Ozymandias Flashcards
Ozymandias - Opening frames this as a story. Distance between us and Ozy. Connotations of old and fragile, “antique”. Land is irrelevant, was strong.
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Ozymandias - Juxtaposition of life and death remind us Ozy is dead and his legacy is almost.
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things
Ozymandias - Ozy thinks he’s above God. This quote contains connotations of power and authority. Imperative verb, commanding God. Capital M in “Mighty” is a reference to God. He feels superior and is arrogant.
‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my words, ye Mighty, and despair!’
Ozymandias - “Colossal wreck” has a double meaning. His land used to be large and second is the wreck is massive. Triple alteration (b, l, s) emphasise emptiness.
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
