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A famous poem about the ruins of a tyrannical king in the desert, and the irony of his boastful inscription. Read the full text, analysis, and poem guide on the Poetry Foundation website.
- Percy Bysshe Shelley
The endless sands of “Ozymandias” palpably represent the...
- Ozymandias
Ozymandias. July 8, 2022. View the full text of the poem in...
- Percy Bysshe Shelley
Read the full text of Ozymandias, a famous poem by Shelley that depicts the ruins of a tyrannical king and his arrogant inscription. Learn about the poem's meaning, context, and analysis.
Ozymandias. " Ozymandias " ( / ˌɒziˈmændiəs / o-zee-MAN-dee-əs) [1] is a sonnet written by the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822). It was first published in the 11 January 1818 issue of The Examiner [2] of London .
A sonnet that depicts the fate of a powerful pharaoh, Ramses II, whose statue is half-buried in the desert. The poem explores the themes of the fleeting nature of power, the impermanence of human actions, and the importance of humility.
- Male
- Poetry Analyst
Learn about the poem \"Ozymandias\" by Shelley, a sonnet that describes a statue of the ancient Egyptian king Ramses II in the desert. Explore the themes, symbols, poetic devices, and historical context of this Romantic masterpiece.
Signed “Glirastes”– meaning roughly a “preaching doormouse”–Shelley’s “Ozymandias” has become one of his most famous poems. The essence of the message is the hubris of a man who ...