Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley Flashcards
What is the structure of Ozymandias?
It is a 14-line poem written as a Petrarchan sonnet with a varied rhyme scheme.
What are the key themes of Ozymandias?
Arrogance, power, the eternal nature of art, legacy, and time.
What is the significance of the sonnet’s irregular rhyme scheme?
It metaphorically represents the corruption of authority or lawmakers in society.
Who is narrating the poem?
The speaker recounts the story told by a traveler from an “antique land.”
What do the “trunkless legs of stone” symbolize?
The broken statue represents the downfall of Ozymandias and the fragility of human power.
What does the “shattered visage” suggest about Ozymandias?
His arrogance and tyranny are still visible even in ruins, symbolizing the lasting impression of a ruler’s cruelty.
What theme is introduced by the phrase “half sunk”?
The theme of time and legacy—it suggests that even great rulers will be forgotten as time erases their impact.
What does the phrase “king of kings” reveal about Ozymandias?
His arrogance and belief in his supreme power.
Why is “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” ironic?
Because nothing remains of his empire, showing the futility of human pride and ambition.
How does the sculptor play a role in Ozymandias’ legacy?
The sculptor preserved Ozymandias’ arrogance and tyranny, making art more enduring than political power.
What is the effect of “boundless and bare” in the final lines?
It emphasizes the vast emptiness and insignificance of Ozymandias’ once-great empire.
What poetic device is used in “the hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed”?
Juxtaposition—contrasting Ozymandias’ cruelty (“mocked”) with his role as a ruler (“fed”).
How does Shelley use enjambment in the poem?
The poem flows continuously, mirroring the passage of time and the erosion of power.
What is the effect of alliteration in “boundless and bare” and “lone and level sands”?
It emphasizes emptiness and the insignificance of Ozymandias’ legacy.
How does Shelley use irony in Ozymandias?
The proud inscription on the pedestal contrasts with the ruins, showing the futility of human power.
What is the significance of the phrase “Nothing beside remains”?
It reinforces the theme that power and human achievements are temporary.
What does the desert setting symbolize?
The passage of time and nature’s ability to erase human achievements.
How does the statue reflect Ozymandias’ rule?
It captures his arrogance and cruelty, which are all that remain of his reign.
Why is the traveler an important figure in the poem?
He provides an external perspective, reinforcing the theme that all empires fade.
What does the phrase “colossal wreck” signify?
The fall of Ozymandias’ once-great empire, showing the impermanence of power.
How does the poem critique rulers and power?
It suggests that all rulers, no matter how mighty, will eventually be forgotten.
How does Ozymandias explore the theme of arrogance?
The king’s boastful inscription contrasts with the ruined statue, showing the emptiness of pride.
How does the poem reflect the eternal nature of art?
The sculptor captured Ozymandias’ personality, preserving his legacy longer than his empire.
How does Ozymandias portray time and legacy?
It shows that time erases human achievements, leaving only remnants of the past.
