ozymandias - percy bysshe shelley Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

“two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert.”

A

shows the structure of the statue.

  • Adjective “vast” emphasises on the size of the statue which reflects the power he holds.
  • Adjective “trunkless” shows the statue isn’t performing its function as it has lost the base foundation, which conveys his power has long been gone.
  • Like how a kingdom needs its people for foundation, it is lost which symbols the population has left the king behind
  • Setting “desert” suggests an absence of life and vitality.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

“Half sunk, a shattered visage.”

A

shows the condition of the statue.

  • Adjective “shattered” tells us his legacy is not remembered and cared for, and this also further proves nature and time are more powerful compared to humans.
  • Ironic as even a powerful ruler like Ramesses II can’t control the damage caused by the passge of time and nature.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

“whose frown, and wrinkled lips, and sneer of cold command.”

A

reflecting on the ruler through the statue.

  • Adjective “wrinkled” shows an evil impression of him, which the statue’s purpose was to presents the target through an image.
  • Verb “sneer” shows a tyranical ruler who abuses his power, given that he looks down on his people and doesn’t treat them with good intentions.
  • Alliteration “cold command” highlights how this ruler rules through fear.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

“My name is Ozymandias, kings of kings. Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

A

what the pedstal on the statue says.

  • Short setence to show his importance so he can be rememberd however
    ironically he is forgotten and abandoned by his people.
  • Assertion “kings of kings” reveals the ruler thinks he is powerful, similarly to a God as he thinks he is above all the kings in the world.
  • Imperative “Look” shows how he orders other rulers to be submissive to him as he is the most powerful and should be admired.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

“Nothing besides remains.”

A

everything is forgotten

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

“Round the decay of that colossal wreck.”

A

shows that the ruined statue

  • is a symbol of fragility in human power compared to the long lasting nature.
  • Oxymoron “colossal wreck” highlights the once powerful and mightiest ruler’s power is destroyed due to nature and this emphasises on the fragile nature of human power.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

“Boundless and bare of the lone and level sands stretch far away”

A

showing a lack of population and human life around the statue.

  • Alliteration emphasises on the feeling of empty space and highlights the lack of human who is actually caring for the statue’s condition, showing a lack of care and has been forgotten.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

CONTEXT

A
  • The use of the sonnet form illustrates how the achievements of even the mightiest tyrants are obliterated by time.
  • “Ozymandias” meant Ruler of Nothing.
  • He is a romantic poet and focuses on the power of nature.
  • Wrote this for a competition with his friend.
  • He is criticising people who acts as if they are invincible hence the poem describes the statue as forgotten.
  • The statue is of an Egyptian king named Rameses II who was a military conqueror and built many statue of himself.
  • Shelley is criticising monarchies or people who have absolute power oppressed people, given that he dislikes them.
  • He has radical political views on people who abuses their power and has desires to speak against the injustice he perceived in society.
  • inspired by a huge, partially destroyed statue in Egypt.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly