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Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley
1.Structure of the poem
Ozymandias is a sonnet – contains 14 lines that are divided into two parts:
the octave : first 8 lines which ask a question or present a problem.
the sestet – the last six lines which answer the question or resolve the problem.
In Ozymandias the octave ( lines 1-8) poses the question of whether or not a leader can become immortal by creating a great monument to himself.
From the sestet we know that a leader can't become immortal by creating a great monument to himself. We know this because in the sestet the poet describes the effects of time. Nothing is left of Ozymandias except a ruined statue. His civilization and his influence have disappeared and his proud and arrogant head islying in the sand.
The sestet contributes to our understanding of the poembecause we learn from the words on the pedestal that Ozymandias considered himself a "king of kings", a superior being. In contrast to the power and arrogance of the king in the past, the poet describes Ozymandias' present insignificance, with only sands to bear witness to the fact that he everexisted.
2.The Irony In The Poem.
The poem's message is that rulers and their power do not last – they rise and fall. The poet uses irony to make his point. He says in lines 10-11, " My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works and despair!" then in line 12 he says " Nothing beside remains" This creates a contrast and achieves an ironic effect. Ozymandias, who was so arrogant and thought of himself as a god, is now just a colossal wreck". It is ironic that nothing remains of his "works" His civilization is gone and only sands remain.
3. Why does the poet frame the poem as a story told to the speaker by a traveler from an antique land?
Framing the sonnet as a story told to the speaker by a traveler from an antiqueland enables the poet to add another level of obscurity to Ozymandias' position with regard to the reader.
Rather than seeing the statue with our own eyes, we hear about it from someone who heard about it from someone who has see it. The distancing of the narrative serves to undermine the king's power over us.
4.Bridging Text and Context
Romanticism was a movement that began in Western Europe in the second half of the 18th century. It was an artistic and literary reaction to scientific thinking. The Romantic artists believed that we shouldn't tryto find a logical explanation for everything in nature.
Some aspects of Romantic thought were:
- love of nature
- focus on the power of the imagination
- focus on the power of nature over man, for example:
the destructive power of time
the power of death
- love of distant and exotic places
- great interest in people of different cultures and in outstanding people
- immortality through art and language, which outlast everything else.
5.How are these Romantic aspects reflected in the poem?
The first aspect reflected in the poem is the power of nature over man: the desert had completely destroyed Ozymandias' kingdom and even ruined the statue itself.
The second aspect is the love of distant and exotic places: the poem begins by mentioning a traveler who has been to an antique land, andfrom the desert ( an exotic place). Thethird aspect is the interest in outstanding people: here it is the interest in a king who was once a very powerful ruler.
6.How did the information about Romanticism affect your understanding of the poem?
The poem is a warning against human vanity and political tyranny anywhere. Understanding the key features of Romanticism in literature helps explain why Shelly chose a scene and a figure like this to convey his message.
7.How is the poet's opinion about the endurance of rulers and kings different from that of Ozymandias?
Use one of the following thinking skill to answer the question above:
Distinguishing Different Perspectives
Inferring
Compare and Contrast (25 points)
Explain why you chose that particular thinking skill to answer question 4a. (5 points)
Ozymandias thought that by glorifying himself building monuments and giant buildings he would be able to immortalize himself. He scorned his people and felt he was superior to them. As opposed to that Shelley, who belonged to the Romantic Movement criticizes tyrants and dictators in his poem.
He conveys the message that man is ephemeral and political power is temporary. Therefore all those political leaders who think they are all- powerful will end up like any other person. Their rule will come to an end and they will be gone andforgotten.
I used the HOTS of distinguishing different Perspectives.
This Hot means identifying different points of view. To answer the question I presented two different perspectives, that of the poet and that of Ozymandias. In his poem Shelley is trying to defy the point of view which is typical to Ozymnadias and other dictators, according to which they are all- powerful and immortal. Shelley's message is that no man is as powerful as he thinks he is.
OR
I used the HOTS of Compare and Contrast . This HOTS means finding the similarities and differences between things and drawing conclusions based on them .
I used this HOTS because I contrasted Ozymandias' perspective with that of Shelley, the poet.
OR
I used the HOT of Inferring. This HOTS means understanding information that is not explicitly written in the text.
I used this HOTS because from the words on the pedestal and from the expression on Ozymandias' visage I inferred that he was arrogant, cruel and rude . I could also infer that he considered himself to be immortal. Ozymandias thought that he would live forever through his statue andthat his influence would last forever. From the irony Shelley uses in his poem I inferred that he hated political tyranny and social injustice