hubris Flashcards
(10 cards)
overview
In Ozymandias, Percy Bysshe Shelley explores the theme of hubris — extreme arrogance and pride — through the ruined statue of a once all-powerful king. Shelley uses language, form, structure, tone, and powerful imagery to expose how human pride and ambition are completely meaningless in the face of time, decay, and nature. The poem becomes a warning against overconfidence, especially from those in positions of power.
“My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings.”
One of the most important quotes is: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings.” The use of title and capitalisation shows how the king saw himself as the ultimate ruler, even above other kings. It’s a biblical reference too — “King of Kings” is a title sometimes used for God — which highlights Ozymandias’ god-complex and how he thought he was divine or immortal. This is a clear example of hubris, where Shelley criticises rulers who believe their power is limitless. However, the irony is that this declaration is all that’s left of him — the power he was so proud of has completely disappeared. This creates a mocking tone, where Shelley is almost laughing at how wrong Ozymandias was to think he would be remembered forever.
, “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”,
The next quote, “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”, is especially powerful because it shows both pride and irony. The imperative verb “Look” suggests Ozymandias is giving orders even to future powerful rulers. He believed his empire would make others jealous. The word “despair” shows that he wanted others to feel defeated by how amazing his legacy was. But Shelley flips the meaning — the real reason the “Mighty” should despair is because even Ozymandias’ works are gone. The only thing left is “lone and level sands,” which makes the whole quote deeply ironic. The tone here is clever and mocking — Shelley uses satire to show that those who are obsessed with legacy will eventually be forgotten.
Whose frown, and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,”
When Shelley describes the statue’s face with: “Whose frown, and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,” he gives us a clear image of Ozymandias’ personality. The tricolon (list of three) highlights how the king was cold, cruel, and proud. The alliteration of “cold command” emphasises his harshness and superiority. These features were carved by the sculptor, which suggests the sculptor saw through Ozymandias’ arrogance. This makes the statue both a symbol of his power and a critique of it. Even though the statue is broken, the emotions are still “stamped” onto it — showing how deeply his arrogance was part of him. But since the statue is now shattered and abandoned, it proves that pride and cruelty don’t make a lasting legacy. Shelley’s tone here is critical — he doesn’t admire Ozymandias, but instead uses his story to expose the flaws in how some rulers see themselves.
e “The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed,”
In the line “The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed,” Shelley uses ambiguous language to show two interpretations. The word “mocked” could mean that the sculptor captured the king’s expression (as in, mimicked), but it also might suggest that the sculptor mocked or made fun of the king’s arrogance through the statue. This shows that even someone who worked for Ozymandias might have recognised his pride. The phrase “the heart that fed” suggests that Ozymandias was driven by his own ego — he fed on power and admiration. This contrast between the sculptor’s possible sarcasm and the king’s self-importance makes the whole statue feel like a warning about blind ambition. Shelley cleverly shows that art outlasts power, but even art is not enough to stop time from erasing legacies.
“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert.”
Another striking image is: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert.” The adjective “vast” reminds us of the king’s attempt to create something massive and lasting. But the word “trunkless” shows how incomplete and ruined the statue is — it’s just legs with no body. This shows how Ozymandias’ attempt at immortality has completely failed. Shelley uses this visual imagery to show that even the greatest works of man eventually fall apart. The use of enjambment also helps create a sense of flow, reflecting how time just keeps going, while human structures fall apart.
Finally, Shelley writes: “Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare.” This is an amazing use of oxymoron. The word “colossal” makes us think of something powerful and impressive, while “wreck” shows that it has been completely destroyed. The contrast between those words captures the exact meaning of hubris — thinking you’re too powerful to fail, but eventually falling. Shelley also uses sibilance in “boundless and bare” to create a soft, whispering sound, which mirrors the silence of the empty desert and suggests how time has wiped away Ozymandias’ voice and influence. The tone here is haunting and reflective, forcing the reader to think about how all things — even empires — come to an end.
structure
The structure of Ozymandias helps show the theme of hubris because it’s a sonnet, which is usually used for love, but here Shelley uses it to focus on power and pride instead. This twist shows how Ozymandias loved himself and his achievements too much. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, but it breaks the rhythm in places, just like Ozymandias’ rule has been broken. Shelley also uses a framed narrative — the speaker tells us what a traveller said — which creates distance from Ozymandias, making his once-great power feel even less important. The final line about the “lone and level sands” is placed right at the end to leave a lasting image of emptiness, showing how time has completely destroyed his pride.
context
The context of Ozymandias helps show the theme of hubris because Shelley wrote it during a time when people were obsessed with power, empire, and legacy — especially during the rule of kings and the British Empire. The poem is based on the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II, who was known for building huge monuments to himself. Shelley uses this historical figure to criticise how rulers think they are unbeatable and will be remembered forever, when in reality, time destroys everything. As a Romantic poet, Shelley believed that nature and time are stronger than human pride, so he uses Ozymandias to show that arrogance (hubris) always leads to downfall.
conclusion
Overall, Shelley’s Ozymandias is a powerful critique of pride and arrogance. Through his use of irony, tone, language features, and structure, he shows that human power is temporary and that time and nature will always be stronger. The poem teaches a lesson about how people, especially rulers, shouldn’t believe they’re greater than they really are. Shelley’s message still matters today, as it warns us not to let pride blind us to the truth — that everything, no matter how “colossal,” will eventually fade away.
