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- Through vivid imagery, ironic juxtaposition, and profound themes, Shelley invites readers to reflect on the hubris of rulers, the folly of ambition, and the enduring legacy of time. In doing so, he creates a timeless work of literature that continues to resonate with readers centuries after it was written.
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Through vivid imagery and masterful use of language, Shelley crafts a narrative that serves as a timeless warning against hubris [exaggerated pride or self-confidence] and the folly of placing too much faith in earthly achievements.
Shelley’s poem rises from the desert wastes: it entrances us every time we read it, and turns the reading into a “now.” The critic Leslie Brisman remarks on “the way the timelessness of metaphor escapes the limits of experience” in Shelley. Timelessness can be achieved only by the poet’s words, not by the ruler’s will to dominate.
- Summary
- Meaning
- Structure and Form
- Literary Devices
- Detailed Analysis
- Themes
- Tone
- Historical Context
- About Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Similar Poems
‘Ozymandias’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley(Bio | Poems)describes a traveler’s reaction to the half-buried, worn-out statue of the great pharaoh, Ramses II. In this poem, the speaker describes meeting a traveler “from an antique land.” The title, ‘Ozymandias,’notifies the reader that this land is most probably Egypt since Ozymandias was what the Greeks ca...
‘Ozymandias’ carries an extended metaphor throughout the entire poem. All around the traveler is desert — nothing is green or growing; the land is barren. The statue, however, still boasts of the accomplishments this civilization had in the past. The desert represents the fall of all empires — nothing powerful and rich can ever stay that strong for...
Form: SonnetMeter: Iambic PentameterShelley plays with a number of figurative devices in order to make the sonnet more appealing to readers. These devices include: 1. Enjambment: Shelley uses this device throughout the text. For example, it occurs in lines 2-8. By enjambing the lines, the poet creates a surprising flow. 2. Alliteration: It occurs in “an antique,” “stone/ Stand,” “sun...
Line 1
The text of ‘Ozymandias’ reads more like a story than a poem, although the line rhymes do help to remind the reader that this is not prose. The speaker in the poem, perhaps Percy Bysshe Shelley(Bio | Poems), tells the story from his point of view, using the pronoun “I.” In the first line, he talks about meeting a traveler from an antique country. At first, this line is a tad ambiguous: Is the traveler from “an antique land,” or did he just come back from visiting one? The reader also does not...
Lines 2-4
These lines are much clearer than the first, however, and it is clear to the reader what, exactly, is occurring in the sonnet. The rest of the poem is actually written in dialogue; the traveler recounts his experiences in Egypt to the poet’s persona. Lines two through fourteen are only one sentence in length, as well. These lines also contain some of the most vivid and beautiful imageryin all of poetry. Shelley was such a masterful writer that it does not take much effort on the reader’s part...
Lines 5-8
The traveler then turns his attention to the sculptor who made the statue. He comments that whomever the sculptor is, he knew his subject very well. Anyone could say that the artist had exceptionally captured the passions of the ruler. Though the pharaoh is long dead, he exists through the creation of a mere sculptor. So, who is more powerful in this case? Undoubtedly, it is the sculptor. He also seems to be commenting in line seven that while there is an end to living beings, art is eternal—...
Shelley makes use of a number of themesin this sonnet. The most important theme is the impermanence of a ruler’s glory and his legacy. It is an implicit hint at the idea of futility. No matter how hard a man tries to rivet his name, at some point, people will forget him. For example, Ozymandias tried to become greater than God. He declared himself ...
The overall theme of ‘Ozymandias’ is serious and awe-inspiring. For instance, the line, “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone,” arouses both fear and pity in the readers’ hearts. The size of the statue undoubtedly makes us wonder about the greatness and power of the ruler. Yet, they also take pity on the decaying depiction of the statue. It makes t...
It is an understatementto say that Shelley was a clever man. While one can read this poem to be about an ancient leader of Egypt, the poem could also be read as a criticism for the world in which Shelley lived. Ever the political critic, Shelley perhaps warns the leaders of England that they, too, will fall someday. Their overarching ambition might...
Though Shelley was one of the important Romantic poets, he never achieved fame while he was alive. However, he did keep company with some extremely talented writers. His good friends include Lord Byron(Bio | Poems) and John Keats(Bio | Poems). Besides, he was married to Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Shelley’s best-loved poems include ‘O...
Readers who liked Shelley’s ‘Ozymandias’ could also find the following poems interesting. These poems tap into similar themes. 1. ‘Pride’ by Francis Duggan(Poems)— This poem straightforwardly deals with the human ego and pride. 2. ‘Dust If You Must’ by Rose Milligan(Poems)— This piece is about the futility of life and the impermanence of human achi...
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Oct 27, 2023 · Timelessness: In “Ozymandias,” Shelley masterfully captures the paradox of time through art.
The title “Ozymandias” refers to an alternate name of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II. In the poem, Shelley describes a crumbling statue of Ozymandias as a way to portray the transience of political power and to praise art’s ability to preserve the past.
Round the decay / Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, / The lone and level sands stretch far away.”. A summary of “Ozymandias” in Percy Bysshe Shelley's Shelley’s Poetry. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Shelley’s Poetry and what it means.
The information and message in these stories is conveyed through literary devices and thus manifest the timelessness of art. The assembled images like trunkless legs, wrinkled lip, half sunk form of the statue, pedestal legend from various texts and passages echo the invincibility of time.
