Ozymandias Flashcards
Who wrote Ozymandias?
Percy Shelley
Give some context for the poet who wrote Ozymandias.
He was part of the romantics.
He was an atheist.
He drowned when he was 29.
Give some context for the poem Ozymandias.
It was during reign of George 3rd.
Shelley hated the monarchical ways of George.
The character symbolises George 3rd.
Ozymandias was a ruler who led battles to protect Egypt but also extend boarders.
What themes are explored in Ozymandias?
The power of nature
The arogance of man
The power of nature always outways the power of man (contadicts the cathoic outlook that man is more powerful/stuarts of the Earth)
What is the structure of Ozymandias?
Sonnet like structure; 14 lines, octave, volta and the sestet
Doesn’t follow one rhyme scheme of a sonnet- mixture of petrachan, shakespearian and new form of sonnet. This shows all power ultimately gives way to new power.
Iambic pentameter
Sonnet could show that the characters the poem represents are in love with themselves.
Where is this quote from?
“I met a traveller from an atique land”
Give some short analysis of this quote.
Ozymandias
Shelley is distancing himself from the story. He is criticising the British monarchy but doesn’t want to be too open about it.
What is the semantic field in Ozymandias?
Negetivity
There’s repetition of very negetive language. This clearly shows that the poem isn’t praising the powerful but criticising it.
Why and how is repetition used within the poem Ozymandias?
The repetition of the ‘c’ sound (‘cold command’) reflects the harsh nature of Ozymandias.
How and why is alliteration used in Ozymandias?
‘Boundless and bare’
reflects emptiness
Analyse this quote and identify which poem it is from:
‘lone and level sands stretch far away’
Ozymandias
Nature outlives the statue.
How does Shelley make reference to the artist in Ozymandias?
‘The hand that mocked them’
double meaning of mocked; to create or to make fun of. Highlights Ozymandias’ ignorance - he didn’t spot the mockery in the statue. The artist is satirically mocking ozymandias.
What are some biblical references made in Ozymandias?
‘king of kings’ the title given to Jesus in biblical scripture.
Leaders fade away.
