Ozymandias Historical Context Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the Greek name for Ramesses II?
Ozymandias
Ozymandias is a powerful pharaoh of Ancient Egypt who reigned from 1279–1213 BCE.
What were Ramesses II’s notable accomplishments?
- Military might
- Monumental architecture
- Self-glorification through grand statues and temples
What does Shelley critique in his poem ‘Ozymandias’?
The belief that human power could last forever and the arrogance of rulers
What historical event sparked interest in ancient civilizations in the early 19th century?
Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign (1798–1801)
This campaign led to discoveries that fascinated Europeans.
What does the fragmented statue of Ramesses II symbolize in Shelley’s poem?
The inevitable fall of all empires, regardless of their grandeur
How long did Ramesses II rule Egypt?
66 years
What was the inscription on the statue of Ramesses II intended to convey?
The greatness of Ozymandias and a challenge to surpass his works
What political stance did Percy Bysshe Shelley hold?
He was a fierce critic of tyranny and oppression
What event influenced the writing of ‘Ozymandias’ in relation to power?
The French Revolution and Napoleon’s fall
What did the Romantics view ruins as symbols of?
Nature reclaiming man-made glory
What does ‘Ozymandias’ warn about the British Empire?
That it could also fall into ruins, similar to ancient empires
What do the ‘lone and level sands’ in the poem represent?
Time erasing all things
Fill in the blank: Shelley uses the crumbling statue of a king as a symbol of how all _______ eventually fall.
empires
True or False: Shelley believed that human pride and power were eternal.
False
What was the impact of the British Museum’s acquisition of Egyptian artifacts?
It sparked imagination about the transience of greatness
What overarching theme does ‘Ozymandias’ illustrate?
The futility of human arrogance in the face of time
