Ozymandias

Question 1

Themes

Answer 1

• Ironic, pointing out that now all that remains is an arrogant boast on a ruined statue
• The poet feels sorry for him or is laughing at his expense.
• Either way looking at downfall of all rulers and power and that nature is control of us

Question 2

Structure and context

Answer 2

• Written by Percy Shelly
• Sonnets were generally popular romantic or love poems, perhaps this being a love poem about Ozymandias, a joke about the rulers ego
• Loose iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme the broken statue which is no longer perfect or possibly even his loss of power and possibly demonstrating the transience of human power
  - Or possibly showing Shelly is rejecting
  conventions at the time

Question 3

First quote

Answer 3

“And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command”

Question 4

First quote analysis

Answer 4

Metaphor, plosive Alliteration and irony, contrasting:

• Adjective “wrinkled” shows age, contrasting the seemingly immortal idea of Ozymandias and his power and even at the where he believed he was at his most powerful, his power was already slipping away . Shelly is saying, we cant cling onto power even when we seem all powerful
• plosive alliteration of the letter c shows the harsh and unfair ruling of Ozymandias which reflects the rulers during the period of Percy shelly
• “Command” presents Ozymandias as a military leader which could be a link to Napoleon where he died just after conquering Europe, showing that power can be easily lost. Shelly is trying to warn Parliament and the monarchy of instant loss of power
• Synaesthesia - The use of the adjective “cold” shows that Percy is trying to allude to the fact that nature is more powerful as she is is describing the harshness of Ozymandias as something that isn’t of power that a human posses but only nature posses, which could once again be a link to show that nature is the all powerful ruler

Question 5

Second Quote

Answer 5

“Look on my works, ye mighty and despair”

Question 6

Second Quote analysis

Answer 6

irony and imperative:

• Telling others to look at his “works” and trying to create fear in other kings
• The use of exclamation shows his aggression and controlling personality
• All his works have vanished which shows the power of nature and time

Question 7

Third quote

Answer 7

“of that colossal Wreck”

Question 8

Third quote analysis

Answer 8

• Juxtaposing how his ego was “colossal” yet it has now become nothing but “wreck” as a victim of the power of nature and time
  The adjective “colossal” is reference to the Greek, colossus which a huge Greek statue that was destroyed by natural disasters, this alludes to the point that nature will forever out live the power of humans
• Concrete noun “Wreck” has negative connotations ( as of Ozymandias rule) while also connoting something of age, insinuating that although the power and rule of Ozymandias has been warn away and forgotten due to the power of nature and time, the cruelty and suffering inflicted will remain. perhaps Percy is is trying to reflect the society of that day as all they cared about is power and not the suffering of citizens