Ozymandias Flashcards
“Two vast and trunkless legs”
We see the remains of the statue of once a power leader that was destroyed by time and nature
“Frown” “sneer” “cold”
The use of pejoratives makes Ozymandias seem hostile towards others. The quote “sneer” shows that he enjoys mocking others.
“Cold command”
1) the quotes connotes a sense of authority and depicts the fact that ozymandias believes everyone should follow him due to his undenying power.
2) the use of guttural alliteration gives a sound of chocking and perhaps this could convey that people suffocated under his reign and shows that he abused those he had control over. Also shows how he is callous and lacks empathy.
“And wrinkled lip, and..”
The use of polysyndenton conveys and ongoing nature of abuse which prolonged a negative effect on his people. The use of the enjabment also conveys a sense of a slowed pace to emphasises how his people had to endure such suffering for so long.
“My name is ozymandias, king of kings”
The use of the present tense “is” shows a belief within ozymandias that shows how his power will last forever.
“King of kings”
The use of the biblical rephrase conveys how highly in which ozymandias thinks of himself and shows that he gave himself an elevated status.
“My name..my works”
The use of the possessive pronoun shows how he is presented as greedy and selfish.
“Look on my..”
The use of the imperative “look” connotes how he wants to see people see the empire he had built so that they will feel inferior toward him.
“..and despair!”
The use of the exclamation emphasises an image of aggression to Show he was frightening.
“Off that colossal wreck, boundless and bare”
The use of the oxymoron “collosal wreck” emphasises hoe powerful he was and how quickly he has lost it.
“The lone and level..”
The use of alliteration creates and echo effect to show how the desert is empty as no one has looked after his statue due to the abuse of his power.
“Sands and stretch far away”
The use of the sibilance shows a peaceful tone and reflects how it has been calm since his death. It also juxtaposes between his arrogance and the demise of his empire.
Themes:
Human power is temporary,transient,ephemeral
That mortal power is not external and absolute
Shelly presents time, nature and art are all ultimately more powerful than human tyranny.
“Antique land” “shattered visage”
We see that the land has been there for a long time yet his statue hasn’t and we see that overtime due to the force of nature the statue has broke.
“Nothing beside remains”
We see that his legacy has disappears due to the force of nature
