Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

• What is the tone described in the phrase "Sneer of cold command"?

  Arrogant
• What does the imperative "LOOK" in the poem emphasize?

  It highlights a commanding tone.
• What is ironic about the line "Look on my works ye Mighty and despair"?

  It suggests that human power is temporary, despite the statue's grandeur.
• What does the phrase "wipe away" in the poem contrast with?

  It contrasts with the lasting nature of the desert sands.
• What is the form and structure of the poem "Ozymandias"?

  • A sonnet with 14 lines
  • Unconventional structure with a void at line 9
  • Reflects decay of human structures
  • Iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme disrupted
• What do the first 8 lines of the sonnet describe?

  They describe the statue in parts to show its destruction.
• What do the final 2 lines of the sonnet emphasize?

  They emphasize the insignificance of human power and pride.
• What period was Percy Bysshe Shelley a poet of?

  • The Romantic period (late 1700s - early 1800s)
  • Focused on emotion and the power of nature
• What was Shelley's view on monarchy?

  He disliked the concept and the oppression of ordinary people.
• Who does the narrator meet in the poem?

  A traveller who tells him about a decayed statue.
• Who is the statue of in the poem?

  Ozymandias, the arrogant "king of kings".
• What is the main metaphor of the poem "Ozymandias"?

  Human power is only temporary, as shown by the crumbled statue.
• What inspired Shelley to write "Ozymandias"?

  The French Revolution.
• What are the main themes of "Ozymandias"?

  • Power of nature
  • Decay
  • Pride