1) Ozymandias: context & interpretations Flashcards
Who wrote Ozymandias?
Percy Bysshe Shelley
What kind of a person was Percy Bysshe Shelley?
He was an atheist, thought to be a “radical” in his time. He was part of a group of poets, known as the Romantics, who protested against the rules, customs and conventions of literature and wider society.
Ozymandias was published in 1818. What inspired Bysshe to write it?
It takes its title from the Egyptian king Ramesses II, known to the Greeks by the name Ozymandias. In 1817, archeologists discovered fragments of a statue of Ramesses II and intended to send the pieces to a London museum.
What is the main message of Ozymandias?
1) Human power, despite its arrogance and conciet (excessive pride), is transient (fragile, easily lost), frail and quickly forgotten. Nature’s power, on the other hand, is everlasting, yet far more humble.
Analyse: “the lone and level sands stretch far away”.
Here, the poet conveys that nature will always outlast powerful figures.
Specifically, the adjective “level” has associations of consistency and durability. Juxtaposed with the “vast” and “colossal” monument, it is the sands that remain exactly how they were thousands of years before, while the statue is now “shattered” and “lifeless”.
Additionally, “lone” and “far away” show that “nothing beside remains” Ozymandias; his ancient empire has disintegrated. The “sands” could perhaps be symbolic of the sands of time, which have swallowed and engulfed his vain pride.
This demonstrates that Ozymandias’ arrogant power was fragile, mortal and transient, whereas nature remains humble and immortal.
Analyse the quote “half sunk”.
“Sunk” suggests that Ozymandias’ power has slipped into the sand, a symbol of having been enveloped by time and nature.
Analyse the quote “lifeless”.
Adjective “lifeless” demonstrates Shelley’s atheism: Pharoahs were viewed as Godlike and immortal. This is an insult perhaps to religion itself (exemplary of the concepts of Romantic poetry), but is also a mockery of the arrogance of human power, and how powerful figures view themselves as almighty, yet are soon forgotten.
Analyse the quotes “shattered visage”, “wrinkled lip” and “sneer of cold command”.
Here, Shelley uses imagery to show the deterioration of the monument.
The adjective “shattered” has associations of fragility, perhaps suggesting that even the power Ozymandias once held was only superficial. Like glass, it could not withstand pressure and was inextricably bound to shatter after a short amount of time.
The idea of Ozymandias’ lip being “wrinkled”, juxtaposed with its “sneer”, is ironic, because it is no longer clear what warrants his complacent expression. Now, all that an onlooker sees is a deteriorated and dead-looking statue. All that the “sneer” does is make Ozymandias look even more pathetic.
Analyse the quote “the decay / Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare”.
Here, Shelley uses oxymoronic ideas to ridicule Ozymandias’ arrogance.
For example, the adjective “collossal”, evoking ideas of dominance and intimidation, is ironically paired with the noun “wreck”, demonstrating that, despite this massive structure that was built to symbollise Ozymandias’ great power, he inevitably faded into nature and crumbled into insignificance.
