Ozymandias Flashcards
Who is ozymandias?
A self appointed ‘king of kings’. A god may also be referred to as a ‘king of kings’
What does shelly suggest will happen to all those with power?
All thinngs ‘powerful’ will fall to a natural demise
What does shelly present power as?
Power is transitory (temporary). It doesn’t last forever. It changes over time
What are three key things about shelly?
- romatic poet
- hated religion
- hated monarchy
Why does shelly write ozymandias?
Not to criticise ancient Egypt, but to criticise church and organised religion
Who wrote ozymandias?
Percy bysshe shelly
What is the first line of the poem?
“I met a traveller from an antique land”
What is the last line of the poem
“The lone and level sands stretch far away”
Finish the quote. “My name is Ozymandias…
…,king of kings: look on my works, ye mighty and dispair!”
How is the statue of ozymandias depicted?
“Two wast and trunkless legs of stone” - emphasises size and stature but also shows the statue is incomplete. (Trunkless means without a torso)
“Half sunk, a shatter’d visage lies” - irony shows that even a powerful human cant control the damaging effects of time. (Visage means face)
“Sneer of cold command” - the sculpter understood the arrogance of the ruler.
“Round the decay of that colossal wreck” - the ruined statue shows how human achievements are insignificant compared to the passing of time (colossal means very large)
What were shellys radical political views inspired by?
The events of the french revolution, where the monarchy was overthrown. Shelly did not like the idea of a monarch, or any higher power, including gods
