Ozymandias - Percy Shelly

Question 1

Structure and form

Answer 1

• Sonnet with a turning point like petrarchan sonnet
• however it doesn’t follow a regular sonnet rhyme scheme, perhaps reflecting the way human power structure can be destroyed.
• Sonnet shows how Ozymandias love them self
• The story is a secondhand account which distances the reader even further from the decking

Question 2

Context

Answer 2

• Shelly was a romantic poet and believed in the power of nature
• Shelly was considered a radical and Ozymandias reflects his beliefs about being anti monarchist
• he is writing about the dangers of thinking you are invincible, a timeless message
  Ozymandias was the Greek name for the Egyptian pharaoh Rameses ii

Question 3

“I met a traveller from an antique land”

Answer 3

• Shelly tells the story as a tale told him
• He may have framed it as a story to make it clear that the narrator hasn’t even seen the statue himself - he’s only heard of it
• This emphasises how unimportant Ozymandias is now

Question 4

“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone”

Answer 4

• adjective ‘vast’ could symbolise the extent of power Ozymandias had
• A sense of irony as it is followed by ‘trunkless’ = his power may have been huge but there was no substance to it so it faded away

Question 5

“Half sunk, a shatter visage lies”

Answer 5

• phrase ‘have sunk’ immediately establishes the theme of something decreasing or deteriorating - the power and reputation of Rameses II
• adjective ‘shattered’ creates an image of it being in pieces - weak and fragile = insignificant
• as nature has eroded and destroyed the symbol of human power, it reminds us that natural environment I’ll always outlast any human settlement.
  Reminds us of our own mortality – even the most powerful kings will turn to dust
• noun ‘visage’ means face but metaphorically identity = the identity of a leader is less than it was, thus power is temporary

Question 6

“Wrinkles lip, sneer of cold command”

Answer 6

• shows how Ozymandias was perceived by others
• Unpleasant image of him being the disapproving and unsatisfied at all times with ‘wrinkled lip’
• metaphor ‘sneer of cold command’ = insight into his leadership – he was not personable or warm in any way

Question 7

“Kings of Kings”

Answer 7

• repetition of noun ‘King’ foreground the rulers arrogance
• Metaphorically he was on top of everyone else
• Due to his ‘shattered’ image readers would view him as a delusional and overwhelmed with his power
• ‘King’ = title given to Jesus = sees himself as above God

Question 8

“Look on my words ye mighty and despair!”

Answer 8

• Imperative sentence used in the inscription on the statue ‘look on my words’ exposes the rulers arrogance and pride
• Even after death he is trying to do and dictate what others should do
• As the words are on a ‘pedestal’ it figuratively and literally shows that Ozymandias places himself above everyone else and has an inflated sense of ego

Question 9

“Round the decay of that colossal wreck”

Answer 9

• now ‘decay’ indicates that the decreasing power has happened over time. This shows how time cannot be overruled
• ‘colossal’ highlights the sheer extent and massiveness of Ozymandias power
• This is juxtaposed with ‘wreck’ which implies that this power is now non-existent; it is a memory and nothing more