ozymandias Flashcards
summary of the poem
A narrator describes his meeting with a traveller from a foreign land who told him a story about finding the shattered remains of an ancient statue of a king in the desert. The inscription beneath the statue indicates that the king was arrogant, proud and boastful
context - Shelley
Shelley was a romantic poet and wrote ozymandias in 1818, Shelley was radical politically and disapproved of the British monarchy, from this you could argue that this poem is a criticism of wielding power in an undemocratic way and ruling as a tyrant (king George)
context - rameses
Ozymandias is another name for a famous ancient Egyptian pharaoh rameses II - a successful warrior and builder
structure - rhyme
irregular rhyming scheme - the rhyme scheme does not follow that of a shakespearean or Petrarchan sonnet, this reflects the shattered power of the king or shows how temporary human structures are.
structure - rhythm
at line 10. ozymandias voice breaks iambic pentameter, reflects the kings belief that he is above the law
structure - enjambment
the use of enjambment and caesura throughout the poem creates a sense of fragmentation just like ozymandias power crumbling
key concept - arrogance of rulers
-Shelley points out the arrogance of rameses and other leaders whose power has lead to pride and the mistreatment of others
-the sculptor satirises ozymandias in the phrase ‘the hand that mocked them’
key concept - power of art
by describing how nothing remains of ozymandias but a work of art and a collection of words, Shelley suggests that art, language and literature are far more enduring than human power
key concept - timeless message
-could argue that its messages about abuse of power and the temporary nature political authority are still as relevant today as when Shelley was writing
‘vast and trunkless legs of stone’ ‘half sunk’
metaphor - the ruined statue is a metaphor for political power
‘shattered visage’
metaphor - as the face of the statue is shattered this comparatively suggests that ozymandias power is shattered too
‘my name is ozymandias, king of kings’
repetition - shows ozymandias wished to portray himself as omnipotent, suggests he is trying to deify himself and wants to be worshipped as a god
‘sneer of cold command’
alliteration - the use of sound in the poem contributes to the speakers distaste towards ozymandias eg ‘cold command’ ‘boundless and bare’
‘nothing beside remains. round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare’
juxtaposition - emphasises the contrast between his former power and his current state
caesura - after ‘remains’ highlights how ozymandias power has come to an end
comparisons - misuse of power and corruption
My last duchess
London
comparisons - power of nature/humans
storm on the island
exposure
the prelude
tissue
