ozymandias

• written by percy shelly
• overview

  • traveller comes across the wreckage of ozymandias' statue
  • explores how nature and time always overpowers adn triumphs over mankind
  • underscores how human power and tyrannical ruling is ephemeral
  • highlights how ozy's intense pride and arrogance lead to his hamartia
• form + structure

  • sonnet - 14 lines, usually about love, could reflect on shelleys love for nature or ozy's immense love for himself, could be used to ridicule his profound inflated sense of pride
  • iambic pentameter - 10 syllables per line, stressed at first to underscore ozy's authority, moves from stressed ot unstressed on line 11, symbolic of breaking free from ozy's tyrannical rule as his power deteriorates
  • enjambement - symbollic of freedom, shelley reflects on the wishes to break free of the restriction of oppressive and tyrannical rulers
• context

  • romantic era poet, loved to write about the power of nature, time and art
  • usually dislike the hierarchy and monarchy
  • inspired by the french revolution
• themes

  • nature and time - shown to overpower man kind and triumph over us always, presented as an immortal force whos almighty power is able to subdue those of oppression
  • power - ozy abuses his position of authoirty and is shown to loose his power as a consequence, is presented as ephemeral
• comparisons

  • london - both explore how power is abused by those in positions of authority to cause suffering and fear to those less fortunate, both written by romantic era poets
  • my last duchess - both explore an artpiece, both explore the concept of a tyrannical rule from a position in power, both present the authority figure as having immense self pride
  • exposure - both clearly depict the almighty power of nature that has the force to bring suffering upon man kind, conveys how nature triumphs over mankind always
  • the prelude and storm on the island - both presents human power as ephemeral and the power of nature as one that triumphs over mankind, both written by romantic poets
  • tissue - both explore the fragility and ephemerality of human power, both emphasise the power of nature
• 'collosal wreck'

  • oxymoronic phrase as 'collosal' has connotations to somehting almighty and powerful while 'wreck' has connotations of destruction and ruin
  • emphasizes the futility of power and the inevitable collapse that follows excessive pride and arrogance, illustrating that power is ephemeral
  • serves as a warning that pride and excess can lead to profound consequences, demonstrating the transient nature of human ambition
• 'half sunk'

  • creates vivid imagery of the staue being gradually engulfed by the sand and implies it will eventually to be consumed by it
  • suggests that time and nature triumph beyond human control and as time leads on, he will only become more insignificant and his once mighty legacy will be degraded to nothing
  • implies the extent of power nature posesses as it is able to degrade what once was such monumental power and control
• 'sneer of cold command'

  • harsh alliteration creates a bitter tone that lacks warmth and mirrors his unforgiving nature and oppression
  • underscores his cruel, oppressive, and tyrannical leadership, suggesting he ruled through fear rather than respect or loyalty
  • 'sneer' highlights his arrogance and disdain towards others, portraying a ruler detached and lacking empathy towards his subjects
  • implies that such tyrannical leadership leads to your hubris
• 'king of kings.....look on my works'

  • boastfull declaration claiming superiority over all other leaders, depicts his inflated sense of self respect and underscores his immense pride
  • portrays himself in a god-like manner, suggesting that he believes he possesses almighty control and dominance over all, reinforcing his arroagnce
  • ironic as his 'works' are now nothing more than a crumbling ruin, soon to be entirely destroyed by the unstoppable forces of nature and time
  • imperative 'look' portrays him as a tyrannical leader who seeks to rule with fear instead of empathy
• 'two vast and trunkless legs'

  • juxtaposition between 'vast' and 'trunkles' reflects on how ozy once stood strong and intimidating and now is nothing more than a broken ruin
  • contrast between past and present underscores how tyrannical ruling only leads to your hamartia and how human power is only ephemeral as nature and time triumph over man kind
• 'lone and level sands stretch far away'

  • personification is used to create a sense of serenity, and balance in the natural landscape
  • use of sibilance produces a soft, soothing sound, establishing a healing tone, suggests that while nature has the immense power to inflict destruction, it also possesses the ability to restore and cleanse the landscape of human corruption
  • creates vivid imagery of an endless, isolated desert, reflecting how ozys oncemighty legacy has been reduced to insignificance