ozymandias

• shelley was a romantic poet. he 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
• form- sonnet with a volta. doesnt follow a sonnets regular rhyme scheme reflecting the way that human power and structures can be destroyed by nature.
• the speaker builds up an image of the statue by focusing on different parts of it in turn. The poem ends by destroying an enormous desert which helps to sum up the insignificance of the statue.
• the tyranny of the ruler is suggested through aggressive language
• 'boundless and bare' - alliteration suggests that there are no limits to the kings ambition or desire for power. 'bare' also implies that nothing else exists except the monument itself.
• "look on my works ye mighty and despair" - this quote shows how arrogant the king was as he believed that no one could ever achieve what he had achieved. shows his power. use of irony: tells others to despair because of the size and grandeur of his "works". but they should "despair" because his power is temporary and ultimately unimportant but this is just like his.
• "colossal wreck, boundless and bare"- oxymoron, the ruined statue shows how human achievements are so insignificant compared to the passing of time
• "king of kings"- arrogant language, believes he is god and is omnipotent
• written early 1800
• sneer of cold command

  alliteration- reinforces his attitude as callous

  noun - depicts the condescending, haughty and arrogant look of the kings face

  looks down on all those below him
• shattered visage of lies

  ironic-even a powerful human cannot control the damaging effects of time
• king of kings 


  arrogant and powerful- he even challenged other rulers

  believes he is omnipotent
• colossal wreck boundless and bare

  oxymoron

  weakness of the king

  power of nature

  alliteration- emphasises the empty space surrounding the dessert