Ozymandias Flashcards
Structure and form
-Shelley combines elements of both Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets to show that all power, even literary traditions, is temporary and changeable. However, he breaks the typical rhyme scheme to suggest that poetry can challenge tradition and create new forms of power. This reflects the Romantic poets’ belief in questioning old ideas, whether in literature, religion, or politics.
Sonnets are usually love poems, so by making the statue the poem’s focus, Shelley may be presenting it as something to be admired. This could help disguise political messages while emphasizing nature’s power.
- The irregular rhyme scheme contrasts with the single stanza as the former suggests a lack of power and control of the ruler, whereas the single stanza suggests order. These contrasts could reflect how different groups of people view war and conflict as either beneficial or detrimental to society.
Poets message
Shelley’s Ozymandias warns that human power is temporary, as time and nature will outlast even the greatest rulers, making their arrogance and achievements meaningless.
“shattered visage”
The adjective “shattered” suggests complete destruction, emphasizing the loss of power and the fragility of human achievements.
It contrasts with Ozymandias’ former greatness, showing that time has broken even the face of a once-mighty ruler.
The verb also implies violence, suggesting the relentless force of nature and time, which have erased his legacy.
-“Visage” means face, which represents identity, pride, and authority.
The fact that Ozymandias’ face is broken symbolizes the fall of his ego and reputation.
Even though it’s shattered, the remains of his expression still show a “sneer of cold command,” reinforcing his arrogance and cruelty—but also the irony that his power is now meaningless.
“King of Kings, look on my works”
“King of Kings”
This phrase shows Ozymandias’ arrogance and belief in his superiority over all other rulers.
The repetition of ‘King’ not only emphasises Ozymandias’s self-perceived dominance, but also mimics the grandeur and self-importance of the ruler himself, as if he’s echoing his own title to the world.”
There are biblical echoes here—Jesus is often referred to as “King of Kings”—suggesting Ozymandias viewed himself as a god-like figure, adding to the theme of hubris (excessive pride).
Irony: Despite his grand claims, his empire has crumbled, showing that no ruler, no matter how powerful, can defeat time.
2. “Look on my Works”
-The imperative “Look” is a command, reflecting Ozymandias’ belief that his achievements would last forever.
“My Works” refers to his cities, monuments, and empire, which he thought were immortal.
However, the irony is that nothing remains except ruins—his “works” have been erased by time, reinforcing the theme of the fragility of human power.
-Shelley uses dramatic irony—Ozymandias boasts about his greatness, but all that is left is a ruined statue. This highlights the impermanence of power and how time will always destroy human achievements. It serves as a warning against tyranny, arrogance, and the belief that power lasts forever.
“The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
-The word “lone” immediately suggests desolation and solitude.
Ozymandias, once a mighty ruler surrounded by people, wealth, and power, is now utterly alone—both figuratively (his memory is forgotten) and literally (his statue lies abandoned in the desert).
The isolation also serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of human power—even the greatest rulers will one day be forgotten.
This reflects Romantic ideals, where nature outlasts and overpowers human arrogance.
-Level suggests equality—time has erased Ozymandias’ empire, making him no greater than any ordinary person.
The idea of levelling also reflects Shelley’s critique of tyranny—kings may think they are superior, but time reduces everyone to the same fate.
The desert metaphor is significant:
The sand has buried the evidence of Ozymandias’ so-called greatness.
This reinforces the idea that nature is far more powerful than any human achievement.
Sand as a symbol of time (like an hourglass) suggests that all rulers and civilizations will eventually disappear into history.
-The phrase “stretch far away” suggests the vastness and eternity of nature in contrast to the smallness and insignificance of human power.
The endless horizon of sand emphasizes that nothing remains of Ozymandias’ empire, making his earlier boast (“Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”) even more ironic.
The enjambment (the line continuing without pause) reinforces the idea of endlessness, mirroring the unstoppable passage of time.
-Ozymandias once thought his power would last forever, yet his statue is broken, his empire is gone, and all that remains is empty sand.
His boast “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” is now meaningless because there are no “works” left to look at.
This creates a strong sense of dramatic irony—his own words mock him because time has proved him wrong.
context
- Shelley’s Romantic Beliefs
• Shelley was a Romantic poet, opposed to tyranny and oppression.
• Romantics valued nature over human power, believing that nature is more permanent than human civilization.
• Shelley often criticized rulers who abused power, and Ozymandias reflects his belief that all human power is temporary and will eventually fade.- Inspired by Pharaoh Ramses II
• Ozymandias is another name for Ramses II, an Egyptian pharaoh known for his great monuments and military might.
• Shelley was inspired by reports of a massive ruined statue of Ramses—this symbolized how even the most powerful rulers and their legacies are eventually forgotten by time. - Criticism of Power & Tyranny
• Written in 1817, when King George III was ruling, known for his power-hungry nature and obsession with war.
• Shelley’s poem serves as a warning to leaders: no matter how powerful they seem, their legacy will eventually be erased by time.
- Inspired by Pharaoh Ramses II
