‘Ozymandias’ is a sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley. The poem explores ideas of fate, history and the ravages of time.
Essentially, the poem is a metaphor for the ephemeral (lasting a very short time) nature of political power. Even the
greatest men and the empires they forge are impermanent, their legacies destined to decay to oblivion. ‘Ozy’ comes
from the Greek ‘ozium’ which means either ‘to breathe’ or ‘air’. ‘Mandias’ comes from the Greek ‘mandate’ which
means to rule, suggesting Ramesses II, the inspiration for Shelley’s poem controls all.
1.
‘I met a traveller from an antique land’ – Framing the sonnet as a story told to the
‘Half sunk, a shattered visage likes, whose frown and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold
command…’ – The ‘frown’ and ‘sneer’ etched permanently on the face of the statue could speaker by a ‘traveller from an antique land’ enables Shelley to add another level of
represent the ugliness that power can reveal in people once they possess and wield it. The obscurity to Ozymandias’ position with regard to the reader. We never see the statue
‘visage’ is ‘shattered’ because ruling in this way is not sustainable. As a Romantic poet, with our own eyes. We hear about it from someone who has seen it. Thus, the ancient
Shelley is criticising the oppressive nature of power. The Romantic poets would encourage king is rendered even less commanding. The distance between us and Ozymandias
freedom of expression, love and respect for nature and the arts. serves to undermine his power. ‘Antique land’ romanticises the traveller.
‘Ozymandias’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley
‘Its sculptor well those passions read which yet survive’ – The traveller praises the sculptor of the ‘The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed’ – ‘Hand’
statue here, saying they have clearly captured the facial expressions that Ozymandias is renowned could be a stand in for the sculptor, saying he both belittled
for. The inclusion of this compliment is interesting here. Shelley is praising and respectful of the ‘art’ and copied the passions of the man. ‘The heart that fed’ is
of the statue whilst condemning Ozymandias’ attitude and his lust for power which causes the ‘sneer subject to debate. Could it be referring to the heart that ‘fed’
or nourished the passions of the man that the statue
of cold command’. Although it is Ozymandias’ desire to create a monument that will survive the ages,
represents?
Shelley is hinting that it is the work of the sculptor that has endured the test of time.
4. 5.
6
‘Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare’ - Shelley’s ‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty and
use of nouns and adjectives here emphasise the destruction that has despair!’ – The hubristic nature of Ozymandias demonstrates his arrogance and
fallen upon the statue. Is it too much to say that Shelley is revelling in perceived superiority. He places himself above all other royalty, saying he is
king to all other kings. Perhaps this is why the poem is in iambic pentameter: a
‘The line and level sands stretch Ozymandias’ downfall? Ozymandias has nothing to show for his reign
strong rhythm for a strong ruler. The fact the words are the only part of the
far away.’ – The once great except a ‘colossal wreck’. This is reinforced when Shelley conveys a sense statue to survive demonstrates that art and language long outlast other legacies
King’s proud boast has been of emptiness with ‘boundless and bare’. of power.
ironically disproved. Everything
has been destroyed – his
civilisation gone – all turned to 9. 8. 7.
dust by the impersonal,
indiscriminate, destructive ‘Nothing beside remains’ – This line is ambiguous. Shelley could simply be referring to
power of history. the remains of the statue that now lie in the desert sands. However, he could talking
about Ozymandias’ power; nothing remains of this once threatening and intimidating
figure. His name remains yet his statue does not, once again highlighting the power of
language and the fragility of the monuments built out of humanity’s arrogance.
,
Essentially, the poem is a metaphor for the ephemeral (lasting a very short time) nature of political power. Even the
greatest men and the empires they forge are impermanent, their legacies destined to decay to oblivion. ‘Ozy’ comes
from the Greek ‘ozium’ which means either ‘to breathe’ or ‘air’. ‘Mandias’ comes from the Greek ‘mandate’ which
means to rule, suggesting Ramesses II, the inspiration for Shelley’s poem controls all.
1.
‘I met a traveller from an antique land’ – Framing the sonnet as a story told to the
‘Half sunk, a shattered visage likes, whose frown and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold
command…’ – The ‘frown’ and ‘sneer’ etched permanently on the face of the statue could speaker by a ‘traveller from an antique land’ enables Shelley to add another level of
represent the ugliness that power can reveal in people once they possess and wield it. The obscurity to Ozymandias’ position with regard to the reader. We never see the statue
‘visage’ is ‘shattered’ because ruling in this way is not sustainable. As a Romantic poet, with our own eyes. We hear about it from someone who has seen it. Thus, the ancient
Shelley is criticising the oppressive nature of power. The Romantic poets would encourage king is rendered even less commanding. The distance between us and Ozymandias
freedom of expression, love and respect for nature and the arts. serves to undermine his power. ‘Antique land’ romanticises the traveller.
‘Ozymandias’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley
‘Its sculptor well those passions read which yet survive’ – The traveller praises the sculptor of the ‘The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed’ – ‘Hand’
statue here, saying they have clearly captured the facial expressions that Ozymandias is renowned could be a stand in for the sculptor, saying he both belittled
for. The inclusion of this compliment is interesting here. Shelley is praising and respectful of the ‘art’ and copied the passions of the man. ‘The heart that fed’ is
of the statue whilst condemning Ozymandias’ attitude and his lust for power which causes the ‘sneer subject to debate. Could it be referring to the heart that ‘fed’
or nourished the passions of the man that the statue
of cold command’. Although it is Ozymandias’ desire to create a monument that will survive the ages,
represents?
Shelley is hinting that it is the work of the sculptor that has endured the test of time.
4. 5.
6
‘Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare’ - Shelley’s ‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty and
use of nouns and adjectives here emphasise the destruction that has despair!’ – The hubristic nature of Ozymandias demonstrates his arrogance and
fallen upon the statue. Is it too much to say that Shelley is revelling in perceived superiority. He places himself above all other royalty, saying he is
king to all other kings. Perhaps this is why the poem is in iambic pentameter: a
‘The line and level sands stretch Ozymandias’ downfall? Ozymandias has nothing to show for his reign
strong rhythm for a strong ruler. The fact the words are the only part of the
far away.’ – The once great except a ‘colossal wreck’. This is reinforced when Shelley conveys a sense statue to survive demonstrates that art and language long outlast other legacies
King’s proud boast has been of emptiness with ‘boundless and bare’. of power.
ironically disproved. Everything
has been destroyed – his
civilisation gone – all turned to 9. 8. 7.
dust by the impersonal,
indiscriminate, destructive ‘Nothing beside remains’ – This line is ambiguous. Shelley could simply be referring to
power of history. the remains of the statue that now lie in the desert sands. However, he could talking
about Ozymandias’ power; nothing remains of this once threatening and intimidating
figure. His name remains yet his statue does not, once again highlighting the power of
language and the fragility of the monuments built out of humanity’s arrogance.
,
