ozymandias Flashcards
(57 cards)
What is the framing technique used by Shelley in ‘Ozymandias’?
The poem is framed as a story told by a narrator who has only heard about the statue, emphasizing Ozymandias’s unimportance now.
This technique highlights the distance between the past glory of Ozymandias and the present decay.
What does the setting of ‘Ozymandias’ suggest?
An absence of life and vitality.
The desolate desert setting reflects the themes of decay and insignificance.
What dual meaning does the word ‘mock’ have in the context of the poem?
‘Mock’ can mean to ridicule or to create a likeness of something.
This suggests that the sculptor may have intended the statue to both honor and satirize Ozymandias.
What literary device is used to maintain Ozymandias’s tone of command?
Having a stressed syllable at the start of the line.
This technique reinforces the authority and arrogance of Ozymandias.
What does the ruined statue in ‘Ozymandias’ symbolize?
The insignificance of human achievements compared to the passage of time.
The decay of the statue serves as a metaphor for the inevitable decline of power.
What does the phrase ‘Mock’d them and the heart that fed’ suggest?
The sculptor understood the passions of Ozymandias.
It indicates a deep awareness of the ruler’s character and the futility of his power.
What is inscribed on the pedestal in ‘Ozymandias’?
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
This inscription ironically calls for others to admire his power, which is now lost.
What is the irony present in Ozymandias’s boast?
He challenges other rulers to despair because of his works, but in reality, they should despair at the fleeting nature of power.
This emphasizes the theme of the impermanence of human achievements.
What does the alliteration in ‘Ozymandias’ emphasize?
The feeling of empty space in the surrounding desert.
It contrasts the vastness of the desert with the broken statue, highlighting insignificance.
What does the term ‘colossal’ refer to in the poem?
Very large.
It describes the size of the statue, which emphasizes its former grandeur.
What literary movement was Shelley associated with?
Romanticism.
Romanticism focused on emotion, nature, and intense experiences, often opposing absolute power.
What inspired Shelley’s radical political views?
The events of the French Revolution.
These events influenced his disdain for monarchies and absolute power.
What does the term ‘visage’ mean?
Face.
In the poem, it refers to the shatter’d visage of the statue.
Fill in the blank: ‘Ozymandias’ is another name for _______.
Ramesses II.
He was a ruler of Ancient Egypt.
What does the term ‘trunkless’ imply about the statue?
Without a torso.
This description highlights the statue’s incomplete and ruined state.
What does the poem convey about the power of art?
Art can outlast human power, but ultimately cannot immortalize it.
The ruined statue symbolizes the limits of art in preserving legacy.
Who is Percy Bysshe Shelley?
A well-known poet who became famous after his death.
What poem did Shelley write in 1817?
‘Ozymandias’.
What does the narrator encounter in ‘Ozymandias’?
A traveller who tells him about a statue in the desert.
What does the statue in ‘Ozymandias’ represent?
A king who ruled over a past civilization.
What is the inscription on the statue’s base about?
The king’s pride and power.
What has happened to the statue over time?
It has fallen down and crumbled away.
What is the form of ‘Ozymandias’?
A sonnet with a volta at line 9.
Does ‘Ozymandias’ follow a regular sonnet rhyme scheme?
No, it reflects the impermanence of human power.
