys it is Indias culture to see all living beings as not only sacred but equal and respectable. We see from this nature plays an important and vital role on the foundation of Indias culture and religion. For the second half of the stanza, Bhatt has an imperative yet informative tone, which enforces Indias cultural respect for nature. She suggests to us it is a sin to be rude to a book. I believe the listing used by Bhatt shows us the amount of respect that Hindus have for the natural world. This contrasts our western ideals where we have no respect for nature, we are wasteful and crude compared the Indians. We slam books down and toss one carelessly the adverb I believe shows our general lack of interest and respect for nature. For in India every tree is sacred holy and worthy of worship and respect. I believe Bhatt continues to present us the contrasting ideals of the western world and India in the second stanza, with an enraged tone. The tone is created through the heavily negative diction. I believe Bhatt is attacking the English settlers and colonists, who tried to change the beliefs of the Indians, to fit their liking. Rhetorical Questions are used by Bhatt to reveal her anger towards them; Which language has not been the oppressors tongue? I believe the noun oppressor creates very negative imagery; presenting the British as tyrants and tormentors. For the British truly meant to murder many Indians to spread fear into them. After the soul has been cropped, I believe Bhatt is using metaphor here to convey the Indians soul its cultural identity has been cropped reduced and removed. It is suggested to me the British idealists have removed the sacred beliefs in the natural world; the beliefs have been cropped by the English culture and language with a long scythe swooping out of the conquerors face. I believe the scythe is imagery for both their brutal methods of the British; but also it is symbolism of the tongue, the English language slowly swooping, taking over in a single action. Leaving India cropped: b are of culture and individuality. Leaving the unborn grandchildren [to] grow to love that strange language; I believe Bhatt is trying to inform us the children will grow up in an English-speaking world. They will love English because it is all they will learn and know. For their culture, their uniqueness, their soul created from a different history have been forcefully erased and forgotten. Leaving this cultural identity dead like the ancient Roman Empire. Where the culture is feared forgotten by time with force and brutality in a different history, I believe Shelly presents us a culture which is neglected by both society; but also time; leaving eroded ruins behind. Shelly begins the poem instantly conveying to the forgotten ancient antique land I believe this

automatically informs the reader it is a different culture to what we are living in. Imagery is created through the adjectives vast and trunkless legs of stone; Vast suggesting the great size of the former kingdom or empire. I believe Shelly is creating contrast and irony through the noun stone I believe it suggests to the reader strength and a sense of permanence; this permanence which could be possibly reflected to the kingdom. However this in not the case as on the sand imagery conveying an unstable and weak ground; where a half-sunk, a shattered visage lies. I believe this is where the irony is created; for the kingdom has fallen apart shattered and now we c annot recall or remember it as it is slowly disappearing or eroding in the unstable sand of time. We see from this like in a different history, the power and force of time has the ability to remove our entire memory of these past cultures. Shelly begins to reveal to us why this kingdom has been forgotten almost entirely; it is the arrogance and selfishness of the culture which has cause us to move away from. The cruel and menacing depiction through nouns, adjectives frown and wrinkled lip and alliteration cold command evoking to me the cruelty of the leaders actions to his people. Creating what I believe to be a very fearful and negative mood, due to the look of disapproval from the king. I believe Shelly makes multiple meanings through the verb stamped on these lifeless things. The first being the leaders cruel treatment towards his people; as he mocked them, made them feel lifeless and insignificant. While also he fed from them, taking their wealth their food, I believe Shelly is trying to tell us the king was completely dependent on his people for survival. The second refers to its sculptor who stamped his personal opinions of distaste of the cruel man on the lifeless things- the stone. Both I believe portray the idea those which are arrogant, self-obsessed and completely dependent on their servants to do their work. This also portrays a weak and fragile culture and society. For without their people , who have left out of hatred; will be left to stand in the desert of their own creation to erode and decay completely from our memories. Shelly then creates a mocking and satirical tone, through irony. My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: look on my works, ye mighty, and despair, while it was written he selfishly believed he was the greatest king of all. This is ironic because there is nothing beside remains; I believe Shelly uses alliteration to show the reader the irony as there is nothing left it is boundless and bare the lone and level sands stretch far away. They are ruins completely disconnected and forgotten by society, and by time. We see from this people can be left to erode and decay in their own personal isolated desert; created by their selfishness and arrogance towards others. Where they are completely forgotten by time and society. I believe Shelly is trying to tell the reader that time erases the arrogant self-centred people from history. Only those who are caring and compassionate to others around them. If this is the case shouldnt the greedy, cruel and brutal English conquerors mentioned in A different history should eventually become eroded and forgotten by our future generations like the slave-like culture in Ozymandias is due to the cruelty and arrogance of its leader.