Ozymandias (Loss of Power) Flashcards
Title - “Ozymandias”
What does this imply about the person “Ozymandias”?
Using a person as a title
Suggests that they have power / importance to the poem.
Refers to Ramses II an Egyptian pharaoh who was known for being a tyrant
“Who said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone..”
What does this suggest about Ozymandias originally, to now?
Suggests originally Ozymandias was powerful and sturdy but now is weak and broken
Statue is “vast” bus also trunkless shows his power may have been huge but there was no substance to it it soon faded away
“Half sunk, a shattered visage, whose frown”
What does “a shattered visage” suggest?
Visage - a persons face
Refers to the statue’s broken face.
The verb ‘sunk’ and ‘shattered’ shows nature has eroded and destroyed this human symbol of power.
Suggests the natural environment will outlast any human settlement
“whose frown and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command”
What does the consonance “cold, command” suggest about Ozymandias?
Consonance - repetition of similar sounds
The consonance emphasises Ozymandias harshness.
“Wrinkled” and “frowned” suggests the leader’s proud and arrogant stern face is still “stamped” on the broken stone although he and the sculptor are both long and dead
“Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,”
What does this tell us?
Contrast between “survive” and “lifeless” reminds us that Ozymandias is dead.
Suggests that we all eventually die / time catches up to us.
“The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed”
How does this present Ozymandias? “mocked”
Presents Ozymandias negatively as “mocking” - making fun of someone
Shelley may have wanted to show authority can corrupt people ( his political beliefs)
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings”
What does this imply about Ozymandias?
Religious tone implies arrogance.
Hyperbole emphasises his arrogance
Ozymandias thinks he is better than god.
“My name” shows Ozymandias opinion of himself and show his inflated opinion of himself
“Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
What does this make Ozymandias appear as?
Ozymandias feels superior highlighting his arrogance.
“despair” - commanding telling them they are inferior to him.
“Mighty” could mean hes talking about the gods suggesting he has a deluded opinion of himself
“The lone and level sands stretch far away”
The verb “Stretch” suggests that nature will outlast man and humanity.
“i met a traveller from an antique land”
What does “antique” suggest about Ozymandias land now?
Antique = Old
Suggests his land is no longer relevant and that Ozymandias has no power.
The poem opens in the first person he has met “the traveller” meaning this is the first person he has met.
What is the meaning of the poem?
Using Ozymandias to be viewed negatively showing how power corrupts yet uses phrases to show power is not long lasting. Ozymandias is portrayed as a arrogant fool to criticise those in power.
Could be because of Percy’s aethiest views
Give some context to the poem “Ozymandias”
Written by Percy Bysshe Shelley who was a romantic poet and wrote a lot about the power of nature.
Shelley was considered to be a ‘radical’ and Ozymandias reflects this side of his character. He is writing about the dangers of thinking you are invincible, a timeless messanger.
What are the themes of Ozymandias (In your opinion):
- Power
- Nature
- Love
- War
- Time
- Place
- Man
- Death
- Religion
Key themes of Ozymandias (In my opinion):
- Power (Power of Ozymandias and superior power of nature)
- Nature (Nature has more power then Ozymandias)
- Love (It is a Sonnet and Ozymandias loves himself) (Debatable)
- Time (Uses time taking power away from Ozymandias)
- Man (Ozymandias thought he was a god but he was just a man) (Debatable)
6.Religion (Ozymandias thinks he is superior to god)
“Nothing beside remains”
What does this suggest?
Suggests that Ozymandias works have crumbled, his civilization is gone and has been turned to dust by the power of nature and time.
Final words - “This lone and level sands stretch far away”
What does this suggest?
Suggests how broken the statue is a monument to man’s hubris. This poem is a statement about insignificance of human beings to time and nature.
