Ozymandias- analysis and context (Anna)

Context

Shelley was a radical romantic poet/ anti monarchy/ pacifist/ atheist and anti religion, and strong supporter of social justice. Wanted to end the oppression of ordinary people. He was expelled from oxford for delivering an atheist pamphlet to religious figures, and got married at 19 after running from his first wife who committed suicide. From a wealthy family and set to inherit a government job. Was a second generation romantic poet.

The romantic era

Shelley focused on the subjective and the emotional which contrasted with enlightenment values. Romantic writers would usually focus on the sublime, power of nature, and simplicity of the past. They would protest the future/present by returning to the past. Poetry was used to spread political messages and criticise institutions of power.

Historical references- Ramesses II

Ramesses II who was an Egyptian pharaoh from 1279-1239 BC. He was defeated by the 12 tribes of Israel and used the throne name Ozymandias. His statue had been discovered around the time of the writing of the poem. He was remembered for his tyranny and military exploits, had a large empire over Egypt and was remembered for his defeat also.

Historical references- King George III

‘Ozymandias’ was written during the reign of King George. He had reigned longer than any king before but outstayed his welcome and was involved in military conflicts and was remembered for oppression and tyranny. The 13 colonies rebelled during his rule, and some believe George III as the inspiration for ‘Ozymandias’.

Overview

The poem presents issues of power and conflict through the discussion of a large statue in the desert, which is Ozymandias. All of the Pharaoh’s works haven’t lasted and the statue is nearly destroyed. The decay reflects the exploits that are not morally good will be criticised and forgotten about after they end. The poem explores conflict between man, time and memory as Ozymandias was largely forgotten even though he thought he’d be remembered. The poem also touches on the power of art and words as people forgot Ozymandias but the statue and inscription remained. Overall, the poem is a reminder that POWER WILL NOT LAST FOREVER.

Structure

Irregular rhyme scheme, single stanza.

Form

sonnet- combined petrarchan lines with shakespearean rhyme and iambic pentameter.

Language

Alliteration, monotomy- harsh ‘c’, symbolism of the desert and sand.

“Antique land”

His legacy is so insignificant that it’s only known by travellers. / Egypt is seen as an antique land as it failed in trying to increase influence.

“Desert”

Suggests a lack of life and culture.

“Shatter’d visage”

Visage- Face. The image of a shattered visage creates irony: a king who believed strongly in his own power and superiority, and tried hard to present this image through his statue, has been forgotten and destroyed by time other than the visage that had been intended to show he was unforgettable.

“Wrinkled lip”

Conjures the image of someone grimacing in disgust, showing his disregard for his subjects, viewing them as inferior and below him. The antipathy is paired with power that allows to exploit and torture the people he rules over with no empathy or remorse. Shelley uses this to show the danger of a single individual having so much power (political or religious) as it enables them to view all else below them, and derives an ability to exploit and oppress.

‘Cold command’

Reflective of Shelley’s own anti-violence perspective, as he was against all military exploits and thus also against the ‘cold command’ that initiate them.

“The hand that mock’d them”

The artist’s work is mocking the king. Ozymandias sees glory in a statue that is critical of him, however his confidence in his own supremacy means he doesn’t see anything other than grandeur. “Mocked” can also be interpreted as ‘Making a model of’ as the sculptor has literally made a sculpture of the king (maybe it wasn’t intentional to portray him negatively) he had a “heart that fed” the king through intention to please him, but by modelling Ozymandias, the cruel side would show due to it being a core part of him.

“pedestal”

Irony of a pedestal message- by idiomatic connotation presents his power as undeserved.

“King of Kings”

Ironic to the reader as he is only known through report of a passing traveller. Ozymandias’ pride led him to think of himself as the ‘King of Kings’. Criticises leaders and their opinions of themselves as this suggests Ozymandias’ believes himself to be omnipotent.

“Look on my works”

He expects his empire and kingdom to survive (dramatic irony.)

“Boundless and bare”

Alliterative

“Lone and level”

‘Level’- monotonous and featureless- no sign of his legacy. ‘Lone’- isolated- statue is all that remains, his cruelty his only remembrance. Alliterative.

“Sands”

The literal sand has covered Ozymandias’ statue. The figurative ‘Sands of time’ have covered over Ozymandias’ memory.

“Far away”

The statue is ‘Far away’ where it stands so insignificant and unrecognised that only the travellers know it exists.Ozymandias tried hard to empower and extend Egypt, however his pursuits were condemned to failure once the insignificance of Egypt allowed it to be deemed dismissively ‘far away’.