The poem is a sonnet and is written in iambic pentameter. Some suggest that the sonnet form has been used to mirror Ozymandias’ egotistical love of himself. The first eight lines (octave) the statue is described in its different parts to shows its deterioration over time.

What is the main message of the poem Ozymandias?

The poem Ozymandias is about the transitory nature of life. It asserts that all that we gain in life—wealth, fame and power—are all temporary and are at the mercy of greater forces. It also highlights the irony of King Ozymandias’ arrogance.

What is the basic form of a sonnet?

In the Shakespearean or English sonnet, each line is 10 syllables long written in iambic pentameter. The structure can be divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) plus a final rhyming couplet (two-line stanza). The Shakespearean sonnet rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg.

How does Ozymandias rhyme scheme contribute to its structure?

In Ozymandias, Shelley uses a very different scheme: ABAB-ACDC-EDE-FDF. In some cases these are are slant rhymes—“appear”/“despair”—and resist detection. This scheme, with its less memorable rhymes, supports the poem’s theme of inevitable oblivion: just as every person will be forgotten, so will every work of poetry.

What is the rhythm of Ozymandias?

Because the poem is 14 lines long and written in iambic pentameter (apart from one line), it is in the form of a sonnet. A sonnet is traditionally a love poem. The poet could be making a little joke, pointing to Ozymandias’ love for himself and his ego.

Why is it called a Shakespearean sonnet?

The variation of the sonnet form that Shakespeare used—comprised of three quatrains and a concluding couplet, rhyming abab cdcd efef gg—is called the English or Shakespearean sonnet form, although others had used it before him.

How does Shelley present Ozymandias in the poem?

Shelley makes usage of cacophonous alliteration to present the power Ozymandias once had, ‘cold command’ and ‘King of Kings’, these suggest Ozymandias was a stern and authoritative ruler. ‘King of kings’ also alludes to divine power as Ozymandias believed himself to be as or more omnipotent than God.

How does the author use irony to develop the theme of the poem Ozymandias?

The irony in the poem lies in the fact that the mighty ruler had the following words engraved on his statue “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings; Look upon my works ye Mighty and despair!” These words conveyed he was so powerful that no other king could surpass him.

What is the purpose of a sonnet?

Sonnets are lyrical poems of 14 lines that follow a specific rhyming pattern. Sonnets usually feature two contrasting characters, events, beliefs or emotions. Poets use the sonnet form to examine the tension that exists between the two elements.

What is the purpose of Shakespeare’s sonnets?

Part of the reason Shakespeare’s Sonnets speak to us so directly is that they are written with their own afterlife in mind. These are poems designed to commemorate the poet’s beloved for all eternity.

What makes a sonnet a sonnet?

Traditionally, the sonnet is a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter, employing one of several rhyme schemes, and adhering to a tightly structured thematic organization. The name is taken from the Italian sonetto, which means “a little sound or song.” Discover more poetic terms.

What is central theme of the poem?

The central theme of a poem represents its controlling idea. This idea is crafted and developed throughout the poem and can be identified by assessing the poem’s rhythm, setting, tone, mood, diction and, occasionally, title.

What is the irony of the poem Ozymandias?

The irony in the poem lies in the fact that the mighty ruler had the following words engraved on his statue “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings; Look upon my works ye Mighty and despair!” These words conveyed he was so powerful that no other king could surpass him.

What’s the meaning of Ozymandias?

noun. figurative. A tyrant, a dictator, a megalomaniac; someone or something of immense size, a colossus. The current widespread use probably derives from Shelley’s sonnet of 1817 entitled Ozymandias, in which the poet describes ‘the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare’.

What does the statue of Ozymandias symbolize?

In Shelley’s work, the statue of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, or Ozymandias, symbolizes political tyranny.

How does the author use imagery in Ozymandias?

Imagery Examples in Ozymandias:
Shelley, by juxtaposing the “sneer of cold command” with “these lifeless things,” reminds his readers that even absolute power disappears into lifelessness and oblivion.

How does Shelley present power in Ozymandias?

Power is presented in Ozymandias by a king’s statue. The statue says a lot about Rameses II the king, his attitude, and how he ruled. Firstly, the phrase “vast and trunkless” suggests the statue was large but “trunkless” meaning that it’s without a body.

What is the tone of Ozymandias?

Tone: The poem Ozymandias has a rather ironic tone. He mocks the “King of Kings” and how what was once great is now in shambles. The tone really contributes to the irony of the entire poem.

How is Ozymandias structure?

Its sonnet structure is unconventional and has features of the Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnet. It is partly a Petrarchan sonnet as it has an octave (8 lines) followed by a sestet (6 lines) There is a turning point/volta at line 9 (similar to a Petrarchan sonnet) ‘And on the pedestal these words appear’.

What is trait or quality of Ozymandias?

“Ozymandias” possesses many themes found within Romantic poems, such as exoticism, mystery, strong emotions, irony, and criticism of higher authority.

What is the shift in Ozymandias?

The shift is found when the speaker moves from describing the physical aspects of the statue, which shows that it is in pieces, to the significance of the statue which is found on the pedestal. This is no longer a piece of marble in the desert; it was the statue of a great king.

What moral does the poet wish to communicate in Ozymandias?

Answer: The poem ozymandias penned by P.B. Shelley is about a cruel and arrogant king Ozymandias who got his statue erected so that he could be remembered by posterity. The poem leaves a message that wealth power and position don’t last forever.

What is the major figure of speech in Ozymandias?

1) Metaphor: There is one extended metaphor used in the poem. The statue of Ozymandias metaphorically represents power, legacy, and command. It clarifies the meanings of the object and makes it clear that once the king was mighty and all-powerful.

What quality of king Ozymandias does the poem reflect?

Detailed Answer : The poem reflects upon the king’s grand delusions of his own power and might which he thought could be immortalised in stone. However it proved to be only wishful thinking because all that remained of that statue was a colossal wreck.