Ozymandias Flashcards
Context
This poem features in an 1819 collection. At this time a large part of the statue of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II was found. He known as Ramses the great and declared himself a God. Egyptians were highly superstitious and believed that their legacy would continue to exist in the underworld.
Plot
The poem is about a traveller who tells the narrator about the remains of Pharaohs statue. He explains that the sculptor did a good job making an inanimate object realistic. The king was a harsh dictator that believed he was a God and would outlast everything and everyone. The irony is that he dies and his statue lays in disrepair in a deserted area.
Form
Allegory. The poem has both a moral and political message. The transience of life is a key concept. Regardless of power, wealth and status, everyone is human. Eventually all will drift away like an insignificant piece of sand
Structure
One stanza representing the statue shape
Irregular rhyme scheme reflecting the broken statue itself
Narrative as we read what the traveller experienced
Sonnet which is used for admiration or mocking
Tone
Sarcasm and irony
Pity
Admiration
Theme
Power of nature
Power of humans
Power of art
Key quotes-“King of Kings, Look on my works ye mighty and despair”
“King of kings” is a biblical phrase which shows us his arrogant pride. It could also imply that his subsequent obscurity was a punishment from God. He is so hubristic and cocky that he thinks he is above everyone, including God. “My works” refers to statues of him as Egyptian architecture flourished under Ramses rule.
Key quotes- “Whose frown and wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command”
Shelly uses alliteration with the sneer of “cold command”. He also uses “frown” and “wrinkled lip” to give us an impression that the subject of the statue, Ozymandias, was an angry, commanding and often upset man. It could also imply his disdainful attitude and conceit which tells us a lot about his haughty personality. We can see this links to Ramses also being a harsh dictator.
Key Quotes- “Colossal wreck”
Shelley uses imagery to get the point that nothing of Ozymandias’ is left and even if there is, its in thousands of pieces. This can also be seen as an oxymoron as “Colossal” could imply something impressive but when twinned with the term “wreck”, somewhat of an oxymoron is formed. Also creates irony as the base of Ramses’ / Ozymandias’ colossal wreck reads “Look on my words ye mighty and despair”
Can compare with…..
London as both poets are romantics and criticise power
Tissue as both poems show the power of time and how nothing can define it
My last duchess as both represent power through a narrative technique
Storm on the island as nature is stronger tan man made structures
