Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley (detailed analysis)

Summary

The script explores Percy Bysshe Shelley's sonnet 'Ozymandias,' published in 1818, a reflection on the theme of hubris and the impermanence of power. It delves into the poem's structure, rhyme scheme, and language techniques, revealing a moral lesson on the futility of human pride against the relentless passage of time. Shelley's imagined depiction of a ruined statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II underscores the inevitable downfall of even the mightiest rulers, leaving only the desolate desert as a testament to their once-great empire.

Takeaways

• 📜 'Ozymandias' was written by Percy Bysshe Shelley and published in the Examiner on January 11, 1818, as part of a competition with poet Horace Smith.
• 🏺 The poem's subject is inspired by Diodorus Siculus's writings about a massive Egyptian statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II, reflecting on the theme of hubris and downfall.
• 🗿 Shelley's description of the statue is imagined, as the actual statue did not arrive in London until 1821, despite the British Museum's acquisition in 1817.
• 📝 The poem's moral lesson is that the pride and power of man are ephemeral, with time eroding even the greatest legacies to mere dust.
• 👑 Ozymandias, the Greek name for Pharaoh Ramesses II, was a powerful ruler known for his extensive building projects to memorialize his power and divinity.
• 🏛 The poem follows a Petrarchan sonnet structure with variations in rhythm and rhyme scheme to mimic natural speech and enhance storytelling.
• 🎭 The opening lines set a mysterious and exotic tone, introducing an unnamed traveler from ancient lands with a tale to tell.
• 🗿 The visual imagery of the shattered statue's remains in the desert emphasizes the decontextualization and ruin of once-mighty symbols of power.
• 🗿 The statue's facial expressions, captured by the sculptor, reflect the fierce and uncompromising nature of the Pharaoh, now reduced to lifeless stone.
• 🗿 The use of synecdoche in 'the hand that mocked them' and 'the heart that fed' links the creation of the statue to the Pharaoh's pride and vanity.
• 🗿 The inscription on the statue's pedestal, 'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings,' is a bold declaration of power that now ironically serves to mock the Pharaoh's downfall.
• 🏜 The final lines place the statue in the context of its desolate surroundings, emphasizing the emptiness and futility of the Pharaoh's once-great works.

Q & A

Who is the author of the poem 'Ozymandias'?

The poem 'Ozymandias' was written by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

When was the poem 'Ozymandias' first published?

The poem was first published in the 11th January 1818 issue of the Examiner, a weekly intellectual journal.

What was the inspiration behind the poem 'Ozymandias'?

The inspiration behind the poem was a competition with the poet Horace Smith, both writing sonnets based on a passage from the writings of the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, which described a massive Egyptian statue.

What theme does the poem 'Ozymandias' explore?

The poem explores the theme of hubris, which comes from the ancient Greek word 'hubris', describing a person who is foolishly proud and arrogant, leading to their downfall.

Who is Ozymandias in the context of the poem?

In the poem, Ozymandias is the Greek name for the Pharaoh Ramesses II, who ruled ancient Egypt and is known for his powerful reign and building of monuments.

What is the significance of the broken statue in the poem?

The broken statue signifies the downfall and the impermanence of power and pride, illustrating that even the most powerful rulers and their legacies can be reduced to dust over time.

What is the structure of the poem 'Ozymandias'?

The poem loosely follows the structure of a Petrarchan sonnet, with fourteen lines divided into an octave and a sestet, and a base metre of iambic pentameter.

How does Shelley vary the rhythm of the poem?

Shelley varies the rhythm by substituting trochaic feet, anapestic feet, and iambic feet with a dumb stress pattern, which mimics a more natural speech rhythm.

What is the significance of the inscription on the pedestal in the poem?

The inscription on the pedestal is a boast by the Pharaoh, declaring his power and inviting others to despair at his works. However, the irony is that time has eroded all but the inscription, making it a mockery of his once-great power.

How does the poem conclude?

The poem concludes with the traveler observing the shattered statue in the context of its surroundings, emphasizing the boundless and bare desert, symbolizing the ultimate insignificance of the once-great ruler's legacy.

What literary devices does Shelley use in 'Ozymandias' to enhance the narrative?

Shelley uses enjambment, alliteration, sibilance, and synecdoche, as well as variations in rhythm and rhyme scheme to enhance the narrative and bring the story to life.