Poetry Anthology: Power and Conflict
Section B.
Poetry Anthology: Power and Conflict
Poem Summary.
, Power and Conflict Poetry: Ozymandias.
Brief Summary: - the poem concerns the discovery of a semi-destroyed and decaying statue of
Ramesses II and shows how power deteriorates and will not last forever.
• Report from a stranger of a statue in a desert which is falling apart and decaying.
Context: - Shelley, the writer, was a romantic poet, strongly anti-monarchy and wanted to end
the oppression of ordinary people which was written in 1817 when the British museum
announced that they would be acquiring a large bit of a statue of Egyptian Pharaoh: Ramesses II.
- It is thought that Shelley was trying to make implicit links between the powerful but violent
reign of Ramesses II and King George who was typically seen as a tyrant and very disliked due
to his involvement with oppression who was Shelley’s king at the time.
- Shelley positioned himself against King Georges military exploits.
Overall Message: - the message of the poem could be considered to be a reminder that power
will not last forever.
Section B.
Poetry Anthology: Power and Conflict
Poem Summary.
, Power and Conflict Poetry: Ozymandias.
Brief Summary: - the poem concerns the discovery of a semi-destroyed and decaying statue of
Ramesses II and shows how power deteriorates and will not last forever.
• Report from a stranger of a statue in a desert which is falling apart and decaying.
Context: - Shelley, the writer, was a romantic poet, strongly anti-monarchy and wanted to end
the oppression of ordinary people which was written in 1817 when the British museum
announced that they would be acquiring a large bit of a statue of Egyptian Pharaoh: Ramesses II.
- It is thought that Shelley was trying to make implicit links between the powerful but violent
reign of Ramesses II and King George who was typically seen as a tyrant and very disliked due
to his involvement with oppression who was Shelley’s king at the time.
- Shelley positioned himself against King Georges military exploits.
Overall Message: - the message of the poem could be considered to be a reminder that power
will not last forever.
