Ozymandius - Percy Shelley

Question 1

What are the 3 key ideas explored in ‘Ozymandius’?

Answer 1

• Arrogance of rulers
• Power of art
• Timeless message

Question 2

How does shelley explore arrogance of rulers in the poem?

Answer 2

Shelley points out the arrogance of Rameses II, who’s power has lead to pride and the mistreatment of others

Question 3

What does Shelley suggest about the power of art using the poem?

Answer 3

By describing how nothing remains of ozymandius except a statue and an inscription, shelley suggests art, language and literature outlives human power

Question 4

How is the poem timeless?

Answer 4

You can argue that the shelley’s message about the abuse of human and political power and how temporary it is, is still as relevant today as it was when the poem was written

Question 5

How does shelley use juxtaposition to emphasise the ephemeral nature of ozymandius’ power?

Answer 5

Placing the words ‘colossal’ and ‘wreck’ together highlights to the reader his former position and his current state

Question 6

How does shelley use caesuras to emphasise the ephemeral nature of ozymandius’ power?

Answer 6

The caesura, which is a break in the line, after “remains” highlights how ozymandius’ power has come to an end

Question 7

How does shelley use the ruined statue metaphor to emphasise the ephemeral nature of ozymandius’ power?

Answer 7

The statue is a metaphor for political power, it is now ‘shattered’, ‘wreck’ and ‘decay[ed]’ and so is ozymandius’ power

Question 8

How does shelley portray his dislike for corrupt rulers such as ozymandius?

Answer 8

• Negative language

- Alliteration

Question 9

How does shelley use negative language to portray his dislike for ozymandius?

Answer 9

Negative language such as ‘frown’, ‘sneer’, wrinkled’ and ‘stamped’ is used, this reflects the poet’s own feelings towards the ruler and his cruel ways

Question 10

How does shelley use alliteration to portray his dislike for ozymandius?

Answer 10

The alliteration of harsh (plosive) ‘c’ and ‘b’ sounds, in ‘cold command’ and ‘boundless and bare’ contribute to emphasise the speakers distaste for ozymandius

Question 11

How does shelley categorise ozymandias as arrogant, proud and boastful?

Answer 11

• Repetition

- Imperative language

Question 12

How does shelley use repetition to categorise ozymandias as arrogant, proud and boastful?

Answer 12

The repetition of ‘kings’ in ‘king of kings’ highlights how ozymandias believes himself to be omnipotent and wants to deify himself (make himself a god and be worshipped as one)

Question 13

How does shelley use imperative language to categorise ozymandias as arrogant, proud and boastful?

Answer 13

The imperative verb ‘look’ highlights how controlling ozymandias was

Question 14

What 3 techniques of broken structure does Shelley use to reflect ozymandias’ crumbling power?

Answer 14

• Irregular rhyming scheme
• Rhythm breaker
• Enjambment and caesuras

Question 15

How does shelley use of an irregular rhyming scheme to reflect ozymandias’ crumbling power?

Answer 15

The rhyme scheme does not follow that of a shakespearan sonnet, this fragmented rhyme scheme helps to highlight ozymandias’ ‘shattered’ power. It also shows how temporary human structures are

Question 16

What does shelley’s mixing of rhyme schemes echo?

Answer 16

His rebellious mixing of rhyme schemes echos the seditious nature of his comments on political authority

seditious = trying to make people rebel

Question 17

How does shelley’s use of a rhythm breaker reflect ozymandias’ crumbling power?

Answer 17

In line 10, the king’s voice breaks iambic pentameter (rhythm scheme) , this shows that he believes he is above all else and doesn’t have to conform to anything

Question 18

How does shelley’s use of enjambment and caesuras reflect ozyamandias’ crumbling power?

Answer 18

Enjambment and caesuras contribute to a sense of fragmentation which highlights the crumbling statue and ozymandias’ crumbling power

Question 19

What 3 techniques does shelley use to add irony to the poem and mock ozymandias?

Answer 19

• Statue’s poor current state
• Second-hand account
• Sonnet form

Question 20

How does shelley use the statue’s poor current state to mock ozymandias?

Answer 20

The crumbling state of the statue shows how ozymandias’ plan to immortalise himself backfired as the statue he created as a memory of himself is now ‘shattered’ in the middle of the desert where no one can even see it, this shows just how insignificant and forgotten ozymandias is

Question 21

How does shelley use a second-hand account to mock ozymandias’?

Answer 21

The poem is a second-hand account, the speaker describes someone else’s account of visiting the statue but the speaker has not visited it himself, this shows just how insignificant ozymandias is; the speaker doesn’t find his statue worthy of a visit

Question 22

How does shelley use a sonnet form to mock ozymandias?

Answer 22

The poem has 14 lines and is a sonnet (except the part where ozymandias speaks). A sonnet is traditionally a love poem, this implies that ozymandias was in love with himself and had a huge ego

Question 23

What are 6 significant quotes from ozymandius?

Answer 23

• ‘Vast and trunkless legs of stone’
• ‘Half sunk’
• ‘Shattered visage’
• ‘Sneer of cold command’
• “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. / Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
• ‘Nothing besides remains. Round the decay / of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare.’

Question 24

Which other poems does the theme of powerful individuals and the misuse of power also appear in?

Answer 24

• My last Duchess

- London

Question 25

Which other poems does the theme of power of nature vs power of humans also appear in?

Answer 25

• Storm on the island
• Exposure
• Prelude
• Tissue