OZYMANDIAS

Question 1

Context:

Answer 1

-Poet :
Percy Shelley (radical romantic poet)

Based on the Egyptian Pharoah, Rameses II, whom greeks called Ozymandias - wanted his memorial to last forever.
Had radical views.

Question 2

Structure and Form:

Answer 2

Irregular rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG)

The story is told through a second-hand account. The speaker hasn’t seen the statue himself and this may be used to emphasize the unimportance of Ozymandias today.

Single stanza

Iambic pentameter used to mirror Ozymandias’s egotistical love of himself.
Iambic pentameter is disrupted in lines 11 and 12
-“Look on…”
-“Nothing”
The change in meter draws focus to the arrogant voice of the once-powerful Ozymandias and is used to reflect that human power and civilization will be defeated by time. - “Nothing beside remains” meaning the structures built have decayed and faded with time.

Question 3

Themes:

Answer 3

Death and Mortality -
No human is powerful enough to escape death

Power -
Shelley’s own radical political beliefs led him to reflect on the transient (short-lived/ temporary) nature of power.

Question 4

Compare with…

Answer 4

‘London’
Power of civilization

‘The Prelude’
Power of Nature

‘My Last Duchess’
Arrogant display of power/Tyranical

Question 5

“Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair”

Answer 5

Imperative-“Look”
Dominant commanding

Irony as Ozymandias is now a wreck
Encourages the reader to reflect and ridicule him

Question 6

“sneer of cold command”

Answer 6

Noun - “sneer”
A facial expression that is dismissive of others - Presents him with haughtiness

Alliteration - “cold command”
The harsh sound that presents the harshness expressed by Ozymandias
Dismissive

Question 7

“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert”

Answer 7

“vast” and “trunkless” juxtapose
The size of the statute is shown to be in contrast with the fact that it is broken in half. The statute has been decayed by nature and time.
Fear and pity

“trunkless” no torso
Heartless towards people

“Desert”
forgotten, far away

Question 8

“Antique land”

Answer 8

Adjective “antique”
Old, potentially valuable, outdated. Old fashioned land ruled by dictators and are irrelevant now

Question 9

“The lone and level sands stretch far away”

Answer 9

Alliteration
constant use of ‘l’ and ‘s’ sound create the feeling of extensive empty space.
The insignificance of humans.

Symbolism
Desert symbol of death/ passing of time.
All will eventually be gone