Context

• What is Ozymandias about?

  The poem 'Ozymandias' is about the discovery of a partially destroyed statue showing his power deteriorates and is temporary. Ozymandias was very arrogant and prideful and his statue reflects elements of his true personality such as a cruel nature.
• What is the context of Ozymandias?

  Shelley was a Romantic poet. Romantic poets believed in emotion rather than reason, they tried to capture intense experiences through their work and focused on the power of nature. Shelley disliked monarchies, absolute power and the oppression of ordinary people. His radical political views were inspired by the events of the French Revolution where the monarchy was overthrown.
• What was Romanticism?

  Romanticism was a movement in art and literature that included key ideas including the concept of the sublime which is the feeling of awe when encountering the power of nature; the anti-establishment of political ideas which is wanting liberty in everyday lives causing romantics to dislike oppression and fixed hierarchies. Romantics also believed that poetry should inform people and change society.
• Context/Writers intent

  Shelley was a radical Romantic poet. He opposed monarchy, religion, and social inequality, inspired by the French Revolution. He used Ozymandias to criticise political power and show that tyranny and pride are always destroyed by time and nature. Coming from wealth, he rejected privilege and wanted justice for ordinary people.