Ozymandias by Shelley

Question 1

“Half ..

Answer 1

“Half sunk, a shattered visage lies”
-further emphasizes the fact that the statue is in ruins. The use of the word “shattered” suggests that the statue has been destroyed, and the fact that only the “visage” remains underscores the idea that time and nature erodes all things.
-“sunk” suggests that it has been swallowed up by the earth, further emphasizing the idea of decay and destruction
- impermanence of physical objects

Question 2

“Two vast ….

Answer 2

“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone …. Stand in the desert”
-The use of the words “vast” and “trunkless” highlights the size of the statue and the fact that it has been reduced to fragments.
-vivid and evocative imagery of the legs standing alone in the desert creates a sense of isolation and loneliness, as if the statue is now a forgotten relic of a distant and long-forgotten past
-Deserts are typically seen as harsh, inhospitable environments that are difficult to survive in. By placing the statue in the desert, Shelley emphasizes the idea that power is ultimately fleeting and that even the mightiest rulers can be reduced to nothing by the passage of time and how power is ultimately transient

Question 3

sneer of

Answer 3

‘sneer of cold command ‘
-“sneer” suggests a contemptuous or mocking expression, while the word “cold” implies a lack of emotion or compassion. The combination of these two words suggests that Ozymandias was a ruler who was proud, arrogant, and perhaps even cruel which is ironic as now hes forgotten
-suggests a sense of detachment and distance between the ruler and his subjects. Ozymandias is not described as a leader who inspires love or loyalty from his people, but rather as one who rules with an iron fist and expects unquestioning obedience. The word “command” implies a sense of authority, but the fact that it is described as “cold” suggests that it is not backed up by any genuine warmth or humanity

Question 4

my name is …

Answer 4

“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings….Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
-encapsulates the hubris and arrogance of Ozymandias, who sees himself as a great and powerful ruler
-the hyperbole kings of kings shows him claiming to be the greatest ruler of all time, and this sets up a stark contrast with the ruins of his statue that the poem goes on to describe. The fact that his statue is now in ruins suggests that even the greatest rulers are ultimately subject to the passage of time
-challenging other rulers and powerful people to look upon his works and to feel envy and despair at their own inferiority. However, the irony of the situation is that there is nothing left of his works except for a few ruins in the desert. This reinforces the theme of the transience of power, and the idea that even the mightiest rulers will eventually fall
-boastful tone due to exclamation mark

Question 5

“Nothing beside …

Answer 5

“Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,the lone and level sands stretch far away.”
-paint a vivid picture of the desolate landscape where the statue of Ozymandias once stood
-the word “away” in the final line emphasizes the vastness and emptiness of the desert, and the phrase “lone and level sands” suggests that there is no sign of life or hope for the future
-decay” highlights the idea that even the most powerful and enduring things will eventually crumble and fade away. Additionally, the word “colossal” emphasizes the size and grandeur of the statue that has now been reduced to ruins
-The repetition of the “b” sound in this phrase also creates a harsh, bleak tone that adds to the poem’s overall mood
-particularly poignant, as it underscores the finality of time’s passage. The fact that there is nothing left in the desert, and no hope for anything new to arise, highlights the inevitability of change and the impermanence of all things