Ozymandias and My Last Duchess Flashcards
Which two quotes show the need for control of the Duke and Ozymandias?
“I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together”
“sneer of cold command”
Which two quotes show the futility of the pursuit of power and the loss of power by the Duke and Ozymandias?
“my last Duchess”
“Half sunk, a shattered visage lies”
Which two quotes show the self-obsessed nature of the Duke and Ozymandias?
“Notice Neptune…/Taming a sea-horse”
“king of kings”
What is the overall comparison between the poems?
Both Ozymandias and My Last Duchess have the theme of control and power, which is used in a negative way, however, the King loses power due to the passing of time, whilst the Duke loses power as his source of power is destroyed (murdered). Both of the subjects are inanimate objects, in Ozymandias it is a statue of the King, whilst in My Last Duchess it is a painting of the Duchess. During both of the poems, the King and Duke make sure to speak of themselves in a narcissistic way.
What is different about the poems form?
Form — Sonnet/dramatic monologue
What is similar about the two poems structure?
Structure — Both have an iambic pentameter
