Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley (WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
What is the poem about?
‘Ozymandias’ was written by the Romantic poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley, in 1817. The sonnet explores the transient nature of power and the futility of human achievements, regardless of how mighty or tyrannical the ruler may be. Using the imagery of a crumbling statue in the desert, Shelley illustrates that even the most imposing empires and their leaders are subject to the ravages of time. The poem suggests that nature ultimately triumphs over human ambition and power.
Language, structure and form revision | What happens in the poem? |
Language: Form:
Structure:
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Poems for comparison:
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Key words
Context: | Romantic poet | Anti-monarchy | Solemn | Ironic |
Themes: | Power of nature | Passage of time | Corruption of power | Arrogance of man |
Poem analysis
‘Ozymandias’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley
I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
Language
The setting of the desert is symbolic, as the land that surrounds the ruined statue is a vast, featureless wasteland, without any life or culture
The inscription orders others to “look on my works” which is deeply ironic as it contrasts Ozymandias’ boastful claim with the reality of his ruined statue
Alliteration such as “lone and level” demonstrates the vast, unending power of the desert, and contrasts the limited power of man
The metaphor “sands stretch far away” shows the passing of time, and how time can erase the power of man
Imagery of the desolate desert surrounding the decayed statue conveys the vastness and enduring power of nature compared to the fleeting nature of human accomplishments
Assonance with the repetition of the short ‘a’ sound in “half” and “shattered” alludes to both fragmentation and decay
Structure
In line 3, Shelley uses caesura marked by the ellipsis to represent the breaking up of the statue
Enjambment creates an uneven pattern reflecting the broken nature of the statue, as well as suggesting impermanence
Short sentences such as “Nothing beside remains” create a tone of finality
Form
The 14-line sonnet blends both Petrarchan and Shakespearean forms, in order to comment on human power and pride
The irregular rhyme scheme breaks away from the sonnet form, enabling Shelley to imply how poetry and literature can defy tradition and give way to new power
Overview of themes
Themes | Key quotations | Language, form and structure |
Power of nature | “boundless and bare”
“sands stretch far away”
“Round the decay/Of that colossal Wreck” | This communicates the vast, powerful extent of nature and its ability to outlive all other forms of power. The alliteration alludes to both an emptiness and vastness Sibilance suggests the passing of time and how it can erase the power of man. The unending power of the desert is juxtaposed with the limited power of man: while Ozymandias’ works have crumbled, the desert endures The phrase “colossal Wreck” juxtaposes the statue’s former grandeur with its current state of destruction and symbolises the inevitable fall of even the mightiest of empires |
Passage of time | “Nothing beside remains” “I met a traveller from an antique land” | The shortness and brevity of the sentence symbolises the finality of death and decay. “Nothing” evokes an emptiness The opening line immediately establishes a temporal distance with “antique” suggesting an ancient and perhaps long-forgotten civilisation. It underscores the vast span of time between the height of Ozymandias’ power and the present |
Corruption of power | “colossal Wreck” | The statue can be seen as a representation of human power. It is a king’s attempt to evade death and cement himself in history, yet it lies broken as a “colossal Wreck” |
Arrogance of man | “look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:”
| The imperative “look on” shows the king’s arrogance and the verb “despair” conveys his brutal power. The capitalisation of “Works” elevates the importance of his achievements and the exclamation intensifies the commanding tone The epithet “king of kings” conveys his belief in his supreme power and authority. The colon at the end creates a pause which builds anticipation for his following command. Alliteration and sensory language portray Ozymandias’ arrogant and tyrannical nature. The word “sneer” suggests contempt and superiority while “cold” denotes his ruthlessness |
Historical and literary context
Shelley was a radical Romantic poet, who was both strongly anti-monarchy and a pacifist who supported social justice
He rejected institutions of power, and his poetry was used to spread messages and political ideas which needed to be accessible to all:
He was also against the monarchy and institutions that represented power and authority
There are several historical references in the poem:
The first is to the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II, who used the throne name Ozymandias:
Ramesses II thought himself to be a very powerful ruler and is remembered for his tyranny and military exploits, as well as having a large Egyptian empire
King George III was also an influence in this poem, as he was king at the time:
This is reflected in the “sneer of cold command” that initiates military actions
He engaged in military conflicts and was remembered for his oppression and tyranny
Shelley, as a pacifist, positioned himself against George’s military exploits
Shelley is perhaps also criticising systems in which any one individual is given so much power that, despite their abuse of it, the population is unable to remove them (the divine right of kings)
Certain key themes dominated the poetry of the Romantic era, such as the concept of the sublime:
By describing the desert as “boundless and bare” and “lone and level”, Shelley communicates the vast, powerful extent of nature
He also comments on nature’s ability to outlive all other forms of power (and deem them insignificant by comparison)
Comparing poems
Look at this exam-style question about ‘Ozymandias’:
‘Ozymandias’ is a poem about the passing of time. Choose one other poem from the anthology in which the poet also writes about the passing of time. Compare the way the poet presents the passing of time in your chosen poem with the way Percy Bysshe Shelley presents it in ‘Ozymandias’. In your answer you should:
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How you could approach this question:
Thesis / Essay introduction: Both Percy Bysshe Shelley’s ‘Ozymandias’ and Philip Larkin’s ‘Afternoons’ explore the concept of the passing of time and the transient nature of human experiences and accomplishments. Shelley’s poem adopts a grand and historical perspective on the fall of an ancient empire, while Larkin’s poem presents an intimate and contemporary view of the passing of time primarily through the lives of young mothers. | |
Similarities | Differences |
Both poems explore the transient nature of human life and achievements. In ‘Ozymandias’, the decayed statue symbolises the impermanence of power and human accomplishments while in ‘Afternoons’ Larkin depicts the loss of human youth and vitality | Larkin’s poem presents a mundane scene (families in a park) to convey the personal and domestic aspects of time passing, whereas Shelley’s poem presents a grand, historical scene of a ruined statue in a vast desert, symbolising the inevitable decay of powerful empires |
Both poems use imagery to depict decay and change. Shelley describes the “colossal Wreck” to illustrate the erosion of Ozymandias’ empire over time while Larkin uses more subtle imagery of “leaves fall in ones and twos” to convey the gradual change in the lives of the mothers | While Larkin uses a melancholic and reflective tone, Shelley uses a more dramatic and ironic tone. Larkin’s use of colloquial language adds to the poem’s introspective mood, whereas Shelley employs more elevated language to depict the downfall of a powerful leader |
Both poems reflect on the futility of human accomplishments in relation to time. Ozymandias’ grandiose claims are rendered meaningless by the ruins of his statue and Larkin’s depiction of the mothers’ lives suggest a disillusionment with the mundane reality of daily routines subsuming past hopes and dream | Larkin’s poem uses free verse to reflect the mundane and relentless nature of the passing of time. In contrast, Shelley employs a more formal sonnet form to convey the finality of the fallen statue of Ozymandias |
Thesis / Essay introduction: The passing of time is a key theme in Percy Bysshe Shelley’s ‘Ozymandias’ and John Keats’ poem ‘To Autumn’. While Keats celebrates the fleeting beauty of the autumn season, Shelley, with a touch of irony, reflects on the futility of human ambition and notions of legacy. | |
Similarities | Differences |
Both poems explore the passing of time through its impermanence. Keats explores the fleeting nature of the season’s beauty while Shelley explores the temporary nature of human legacy | Shelley’s poem uses commands and imperatives to depict the superficial arrogance of man, whereas Keats’ poem uses sensory language to celebrate the wonder of autumn |
Both poems have a reflective tone. Keats’ poem contemplates the beauty and abundance of autumn, while Shelley’s poem reflects on the inevitable decline of empires | ‘Ozymandias’ has a more ironic and sombre tone echoing the futility of human accomplishments, whereas the tone in ‘To Autumn’ is more celebratory and appreciative |
Both poems are written in traditional poetic forms: ‘To Autumn’ is written in the form of an ode and ‘Ozymandias’ is written in the form of a sonnet | ‘Ozymandias’ uses a framed narrative with the speaker recounting a traveller’s tale, whereas ‘To Autumn’ uses a direct address to the season |
Predicted exam questions to prepare for
Compare the ways poets explore the theme of impermanence and decay in ‘Ozymandias’ and in one other poem from the anthology.
Compare the way power is presented in ‘Ozymandias’ and in one other poem from the anthology.
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