Ozymandias

Question 1

Key quotes for ozymandias

Answer 1

‘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’

‘Of that colossal wreck’

Question 2

Form and structure of ozymandias

Answer 2

-Poem is written in a sonnet, this is used to mirror ozymandias’ egotistical love for himself
-written in loose iambic pentameter which shows his power is short lived
-irregular rhyme scheme which represents how order and regime can easily be lost

Question 3

Who by and when was ozymandias written

Answer 3

Written by Percy Byshe Shelley in 1817

Question 4

Summary of ozymandias

Answer 4

Mankind thinks it’s powerful but nature and time are even more powerful

Question 5

Context of ozymandias

Answer 5

• Based on Ramasses II who was regarded most powerful Pharos of Egyptian empire, known for having military strength his army was enormous for the time
• Shelly didn’t like that poorer classes were out down by empires and royalty

Question 6

Analyse : ‘look on my works ye might and despair’

Answer 6

• wants people to be in awe of his power but ironically it shows how he has lost all power
• Shelley thinks power is temporary and corrupting and can never last it underlines how fragile power is
• there is nothing left to admire, emphasising the downfall of the great ruler

Question 7

Analyse: ‘And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command’

Answer 7

-idea that shows that humans shouldn’t cling onto power (like napoleon during French Revolution who seemed invincible but then we defeated)
-‘sneer’ conveys ideas that rulers have no contempt or sympathy and no interest to help ordinary citizens
- repetition of c sound to show how emotionless of a ruler

Question 8

Analyse: ‘the hand that mocked them and the heart that fed them ‘

Answer 8

• the hand could be seen as the hand of the sculptor and the idea of ‘mocked’ could mean replicated so well it brings out ozymandias’ true qualities
  -‘heart that fed’ is the sculptor who has been able to give the citizens the truth and turn ozymandias actions into an artwork where what he did could be spread

Question 9

Analyse : ‘half sunk, a shattered visage lies’

Answer 9

-creates a sense of irony
-a king who believed so strongly in his own power and superiority has now been forgotten and destroyed by time