Ozymandias Flashcards
Who does the title “Ozymandias” refer to?
Refers to Ramesses II, an Egyptian Pharaoh who was known for being a tyrant
The word ‘Ozy’ comes from the Greek ‘ozium’, meaning ‘to breathe ‘ and ‘mandias’ comes from the Greek ‘mandate’, meaning ‘to rule’ - we get a sense of power and control just from the name
What quotes suggest a plethora of negative language used to make it clear that the poem is an attack and not praising of the powerful
“Sneer”
“Shattered”
“Frown”
“Wrinkled”
What doe the nouns “desert” and “sand” show?
They show the isolation of the statue in its environment
What do the verbs “sunk” and “shattered” show
They show how nature has eroded and destroyed this symbol of human power
This suggests that the natural environment will always outlast any human settlement, reminding us our own mortality; even the most powerful kings will turn to dust
What 2 quotations give the impression of Ozymandias as a cruel leader
“Wrinkled lip”
“Cold command” - alliteration of the harsh ‘c’ sound reflects the harsh nature of Ozymandias
State some context about Percy Bysshe Shelley
He was one of the romantic poets
He went to Eton College and Oxford but got expelled from university for writing in favour of atheism
His 2nd wife was Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein)
Drowned at age 29 when sailing to Italy
What conventions are a part of Romanticism
1) A dislike of urban life and embrace of the natural world
2) A love of the supernatural
3) Use of ordinary, everyday language
Context about Ozymandias
Ramesses II was an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled from 1279 - 1213 BC - a long rule of 66 years
He led many battles to protect and extend the borders of Egypt - military attacks
Context about the poem being written
Sonnet writing competition with friend Horace Smith
Both poems were eventually published
Statue of Ramases II was acquired by the British museum at the time of writing
Form and structure of Ozymandias
Sonnet form - using it ironically
Line 9 - Volta - change in voice and tone - “nothing but remains”
In iambic pentameter
How does “I met a traveller” affect the poem (use context)
It detaches Shelley from the story being told
If he’s using the poem to criticise King George III and his self belief of being a strong ruler or to criticise religion, he has to distance himself because he cannot denounce something too openly
However, the poem is clearly a thinly veiled attack
What are some evaluative points to make in the conclusion?
Man-made power does not last forever
Our pride and arrogance makes us believe that we can conquer nature and death - in reality, we will get swept away by time
“King of kings”
Omnipotent - highest power
Religious reference
Words of Ozymandias in 3rd voice
What quotes suggest a semantic field of emptiness in the Volta
“Decay”
“Colossal wreck”
“Boundless”
“Bare”
(“Boundless and bare” - alliteration to emphasise emptiness)
What can we say about the last line “the lone and level sand stretch far away”
The desert outlives the statue
Sand is a metaphor fro the people - cover up his remains
