Ozymandias

Question 1

Whats the context on Shelley

Answer 1

Shelley was a romantic poet-believed in power of nature and the spiritual connection to it.

Shelley was also anti monarchy (anti royalty) and a pacificst (against war)

Question 2

“Half sunk,a shattered visage lies”

Answer 2

The irony in this line highlights the king’s hubris leading him to commision a statue that instead if reflecting his desired image,embodies his cruelty and indifference.The diction on shattered only fragments the shattered statue remain,symbolising the collapse and decay tyrannical authority.

Question 3

“Lone level sands nothing beside remains”

Answer 3

The use of alliteration “lone level” emphasises 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.The statue becomes engulfed by the dessert sands it parallels Ozymandias’ memory being gradually obscured by relentless march of time and gradually disintegrate.

Question 4

Whats the form

Answer 4

Mix of Petrarchan and Shakespeare sonnet mirrors Ozymandias’ love and obsession he had with himself due to his hubris.Alternatively Ridicules the lack of love that Ozymandias’ people had for him due to his tyrannical rule.

Question 5

Whats the iambic pentameter in Ozymandias

Answer 5

It’s used as a motif of control to demonstrate the frightful regularity of the oppression by those in power on those they rule.It’s used so regularly it may suggest that there is no way to break free they are contained by the cruel and oppressive leaders that rule them.

Question 6

What links to ozymandias

Answer 6

Identity-London due to oppresion of people’s identity’s

Human control/power- oppression by a leader

Power of nature-Exposure human power is nothing compared to nature.