Ozymandias

Question 1

“I met a traveller from an antique land”

Answer 1

• Immediately passes responsibility for opinions onto a stranger
• Shelley was anti-monarchy and felt that the king od the time (King Goerge III) had overstayed his welcome
• The detached narrator allowed Shelley to comment on the monarchy freely as the views weren’t presented as his
• Shelley frames it as a story / myth = emphasises how unimportant Ozymandias is

Question 2

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

Answer 2

• Juxtaposition highlights the evil and cunning nature of the rulers: leaders are playing / toying with their people
• “Mocked” has connotations of imitation and critique. Shelley is showing how the ruler is mocking his people for trusting him but is also saying how the artist is mocking Ozymandias and he is unable to see it. Emphasises how blinded by power he is
• Highlights power of the artist as he “mocks” the ruler. Common theme of romantacism
• “The heart that fed” represents how Ozymandias was a power-hungry ruler: alluding to King Goerge III

Question 3

“Look on my works, ye mighty and despair”

Answer 3

• Imperative clause shows his tyranical and oppressive rule
• Ironic as Ozymandias wanted people of the city to be in awe of his power but nothing is left
• Shelley is using the artist as a parallel of himself?: suggesting that his legacy will outlive that of King Goerge III
• “My works” refers to the artist instead of the ruler: artist should be celebrated instead. Ironic as Ozymandias should despair isntead of the people
• Poem is written in sonnet form: form of love poem. Shows how Ozymandias is in love with power and supremecy
• Doesn’t match the rhyme scheme of common sonnet forms and is always changing: shows how power is transitory and is always changing

Question 4

“Nothing besides remains”

Answer 4

• Juxtaposes whole poem
• Represents the power of nature and impermenance of man
• Volta in the poem: shift from awe of the statue to mockery of the impermenance of power
• Simple sentence shows that no matter how powerful you are, nature will always defeat you

Question 5

“The lone and level sands stretch far away”

Answer 5

• Hyperbole: emphasising how unimportant Ozymandias was. Could be mocking humans for thinking that they are more important than nature
• Shows power of nature: the sands go on forever but man doesn’t
• Nature is able to easily destroy Ozymandias’ legacy
• Anthropomorphism of nature is ironic as it is given human qualities to show that it is more powerful than humans: Shelley is mocking humans
• Alliterative consonance of liquids further emphasises the endlessness and power of nature over man

Question 6

structure, form and context - OZYMANDIAS

Answer 6

• Religious critique: Shelley was expelled from university for writing in favour of atheism
• Ozymandias was believed to be the pharoah that prosecuted Moses
• Shelley is commenting on the transitory nature of God and religion?

Question 7

“Shattered visage lies […] sneer of cold command”

Answer 7

• Adjective “shattered” shows that it is beyond repair = power of nature
• “Sneer” suggests that leaders have no sympathy for their people. Political reference: suggesting the King has no interest in helping the people
• “Cold command” - alliterative consonance of plosives amplifies emotionless nature of rulers
• Adjective “cold” suggests that his authority is over”

Question 8

“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings”

Answer 8

• Biblical reference as Jesus is refered to as the “king og kings”
• Ozymandias views himself as God-like
• Shelley is saying that the power of God is transitory?: Was a known believer of atheism