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The best Ozymandias study guide on the planet. The fastest way to understand the poem's meaning, themes, form, rhyme scheme, meter, and poetic devices.
Percy Bysshe Shelley. 99. ‘Ozymandias’ is one of Shelley's best poems, portraying a decaying statue in a desert with the inscription “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair”. This stark imagery contrasts the once-mighty ruler's declaration, emphasizing the fleeting nature of human achievements.
“Ozymandias” has an elusive, sidelong approach to its subject. The poem begins with the word “I”—but the first person here is a mere framing device. The “I” quickly fades away in favor of a mysterious “traveler from an antique land.”
Study Guide. Summary & Analysis. When Percy Bysshe Shelley first wrote “Ozymandias” in 1817, he did so as part of a competition with his friend and fellow poet, Horace Smith. The two men each agreed to write a sonnet on the subject of Ozymandias, which is the Greek name for the ancient Egyptian king otherwise known as Rameses II.
Mar 28, 2024 · Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024 • Article History. Ozymandias, sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley, published in 1818. One of Shelley’s most famous short works, the poem offers an ironic commentary on the fleeting nature of power. It tells of a ruined statue of Ozymandias (the Greek name for Ramses II of Egypt, who reigned in the 13th century bce ...
Translations. Ozymandias Lyrics. I met a traveller from an antique land. Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone. Stand in the desert... Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered...
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. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
