Ozymandias

Question 1

Quotations that show power doesn’t last forever

Answer 1

“Colossal wreck boundless and bare” - oxymoron shows the insignificant compared to passing time. Shows the scale of destruction
“Nothing beside remains”
‘Look on my Works, ye mighty and despair!’ - ironically it shows how nothing is left of his power and that human power doesn’t last when he would want people to be amazed by it. ‘My works’ refer the artwork/artist, even though it was made to be a celebration of Ozymandias, the actual words suggest that the artist should be celebrated meaning Ozymandias should be in ‘despair’.

‘And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command’ - The verb ‘wrinkled’ suggests that the power of Ozymandias’ was already fading, even though the statue was made to be during the peak of his ruling, he was already losing power and beginning to slip away. This idea is important as it shows that humans shouldn’t cling on to power, just like like Napoleon. alliteration of the hard ‘c’ sound to show how emotionless the ruler is.

Question 2

Form and structure

Answer 2

The poem is written in sonnet form to show Ozymandias’ love for power. The sonnet represents that it is transitional to show that the power will crumble. The change from the Petrarch to Shakespearean sonnet to a new sonnet to show power is transitional and ever changing.

Question 3

Who wrote ozymandias

Answer 3

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Question 4

Context

Answer 4

Shelley didn’t like the power of institutions, empires and royalty as he was a ROMANTIC POET

Question 5

How does this poem show nature

Answer 5

Shows that nature is more powerful than the institution because nature has caused this “colossal wreck”

Question 6

Analysis of quotation that uses alliteration to emphasise the cruelty

Answer 6

The adjective ‘cold’ in ‘cold command’ could go to show that his authority is over. The adjective gives us a sense of death and unfamiliarity, showing how his commands are no longer enforced and are dead to the world. ‘Cold’ also contrasts with the noun ‘desert’ showing that this land is no longer his and he is a foreign being with his ‘cold command’, as the desert remains as it is and the ‘lone and level sands stretch far away.’ He no longer has power over his surroundings and his authority is now futile.

Question 7

Analysis of the rhyme scheme

Answer 7

The rhyme scheme is continually adapting in changing suggesting that power can also be like that rhyme scheme - constantly changing

Question 8

Quotation that shows criticism of religion

Answer 8

“ King of Kings” - allusion to God in the Bible
Could be suggesting he sees himself as God like, but it is also a criticism of the church and organised religion
Hard ‘k’ sound to create an aggressive and harsh tone to emphasise the aggressive and oppressive nature of the ruler