Ozymandias Flashcards
Key quotes for ozymandias
‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: look on my works, ye mighty and despair’
‘Half sunk, a shattered visage lies’
‘And wrinkled lip and sneed of cold command’
‘The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed’
Form and structure of ozymandias
-Shelley plays with these traditional sonnet themes to critique the idea of immortal glory. Instead of a poem that celebrates the permanence of human achievements, Ozymandias serves as a warning against the egotistical belief that human power can transcend time
-The iambic rhythm, while formal and dignified, serves to remind the reader of the futility of Ozymandias’ desire for eternal fame. The natural flow of speech contrasts with the unnatural arrogance of a ruler who believed his empire would last forever.
-The structure of the Petrarchan sonnet thus works to underscore the fall of Ozymandias. The first eight lines present his ego, his pride, and his desire for immortality, while the last six lines emphasize the futility of his ambitions and the decay of his power. In this way, Shelley mirrors the rise and fall of Ozymandias’ empire within the sonnet’s traditional structure.
Who by and when was ozymandias written
Written by Percy Byshe Shelley in 1817
Summary of ozymandias
Mankind thinks it’s powerful but nature and time are even more powerful
Context of ozymandias
- Based on Ramasses II who was regarded most powerful Pharos of Egyptian empire Similarly, Ramses II’s legacy, despite his monumental achievements, is also subject to the passage of time. The monuments and temples he built were meant to demonstrate his god-like power and ensure that he would never be forgotten. However, many of these structures have decayed, been repurposed, or fallen into ruin
-In the poem, the ruined statue in the desert can be seen as symbolic of the corruption of nature and the impermanence of human endeavor—ideas that were central to Romanticism, the movement to which Shelley belonged.
-Napoleon’s ambition for global dominance and his efforts to establish an empire that would endure forever parallel the egotism and hubris of Ozymandias in the poem. Just as Ozymandias sought to immortalize his power and achievements through the grand statue, Napoleon also believed that his legacy would last for centuries.
-Shelley was a radical who rejected authority, particularly the power of kings, dictators, and churches. He was an outspoken critic of oppressive regimes, particularly in Europe. This personal belief in freedom and equality shaped much of his poetry, and Ozymandias is no exception
Analyse : ‘look on my works ye mighty and despair’
-The “works” Ozymandias refers to are long gone, obliterated by time and the forces of nature. This stark contrast between the king’s boastful declaration and the reality of his decayed empire highlights the futility of human pride and ambition. The “Mighty” who are supposed to look upon Ozymandias’ works and “despair” are now confronted with nothing- an empty desert where no legacy remains. This reversal emphasizes that time erodes even the greatest powers. Instead of inspiring awe, Ozymandias’ inscription now serves as a warning to those who still place their faith in temporal power.
-Ozymandias’ command to “look” upon his works can be seen as the pinnacle of his self-aggrandizing attitude, one that leads to his downfall. In classical literature, hubris often precedes nemesis—the punishment for arrogance. This line is an embodiment of that classic theme, as Ozymandias’ belief that his power would be eternal directly contrasts with the reality of his destruction.
-Shelley’s poem warns that history is written by the victors, but that history itself is constantly rewritten by the passing of time, reducing even the greatest powers to dust.
Analyse: ‘And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command’
-The lip is a particularly significant detail, for it emphasizes the sneer—a gesture that connotes superiority and dismissal. The sneer, typically a facial expression associated with derision and scorn, enhances the impression that Ozymandias was not just a king, but a tyrant, someone whose rule was characterized by oppression and coldness
-The use of the adjective “cold” suggests an absence of compassion, warmth, or humanity, emphasizing how the king ruled with an iron fist, indifferent to the suffering of those under his rule. The “cold command” implies that his power was not tempered by any sense of justice or empathy but was rooted purely in dominance and authority.
-The alliteration of the hard consonant ‘c’ in “cold command” amplifies the harshness and severity of the king’s rule, making it seem even more rigid and unfeeling. The “sneer”, combined with “cold command”, enhances the portrait of a leader who uses his power not for the welfare of others but for self-glorification and control. The description thus serves as a sharp critique of authoritarian figures and tyranny in general, underscoring the dehumanizing effects of absolute power.
-Napoleon, with his military conquests and imperial ambitions, might have inspired Shelley’s critique of tyranny and ambition. Napoleon himself, despite being one of the most powerful leaders of his time, eventually fell from grace, and his empire crumbled, a historical parallel to the fate of Ozymandias.
Analyse: ‘the hand that mocked them and the heart that fed them ‘
-The hand that mocked is also symbolic of the sculptor’s artistic creation, which both glorifies and critiques the very subject it represents. By casting the king’s image, the sculptor is ironically capturing the arrogance and self-importance of Ozymandias, yet the act of creation itself is a reflection of the king’s delusion of immortality
-The sculptor’s hand, in its creation of the king’s statue, is thus both a creator of legacy and a mocking tool that condemns the arrogance of the ruler it depicts. This symbol speaks to the broader idea of the human desire for immortality through monuments and legacies, which ultimately fail in the face of time’s erosion.
-The verb “mocked” evokes an image of someone who disrespects or belittles those they serve, portraying Ozymandias as a tyrant who ruled through cruelty and scorn. His mockery suggests that any apparent kindness or generosity was insincere, serving only to reinforce his own superiority
Analyse : ‘half sunk, a shattered visage lies’
-This suggests that Ozymandias, once a king whose power dominated vast lands, is now subject to the relentless effects of time. The “half sunk” statue symbolizes the incompleteness of human achievement: even the mightiest rulers, who believe their legacies are eternal, will eventually be forgotten and consumed by the natural world.
-The word “shattered” suggests that the statue is not merely worn down or damaged, but violently destroyed, as though the forces of nature or time have utterly obliterated the king’s image.
-His empire, once vast and powerful, is now reduced to dust and sand, a stark contrast to the grandiose boast inscribed on the pedestal: “Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair”. The destruction of his statue speaks to the irony of his arrogance—rather than inspiring awe or fear, his ruined image now evokes a sense of futility and humiliation
