Ozymandias

• AO3:

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley is one of the most famous poets in all of English literature. He was one of a group of poets who became known as the romantics. He came from a wealthy family, but was expeled from university for writing about atheism which led to his father disinheriting him.
  • Shelley is well known as a 'radical' during his lifetime and people think ozymandias reflects this side of his character. Although it is bout the remains of the statue of Pharaoh Ramases II, it can be read as a criticism of peopke or systems that become huge and believe themselves to be invincible.
• Overview:

  The narrator of Shelley's poem says he met a traveller from an "antique" land and then tells the story the traveller told him. The man had seen the remains of a huge statue in the desert. There were two enormous legs without a trunk and a damaged "visage" lay next to them. At the foot of the statue were words which reflected the arrogance and pride of Ozymandias. Those words seem very hollow now as the magnificent statue is destroyed and none of the pharaoh's works have lasted.
• "King of Kings"

  • Repetition
  • Dramatic irony
  • Juxtaposition

  The repetition of 'kings' shows how arrogant Ozymandias was, yet when compared to the crumbling ruins of his statue, the powm undermines him and shows that he did not last forever as he thought he would. Sounds boastful - pointing out his near God-like status.
• "Boundless and bare. The lone and level sands stretch far away."

  • Alliteration
  • Oxymoron

  Alliteration is used three times in this quote, drawing attention to the words that show the ruin and destruction of time, and how even the mightiest of civilisations will eventually be forgotten and decay into dust. Oxymoron mocks Ozymabdias' power, all human power will eventually fade.
• "Nothing beside remains."

  • Caesura

  The caesura highlights to the reader how Ozymandias is no longer known and feared, despite his arrogance. The clear and blunt language also reveals how the narrator is unsympathetic towards the long-gone ruler. Short, dramatic sentence highlights his loss of power.
• Aspects of Power and Conflict:

  • Conflict between man (wants to be important and remembered) and nature. (Time, weather, landscape.)
  • Pharoah represents political power, but political power doesnt last.
  • Power of art and words - The only thing that dies last is part of the statue and the powerful words on the inscription.
  • Abuse of power.
• Poems that can be linked:

  • My Last Duchess
  • Tissue