Poetry Flashcards
(4 cards)
1
Q
Ozymandias
“Half sunk a shattered _____ lies …. ______ of ______ command”
A
“Half sunk a shattered visage lies …. sneer of cold command”
- shows fragility of power when confronted with power of nature, even most powerful rulers are destroyed or forgotten
- harsh alliteration “c” emphasises cruelty
- “shattered visage” evokes violent imagery and decay which contrasts the arrogance captured in his expression
- reader may feel irony or justice - arrogant ruler is now reduced to rubble (justice)
- warning no matter how powerful someone seems time and nature destroys legacy
2
Q
Ozymandias
“My name is Ozymandias, ___ of _____”
A
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings”
- portrays extreme pride and hubris as he sees himself as God-like
- repetition and biblical allusion echoes language if divine right and omnipotence intensifying irony of his empire
- reflects atheism and political views
- reader is struck by contrast between kings pride and ruin, provokes reflection on own ego and ambition which can lead to oblivion
3
Q
Ozymandias
“Nothing besides ______. Of that _____ wreck, ________ and _____”
A
“Nothing besides remains. Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare”
- underlines emptiness and isolation left behind due to power of nature
- juxtaposition of “colossal” and “wreck” highlights destruction of greatness
- romantic poets often celebrated natures power over man
- reader feel sense of awe or insignificance realising great achievements are vulnerable to time prompting thoughts of legacy and morality
4
Q
What are the quotes to remember for Ozymandias
A
“Half sunk a shattered visage of lies … sneer of cold command”
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings”
“Nothing besides remains. Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare”
