Ozymandias

Question 1

Who wrote Ozymandias?

Answer 1

Percy Bysshe Shelly

Question 2

What form is the poem in?

Answer 2

Broken Petrarchan Sonnet

Question 3

Why do you think Shelly chose to write Ozymandias in the form he did?

Answer 3

Could reflect the ways that human power and structures can be destroyed

Question 4

What could the oxymoron ‘colossal wreck’ suggest?

Answer 4

The ruined statue shows how human achievements are insignificant compared to the passing of the time.

Question 5

What period of poetry did the poet come from?

Answer 5

Romantic

Question 6

What was Shelly’s radical views inspired by?

Answer 6

The French Revolution, where the monarchy was overthrown

Question 7

What did Shelly dislike?

Answer 7

Monarchies, absolute power and the oppression of ordinary people.

Question 8

What themes are present in the poem?

Answer 8

Power of Humans, Power of Nature and Pride

Question 9

Which poems could you compare with Ozymandias?

Answer 9

London (Power of Humans),
Extract from the Prelude (Pride),
My Last Duchess (Power of Humans and Pride),
Exposure (Power of Nature),
Storm on the Island, (Power of Nature and Power of Humans),
Kamikaze (Power of Nature),
Checking Out Me History (Power of Humans)