Ozymandias Flashcards
Who is the author of the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
Percy Bysshe Shelley
What is the central theme of ‘Ozymandias’?
The inevitable decline of all leaders and empires
What is the setting of the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
A desert landscape
What does the statue of Ozymandias in the poem symbolize?
The transience of power and the passage of time
Who is Ozymandias believed to be based on?
Ramses II
What is the tone of the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
Ironical
In the poem, what inscription is found on the pedestal of Ozymandias’s statue?
‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!’
How does the speaker in the poem describe the statue of Ozymandias?
Half-sunk, shattered visage
What literary device is used in the poem when Ozymandias’s statue is described as ‘Two vast and trunkless legs of stone’?
Imagery
What does the phrase ‘Nothing beside remains’ suggest in the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
The impermanence of human achievements
What does the word ‘colossal’ refer to in the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
The size of the statue
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
ABABACDCDEFEF
How many sonnets did Percy Bysshe Shelley write in total?
About 30
What is the historical context of the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
The decline of ancient civilizations
What is the meaning of the term ‘shattered visage’ in the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
The broken face of the statue
What does the phrase ‘lone and level sands stretch far away’ signify in the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
The desolation and emptiness of the desert landscape
What does the name ‘Ozymandias’ mean in Greek?
Ruler of the air
What is the significance of the title ‘Ozymandias’?
It refers to the Greek name for Ramses II
What is the form of the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
Sonnet
What is the meter of the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
Iambic pentameter
What is the message conveyed by the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
The futility of human ambition and the inevitable decay of power
What is the response of the traveler to the statue of Ozymandias in the poem?
He is amazed by the ruins and the inscription
What does the adjective ‘sneer’ suggest in the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
Contempt or arrogance
What does the phrase ‘boundless and bare’ describe in the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
The surrounding landscape
