ozymandias

Question 1

“i met a traveller from an antique land”

Answer 1

• Shelley is writing against the political ruling class in Britain, as it wasnt very long before the general who defeated Napoleon became PM
• “antique land” shows that the thirst for power and desire to be an absolute ruler is as old as history, he does that to contrast the modern day, where we have the beginnings of parliament, and is trying to make a political point that we can move away from this kind of society that welcomed despotic rulers like Napoleon, and perhaps we should move to a more democratic future
• word “antique” contrasts with the present time of the speaker, suggesting a vast temporal gap between the speaker’s contemporary world and the land from which the traveler hails.

Question 2

“ and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command”

Answer 2

• “wrinkled” we also associate with age, so is implying that even the statue was on its way out, Ozymandias was already looking old in his power, so even though he felt at his most powerful when he had his statue made, Shelley may be pointing out that even then, his power was already slipping away

CONTEXT - in 1810, even though Napoleon seemed utterly invincible as he had conquered all of Europe, by 1812, he was defeated

• The words “wrinkled lip” and “sneer” carry negative connotations, suggesting scorn, contempt, and a sense of superiority. These connotations contribute to the overall theme of the poem, highlighting the hubris and eventual downfall of powerful rulers.
• “sneer” also suggests mockery or humour, no sympathy, exactly why we need a much more democratic system, as those who were born into power have no interest of helping those with less
• “cold command” plosives emphasise harsh nature of rulers, “command suggests military leader, which fits the image of Napoleon, Ozymandias and also Duke Wellington, who defeated Napoleon

Question 3

“the hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed”

Answer 3

• ambiguity, describing Ozymandias whilst describing the sculptor
• Volta (turn in the poem) This structural element emphasizes the contrast between the arrogance of Ozymandias’ inscription and the reality of his ruined empire.
• “the hand that mocked them” reference to Ozymandias, as if hes waving to a crowd, but in a condescending way which makes them feel inferior
• “and the heart that fed” - shrivelled heart, so hes not actually feeding his people anything, ironic, as people are crying out for either emotional or physical feeding, but hes cold hearted and giving them very little substance

ALTERNATIVE SCULPTOR INTERP

• sculptor survived Ozymandias, Shelley may be highlighting how art is far more powerful than political power that men choose to persue
• “hand” is the hand of the sculptor, and hes mocking Ozy, hes making the statue look so like Ozy that hes bringing out the real feelings Ozy has, so that his people can see him as he truly is, unkind, selfish and cruel
• ozy doesnt realise this and is oblivious and maybe doesnt even care
• the heart talks about the sculptors, whose turned the works of this horrendous ruler into a work art that will last throughout history, not just as a statue in the desert, but now news of it is spreading

Question 4

structure

Answer 4

• sonnet
• Departure from Traditional Sonnet Form: By deviating from the strict rhyme scheme and structure of traditional sonnets, Shelley disrupts the expected pattern and creates a sense of unpredictability. This departure mirrors the central theme of the poem—the downfall and impermanence of power. It challenges traditional notions of stability and permanence, emphasizing the transient nature of human achievements.
• enjambment, The flowing lines without punctuation create a sense of movement, allowing the ideas to unfold seamlessly. This technique mirrors the passing of time and the relentless march of history, reinforcing the theme of the inevitable decline of power.

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Question 5

“look on my works ye mighty and despair”

Answer 5

• The phrase “and despair” is an example of hyperbole, exaggerating the emotional response that Ozymandias expects from those who view his works. It emphasizes his arrogant belief that his achievements are so grand that they would leave others in awe and despair. However, the irony lies in the fact that his works have been reduced to ruins and are now a source of desolation.
• irony is reinforced by “my works” as we would usually use it to describe artists or painters, so although Ozy intended for this to be a celebration of himself, it is now a celebration of the artist, and the mighty person that anyone should despair is not anyone looking at the statue, but Ozymandias who should despair because he is no longer mighty, but the artist is

Question 6

“of that colossal wreck”

Answer 6

• allusion to Greek reference to Colossus, an enormous status, which was destroyed, presumably by an earthquake, no part of it has been found. but it was destroyed so long ago that it is not infact a myth
• oxymoron suggests even the most mighty symbols of power get destroyed over time, but also, we still know about them, for example every educated boy would have learnt about Colossus
• another way Shelley reinforces the power of art, because even though the statue has disappeared, the storytelling art is still there
• irony, shelley wants the same thing ozy wanted? ozy wanted his works to be mighty and last forever, and shelley wants his poetry to last forever, but we can be more charitable to shelley as he is not exploiting other people, rather hes offering something that he hopes would please people, and he wants his poetry to deserve to last, rather than impose it on anyone