AQA Power and Conflict Comparisons: The Ultimate Grade 9 Hub

Master every poem pairing with Grade 9 thesis sentences, comparison grids, and examiner-approved analysis.

Last updated: January 2026

How to Use This Page

This is your one-stop comparison hub for the AQA Power & Conflict anthology. Whether you’re a student writing an essay, a parent supporting revision, or a teacher planning lessons, you’ll find:

The Quick-Find Table: Find the best poem to compare with any poem in the anthology.
Elite Comparison Guides: Detailed breakdowns with Grade 9 thesis sentences, quotes, and AO1/AO2/AO3 analysis.
The Theme Chooser: Browse comparisons by theme (Power of Nature, Reality of War, etc.).

Not sure where to start? Use the table below to find your poem, then click through to the full comparison guide.

The Quick-Find Table: Best Poem Pairings

Poem	Best Poems to Compare With	Top Theme
Ozymandias	London • My Last Duchess • Tissue • The Prelude	Power & Oppression
London	Ozymandias • Checking Out Me History • My Last Duchess	Institutional Control
The Prelude	Storm on the Island • Ozymandias • Exposure	Power of Nature
My Last Duchess	Ozymandias • London • Poppies	Power & Control
Charge of the Light Brigade	Exposure • Bayonet Charge • Remains	Reality of War
Exposure	Charge of the Light Brigade • Bayonet Charge • Remains • Storm on the Island	Futility & Nature
Storm on the Island	The Prelude • Exposure • Ozymandias	Power of Nature
Bayonet Charge	Remains • Exposure • Charge of the Light Brigade	Impact of Conflict
Remains	Bayonet Charge • War Photographer • Poppies • Kamikaze	Trauma & Guilt
Poppies	War Photographer • Remains • Kamikaze	Memory & Loss
War Photographer	Poppies • Remains • Exposure	Witnessing Conflict
Tissue	Ozymandias • London • The Emigree	Fragility & Power
The Emigree	Checking Out Me History • Kamikaze • Tissue	Identity & Memory
Checking Out Me History	London • The Emigree • Kamikaze	Identity & Oppression
Kamikaze	Remains • Checking Out Me History • The Emigree • Poppies	Guilt & Cultural Conflict

Browse by Theme

Power of Nature

Nature as an overwhelming, humbling, or destructive force.

Reality of War & Trauma

The physical and psychological impact of conflict on soldiers.

Power & Oppression

Institutional, political, and personal control.

Identity & Memory

How culture, history, and exile shape who we are.

Memory & Loss

The emotional aftermath of conflict for those left behind.

Pride, Tyranny & Control

How individuals and states use power to dominate.

How to Compare Power & Conflict Poems (The Ninja Method)

Examiners want to see conceptual comparison, not just “both poems use metaphors.” Here’s the formula:

1. Start with Purpose (AO3)

What is each poet trying to do? Are they critiquing power, exploring trauma, or questioning identity?

Example: Shelley wants to mock tyranny; Blake wants to expose it. That difference is your thesis.

2. Compare Method (AO2)

How do they achieve their purpose? Look at:

Language: Semantic fields, imagery, tone
Structure: Form, rhyme, stanza shape, enjambment
Voice: Who is speaking, and why does it matter?

Example: Shelley uses a broken sonnet (form mirrors the broken statue). Blake uses rigid quatrains (form mirrors the rigid oppression).

3. Link to Effect (AO1)

What does the reader feel or understand as a result?

Example: Shelley makes us feel superior to the tyrant (we’re still here, he’s dust). Blake makes us feel trapped (we’re inside the oppression with him).