ozymandias Flashcards
(9 cards)
OZYMANDIAS
context (type of poet)
Shelley was a romantic poet - believed in power of nature and the spiritual connection to it - the sublime
OZYMANDIAS
context (what were they against?)
anti monarchy and pacifist
OZYMANDIAS
“half sunk, a shattered visage lies” (diction on shattered)
now only fragments of the shattered statue remain symbolising the collapse and decay of tyrannical authority 
OZYMANDIAS
“half sunk, a shattered visage lies” (irony)
of the kings hubris and vanity in his appearance and “visage” leading him to
commission a statue that instead of reflecting his desired image, embodies his cruelty and indifference
OZYMANDIAS
“lone and level sands” “ nothing besides remains” (alliteration)
emphasise the vast and mighty extent of nature whereas the human sees his power eroded and chipped away by time nature enjoys transcendent power serving only to show the futility of human power
OZYMANDIAS
“lone and level sands” “ nothing besides remains” (metaphor)
metaphor of the passage of time the statue becomes engulfed by desert Sands it parallels ozymandias’ memory being gradually obscured by the relentless march of time 
OZYMANDIAS
form (mix of petrachan and shakespearean sonnet)
mirrors ozymandias’ love and obsession he had with himself due to his hubris
ALT - ridicules the lack of love ozymandias’ people had for him due to his tyrannical and callous rule
OZYMANDIAS
form (iambic pentameter)
it is used as a motif of control. iambic pentameter is used throughout the play in order to demonstrate the frightful regularity of the oppression by those in power and those they rule.
it’s used so regularly may also suggest that there is no way to break free. They are constrained by the oppressive tyrant that rules them.
OZYMANDIAS
links to other poems
london - oppression of peoples identities by a leader/leaders, oppression of people buy a leader/leaders
exposure - human power is nothing compared to nature
tissue - the memories of human power don’t last
