Ozymandias

Question 1

Big idea

Power

Answer 1

Shelley reveals the ultimate futility of human power, showing how even the most imposing rulers are eventually consumed by time.
The ruined statue suggests that arrogance and tyranny leave to inevitable decay.

Question 2

Big Idea

Conflict

Answer 2

Shelley explores the conflict between human ambition and the relentless passage of time, revealing how even the mightiest rulers are powerless against nature’s erasure. The shattered statue epitomises the inevitable downfall of those who seek absolute control

Question 3

Relevence today

Answer 3

Ozymandias serves as a cautionary tale about the fleeting power of nature and the inevitable decay of human achievements. In a world where political leaders and powerful institutions often strive to immortalise their legacies, the poem reminds us of the impermanence of human ambition.

Question 4

Structural choices

Disrupted structure

Answer 4

Reflects the central message of decay of power. Despite following the form of a sonnet, the poem blends both Petrarchan and Shakespearean forms of sonnets to mirror the instability of Ozy.’s rule and the erosion of his legacy

Question 5

Structural choices

Interweaving rhyme scheme

Answer 5

The unrigid pattern of the poem symbolises the gradual disintergtation of Ozy.’s empire, reinforcing the focus of fleeting power. This highlights the theme that time reduces even the most arrogant rulers to mere remnants, swallowed by nature and history.

Question 6

Quote

“Half sunk, a shattered visage lies”

Answer 6

• Encapsulates the criticism of hubris and fragility of human ambition. “Shattered visage” symbolises Ozy.’s fall from grace.
• “Half sunk” suggests that the ruins of his power have been overtaken by nature, a physical manifestation of the erosion of his empire.
• The image of “Shattered visage” reflects the decay of human power. This is ironic because it shows that despite his efforts, Ozy.’s legacy has been reduced to rubble, illustrating the futility of his arrogance.
• This image serves as a reminder of the impermanence of all human achievements and that humanity is at the dominion of time itself.

Question 7

Quote

“The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Answer 7

• The desert deepens the sense of insignificance. Contrasting the nothingness of the desert to Ozy.’s once vast empire which has been destroyed by nature.
• “lone and level” conveys a sense of emptiness and desolation, suggesting that there is no trace of Ozy.’s power left on Earth.
• The endless desert implies the indifference of nature towards human constructs, emphasising that time will consume all human accomplishments in the end. Shelley is contrasting the fleeting nature of human pride to the enduring permanence of nature, suggesting that political power is simply non-existent in the grand scheme of things; especially when compared to things such as time or nature.