Ozymandias and my Last duchess comparison

Question 1

“Ozymandias” by Percy Shelley and “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning are both poems that explore the dangers of power and how it can corrupt those who wield it. Here are some ways they compare:

Answer 1

Power: Both poems depict power as unstable, unreliable, and easily lost. The poems also show how power can be abused by arrogant and heartless rulers.

Legacy: The legacy of the subject in both poems is told through the voice of another person, which diminishes and mocks the subject’s power. In Ozymandias, the story is told through two voices. In My Last Duchess, the Duke’s control over the Duchess is shown through her portrait.

Decay: The Duke’s arrogance leads to a more immediate decay than Ozymandias’ legacy, as he destroys the spirit of those under his power.

Narration: Both poems use layers of narration to reinforce their portrayals of power.

Metaphor: In My Last Duchess, the Duke uses metaphorical language to dehumanize the Duchess and emphasize his ownership and control over her.

Speakers: Both the Duke and the King speak of themselves in a narcissistic way.

Question 2

Here are some ways that the structure and form of Ozymandias and My Last Duchess compare:

Answer 2

Narrative voice
Ozymandias uses a layered narrative voice, while My Last Duchess uses a dramatic monologue.
Form
Ozymandias is a sonnet in iambic pentameter, which is structured as an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines).
Theme
Both poems explore the theme of power and control, and how they can be destructive when in the wrong hands.
Subject
Both poems feature an inanimate object that represents the power of the subject: a statue of the king in Ozymandias and a painting of the duchess in My Last Duchess.
Tone
Ozymandias uses a more distanced and reflective approach, while My Last Duchess uses a direct and personal narrative.

Question 3

differences between Ozymandias and my last duchess

Answer 3

Tone
Ozymandias has a reflective and ironic tone, while My Last Duchess has a controlling, proud, and sinister tone.
Imagery
Ozymandias uses imagery of a ruined statue and a vast desert, while My Last Duchess uses imagery of a portrait of the Duchess and the Duke’s descriptions.
Symbols
Ozymandias uses symbols of a statue of Ozymandias and inscriptions, while My Last Duchess uses symbols of a portrait of the Duchess and Neptune taming a seahorse.
Irony
Ozymandias uses irony to highlight the ephemeral nature of power by showing the mighty statue in ruins. My Last Duchess uses irony to show the Duke’s monstrous nature by having him reveal his own monstrous nature while trying to present himself as sophisticated.
Narrative voice
In My Last Duchess, the Duke’s narrative voice distances the reader from the Duchess, making the reader aware that the Duchess is controlled by the Duke