Ozymandias

1. Ozymandias By: Liam and Denise

2. Percy Bysshe Shelley

3. Theme • The theme of this poem is very brooding and depressing. The point of what the statue represents can be somewhat confusing. A statue is known to show pride in something of someone, usually a leader who built a kingdom or developed one, yet at his pedestal, he speaks of his “works, ye Mighty, and despair!” which is not what a king takes pride of for his own people. To find a man coming from an antique land, telling you a story about a cold person who left nothing behind in his downfall is unusual. It is even more unusual to hear that the a man is meant to be a Pharoah is even harder to believe.

4. Analysis of the Poem’s meanings: • This poem contradicts the development brought by leaders and the inevitable crash brought by trying to achieve too much greatness. This is clearly represented with the substantial use of irony, imagery and diction.

5. Structure of the Poem: • Sonnet • Irregular Rhyme Scheme

6. Literary Devices Used • Irony • Imagery • Diction • Metaphor

7. Irony • The poet uses irony throughout the poem to contradict the development made by the pharaoh and the emptiness of the area which still stands. • This can be seen when comparing the writing on the pedestal to the reality of the area • The fact that the statue is almost destroyed is also ironic as it contradicts the pharaohs previous statements that he is “the king of kings”. • The setting of the huge, open desert shows the reader the downfall which occured

8. Diction • The use of the words shattered visage, frown, wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command make the reader unattached to the Pharaoh himself • The line: “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, The lone and level sands stretch far away". Tell show the reader how much downfall has occurred since his ruling. His promises to improve the area and be an effective leader are contradicted by these lines.

9. Imagery