Ozymandias

• In "Ozymandias", power is conveyed through the symbolism of the desert and time.
• The poem "Ozymandias" by Percy Shelley concerns the discovery of a semi-destroyed and decaying statue of Ramesses II, also known as Ozymandias, and shows how power deteriorates and will not last forever.
• Percy Shelley, the author of "Ozymandias", was a radical, romantic poet who was vegetarian, strongly anti-monarchy, a pacifist, an atheist, anti-religion, and supported social justice.
• Percy Shelley was expelled from Oxford University for publishing an atheist pamphlet and delivering it to religious figures.
• Percy Shelley married at the age of 19 after running off from his first wife who killed herself.
• Percy Shelley came from a very wealthy family and was set to have a comfortable life with inheritance and a government role from his grandfather.
• Percy Shelley was a second generation romantic.
• During the enlightenment, writers would center their work on the beauty of nature and simplicity of the past, with an appreciation of the sublime, the overwhelming power and awe of the natural world.
• Percy Shelley often focused on the subjective and the emotional, which contrasted with enlightenment values.
• The first reference in the poem "Ozymandias" is to Ramesses II, an Egyptian pharaoh from 1279-1239 BC, believed to be the pharaoh involved in Moses’ exodus.
• Ramesses II was later defeated by the 12 tribes of Israel, and used the throne name “Ozymandias”.
• Shelley opens his poem with the detached narrative of a traveller to distance himself from the political messages of his poem.
• Shelley uses Ozymandias as an allegory for King George III, showing readers that he’s willing to risk criticism that would have come with this move.
• The poem blends Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets, and Shelley does this in order to demonstrate that all power – even the power of literary conventions – is transient and subject to evolution.
• The poem uses consistent iambic pentameter.
• The poem begins with “I met a traveller” which instantly passes any responsibility for the opinions within the poem onto a (probably fictional) stranger.
• The poem is written from the first person perspective, but the speaker is never revealed nor named nor assigned any identifying characteristics, making him an omniscient speaker.
• The irregular rhyme scheme of the poem contrasts with the single stanza as the former suggests a lack of power and control of the ruler, whereas the single stanza suggests order.
• Sonnets are traditionally love poems, and by Shelley selecting to make the statue the focus of the poem, it could be argued that he is making this an object of love and respect.
• The statue is in a “far away” place, standing insignificant and unrecognised, only known to travellers.
• The poem takes the traditional fourteen lines and Octet-Volta-Sestet structure of Petrarchan sonnet.
• Shelley is demonstrating that conventions can be changed, replaced and edited.
• The irregular rhyme scheme of the poem breaks away from the sonnet form which enables Shelley to imply how poetry and literature can defy tradition and give way to new power.
• This may work to disguise political messages, whilst still focusing on the power of nature.
• The literal sand has covered over Ozymandias’ statue; the figurative “sands of time” have covered over Ozymandias’ memory.
• The contemptuous/mocking smile, remark or tone, which connotes malicious cruelty and heartless, is a characteristic of Ozymandias.
• The poem explores conflict between man and time and memory, as Ozymandias was largely forgotten, even though he thought his memory would last forever.
• The power of a single individual having unlimited power invested in them, be it political or religious, is a theme explored in the poem.
• The claim that “Nothing beside remains” is ironic to the reader when they are known only via the report of a traveller.
• The image of a shattered visage creates a sense of irony: a King who believed so strongly in his own power and superiority, and who tried so hard to present this image of greatness through his statue, has now been forgotten and destroyed by time other than the visage that had been intended to show he was unforgettable.
• The words “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” suggest that the king’s pride and arrogance led to his perception of himself as the “king of kings”.
• The artist’s work is mocking the king.
• The poem can be interpreted as a reminder that power will not last forever.
• The decay of Ozymandias reflects how exploits which are impressive but not morally good will be criticised and forgotten about after they end.
• The words “Legacy is so insignificant it is known only by travellers” suggest that Egypt is seen as an antique land, having failed in its attempt to increase influence.
• Overall, the message of the poem could be considered to be a reminder that power will not last forever.
• A wrinkled lip in the sculpture of Ozymandias connotes disgust and contempt, reflecting the king’s disregard for his subjects, viewing them as inferior and below him.
• The poem also touches on the power of art and words, as people may not have remembered Ozymandias, but part of the statue remained, as well as the words placed on the inscription.
• Ramesses II is the subject of the poem "Ozymandias", with his statue having just been discovered at Shelley’s time of writing, which made it a very topical piece of content to reference in his poem.
• Shelley and Horace Smith were challenged to write a poem about the statue of Ramesses II.