Ozymandias

• "My name is ozymandias, king of kings"

  • Hyperbole - A 'king of kings' is God-like
  • Juxtaposition - He is now a shattered statue
• "Nothing besides remains."

  • Volta - Creates dramatic effect
  • Caesura - Emphasises dramatic effect
• "A shattered visage lies"

  • Visage - The face of a person
  • Shattered - Adjective, the state of the statue
  • Lies - Emphasises the dispair of the statue
• Links to:

  • Prelude - Nature & Power
  • Tissue - Missassignment of power
• Themes:

  • Nature
  • Power
  • Pride
• Key Context:

  The power of man is temporary; even the most powerful kings will be forgotten in time.
• Context:

  Rameses II (Ozymandias) was an Egyptian pharaoh who deified himself (made himself a “god”). Shelley was inspired by the recent unearthing of an Egyptian pharaoh.