Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

“Ozymandias” is a poem written by Percy Bysshe Shelley, a famous poet from the 19th century. It tells the story of a traveler who comes across a broken statue in the desert. Once grand and powerful, the statue is now in ruins, with only the legs and a shattered face remaining. Through the poem, Shelley explores the idea of the passage of time and the impermanence of human achievements. It reminds us that no matter how mighty someone may seem, eventually, everything fades away.

I met a traveler 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 visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;

And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Summary Of This Poem- Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

“Ozymandias” is a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley about the fleeting nature of power and the inevitable decline of empires. The narrator meets a traveler who describes a vast, desolate landscape containing the ruins of a statue of a once-mighty king named Ozymandias.

The traveler recounts the inscription on the pedestal, which boasts of Ozymandias’s greatness and warns others to despair at his works. However, the statue now lies broken and crumbling in the sand, a testament to the passage of time and the impermanence of human achievement. The poem reflects on the arrogance of rulers who believe their power will last forever, only to be humbled by the forces of nature and time.

Ultimately, “Ozymandias” serves as a reminder that all worldly accomplishments are temporary, and even the most powerful figures will eventually fade into obscurity.

Theme Of This Poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

The poem “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley talks about how powerful people and their mighty empires eventually crumble and fade away over time. The main theme is about the passage of time and the impermanence of human achievements.

In the poem, the narrator meets a traveler who tells him about a huge statue in the desert that once belonged to a powerful king named Ozymandias. The statue’s broken pieces lie scattered in the sand, and only the king’s boastful inscription remains: “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

However, despite Ozymandias’s arrogance and pride, there is nothing left of his kingdom except for the ruins. The desert has reclaimed everything, showing that even the most powerful rulers are ultimately powerless against the forces of nature and time.

The poem teaches us that no matter how grand our achievements may seem, they are only temporary. It reminds us to stay humble and not to be too proud of our accomplishments because, in the end, they will all fade away like Ozymandias’s empire.

Figures Of Speech Found In The Poem-Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley is full of colorful language that paints vivid pictures in our minds. Here are some simple figures of speech found in the poem:

• Simile: Comparing two things using “like” or “as.”
  • “Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, / whose frown, / And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, / Tell that its sculptor well those passions read / Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things.” (Lines 4-8)
  • Here, the poet compares the expression on the statue’s face to emotions a sculptor has captured in stone.
• Metaphor: Directly comparing two things without using “like” or “as.”
  • “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings; / Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” (Lines 10-11)
  • The king’s boastful words compare himself to the greatest of all rulers, emphasizing his arrogance.
• Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things.
  • “Round the decay / Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare / The lone and level sands stretch far away.” (Lines 13-15)
  • The sands are described as “lone” and “level,” as if they have feelings and characteristics like a person.
• Symbolism: Using one thing to represent another.
  • The statue of Ozymandias symbolizes the fleeting nature of power and the inevitability of decline and decay.
• Imagery: Using descriptive language to create vivid mental pictures.
  • “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay / Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare / The lone and level sands stretch far away.” (Lines 13-15)
  • The words paint a picture of vast, empty desert landscape surrounding the ruins of the statue.

These figures of speech help bring the poem to life and convey its themes of the passage of time, the transience of power, and the insignificance of human achievements in the face of nature’s vastness.

Analysis Of This Poem Each Stanza

“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley in simple language:

1. In the first stanza, the speaker describes meeting someone who has seen a vast, desolate desert. This person tells the speaker about a broken statue they saw in the desert, with only the legs remaining standing. The statue had a face that showed a sense of pride and authority, even though it was now ruined and partially buried in sand.
2. The second stanza continues with the traveler’s story. The traveler explains that near the broken statue, there is a pedestal with a message engraved on it. The message says that Ozymandias, the king who the statue represents, once boasted about his great power and accomplishments. The inscription implies that people should look upon his works and be awed by his greatness.
3. In the third stanza, the speaker shifts to the perspective of the sculptor who created the statue. The sculptor describes how he portrayed Ozymandias with a sneer of arrogance and a frown of command. The sculptor captured these expressions well, even though Ozymandias himself never saw the statue completed. The statue’s expression conveys the king’s haughty attitude and his belief in his own superiority.

Overall, the poem “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley explores the theme of the inevitable decline of power and the fleeting nature of human achievements. It uses the image of a ruined statue in the desert to convey this idea, emphasizing the transience of even the most powerful rulers and their legacies.

Rhyme Scheme Of this Poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

In “Ozymandias” by Shelley, the rhyme scheme is ABABACDCDEFEFGHGH.

That means the lines that end with similar sounds rhyme with each other. For example, in the first stanza, “land” and “sand” rhyme with each other (A), and “stone” and “alone” rhyme (B). This pattern continues throughout the poem, making it easy to follow along and enjoy the rhythm of the words.

Critical Appreciation Of this Poem

The poem “Ozymandias” tells the story of a traveler who describes seeing a broken statue in the middle of a vast desert. The traveler recounts that the statue once depicted a powerful ruler named Ozymandias, who believed himself to be mighty and invincible. However, now the statue lies in ruins, with only the legs and a shattered face remaining.

Despite Ozymandias’s boastful inscription on the pedestal declaring his greatness, the desolate surroundings and the decay of the statue suggest the impermanence of power and the inevitable decline of even the most grandiose empires.

The poem teaches us that no matter how powerful or proud we may become, time will eventually erode our achievements and render us forgotten. It’s a reminder to humankind that our accomplishments are fleeting and that we should not become too arrogant or self-important.

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