Ozymandias Flashcards
Who is Ozymandias written by?
Percy Bysshe Shelley
When was Ozymandias written?
1817
What are some context points about Percy Bysshe Shelley?
- Expelled from Oxford within a year for promoting atheist views
- Parents rejected his beliefs. which included vegetarianism, political radicalism and sexual freedom
- Romantic poet who valued creative freedom
- Troubled relationship with his MP father may have been behind his critical views on authority
What are some context points about Ozymandias?
- Rameses II of Egypt
- Egyptian Pharaoh - a god on Earth, head of government, leader of the army
- Ruled Egypt from his teens to 90s, one of the greatest pharaohs ever
- Had many statues built in his honour
- Shelley wrote Ozymandias about a stature of him
What is the significance of the title of Ozymandias?
Ozymandias name means born to rule
“I met a…
…traveller from an antique land Who said:”
“two vast…
…and trunkless legs of stone”
“half sunk…
…a shattered visage lies”
“frown…
…and wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command”
"”yet survive…
…stamped on these lifeless things”
“hand that…
…mocked them”
“king…
…of kings”
“Look on…
…my works, ye Mighty and despair!”
“Nothing…
…beside remains”
“decay of…
…that colossal wreck”
“boundless and bare…
…The lone and level sands stretch far away”
What is significant about Ozymandias’ form?
A sonnet conveys Ozymandias’ love for himself. the atypical rhyme scheme, however, could be Shelley suggesting that power fades
What is Ozymandias about?
Shelley describes the wreck of the statue of Ozymandias to contrast the power he once held, this implies that human power is weak and not long lasting compared to the power of time
