Ozymandias
- Created by: hollyworboys
- Created on: 27-09-20 13:19
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- Ozymandias by Percy Shelley
- Context
- Shelley was politically radial and disapproved by British monarchy
- Shelley hated injustice
- Romantic poet - a peotic movement that turned towards nature instead of the establishmentWritten in 1817
- Poem is criticizing the undemocratic ruling and abuse of power that happens in the world and tyrannical behaviour from leaders
- Summary
- 2. Traveler told him about finding the shattered remains of an ancient statue of a king in the desert
- 3. The inscription beneath the statue indicates that the king was arrogant, proud and boatful
- 4. Ozymandias is another name for the powerull ancient Egyptian pharaoh - Rames 11
- 1. describes the narrator's meeting with a foreign lande
- 5. Overarching message that human power is temporary
- Themes
- Negative portrayal of Ozymandias
- list of language used in description: "sneer", "frown", "wrinkled", "stamped "
- displayed as cruel and harsh looking and acting
- alliteration of harsh 'c' and 'b' sounds in "cold command" and "boundless and bare"
- list of language used in description: "sneer", "frown", "wrinkled", "stamped "
- Corrupt ruler
- repetition of "kings" and "king of kings"- wishes to portray his self as omnipotent
- suggests he is trying to deify himself. to push the narrative he is worthy
- use if language e.g imperative verbs indicates how controlling he is
- repetition of "kings" and "king of kings"- wishes to portray his self as omnipotent
- Human power is ephemeral (temporary)
- caesura after "remains" (line 12) symbolic of his power coming to an end
- ruined statue is a metaphor for political power
- "half sunk" - stuck in arrogant mind set. unstable ruling
- juxtaposition of "colossal" and "wreck" contrast between former power and current state of statue
- Negative portrayal of Ozymandias
- Key Ideas
- Timeless message that is still used today
- abuse of power
- human power is temporary
- nature claimed back statue and destroyed it
- Power of art
- art, literature and language are more enduring than human power
- nothing remains of Ozymandias' empire except statue, inscription and the judgmental views towards him
- art, literature and language are more enduring than human power
- Arrogance of rulers
- Arrogance and self-righteousness has lead to the mistreatment of others.
- Timeless message that is still used today
- Irony and Rhythm
- Irony - Ozymandias presents himself as God like and as an eternal being however his statue crumbles
- poem is in sonnet form e.g he is in love with himself
- over inflated ego
- second hand account - narrator is being told about him
- highlights insignificance of him
- No regular rhythm or rhyme scheme - fragmented structure reflects kings "shattered" pwer
- mixing of different sonnet forms could reflect Shelley's rebellious ideas
- reflects how broken and unstructured Ozymandias' ruling was and how breakable human structures are
- enjambment and caesura throughout - sense of fragmentation
- mirrors the crumbling down fall of his ruling and whats left of him - nothing
- enjambment and caesura throughout - sense of fragmentation
- Context
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