Ozymandius Flashcards
“Boundless and bare”. “Lone and level”
Shelley uses alliteration to demonstrate the vast and unending power of the desert and to contrast and belittle the limited power of man. The statue can be seen as a representation of human power- a kings attempt to evade death and cement himself in history yet it lies broken as a “colossal wreck” stripped of its power while the desert remains endless and overwhelming in size
“Cold commands”
Consonance. Repetition of hard c sound reflects the callous lack of compassion the king had for its subjects and how oppressive his rule was. It also suggests a use of power for military aims without ant interference from empathy or compassion. This is reflective of Shelley’s own anti-violence stance as he was against all military exploits and thus also against the “cold commands” that initiate them
“Shattered visage”
Creates a sense of irony. The poem portrays a king who believed greatly in his power and superiority and tried to present this image of greatness through his statue. Yet the statue has now been forgotten and destroyed by time. Therefore the visage of power he wore through his reign was a mask for the true vulnerability of his authority
“Look on my works”
They no longer exist. Ozymandias has no legacy despite his orders. This has some contextual irony as Rameses hoped to expand power and influence of Egypt but now it is just a featureless desert and an antique land
“Sands of time”
Regardless of how powerful man becomes, nature will always prevail.
Dramatic irony
The king is confident that his power will remain throughout history and this confidence makes him commemorate himself in statue. However the speaker see that the statue, and therefore the legacy, is destroyed. It mocks rulers past present and future for thinking they will be any different
