ozymandias

Question 1

message

Answer 1

power is transitory, (it doesn’t last forever, it changes over time)
criticism of tyrannical leadership
criticism of the church/religious power

Question 2

Context

Answer 2

Romantic poets disliked imposed control and the monarchy in power

Shelley was openly an aethiest

Question 3

Form

Answer 3

sonnet without usual rhyme scheme (rhyme scheme is transitory to symbolize transitory nature of his power

Highlights how Ozymandias is in love with himself and the idea of power

Question 4

Biblical language

Answer 4

“king of kings” a title given to god in the bible.

Interpretaion 1: ozymandias sees himself as so powerful he is like god, shelly is criticisng his arrogance and thirst for power 

Interpretation 2: the poem is a critique towards god and religion (the pwoer of the church will one day crumble like the statue) and ozymandias is a facade for this as atheism would have been frowned upon during time of writing this poem

Question 5

Alliteration

Answer 5

“cold command” AND “king of kings” harsh and aggressive “K” sound

Indicates the opressive and harsh control and cruelty of ozymandias. This is cleartly what shelly is criticising.