Georgiades 1 Anthony Georgiades Mrs.

Glenn AP Comp/Lit December 14, 2011 SPOTTTS Title: Ozymandias Author: Percy Bysshe Shelley Date of Publication: 1818 Genre: Lyric Purpose: It seems as though the purpose of this poem focuses on the idea that nothing is permanent and that the passing of time is inevitable and relentless, as the great empire of King Ozymandias is now nothing but dusty ruins and forgotten memories. In particular, the purpose of impermanence may be centralized around fame and fortune. While the great King Ozymandias was once important and famous enough to rule an empire, he is now unknown to many. No one knows anything about his kingdom or accomplishes; all that is left is his fallen statue covered in dust and sand. The pedestals writings and the location of the statue emphasize such a purpose in quite an ironic manner. While the pedestals statement My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair! depicts the vast empire and the high self-esteems of the king who thought himself to be a man of great power and fame, the fact that the statue now stands alone in the sand in the middle of nowhere, leaving nothing but a kingdom that has long been forgotten, clearly demonstrates the futility in fame and power. It is almost pointless to try and become famous, as those who are important end up forgotten. Perhaps the author, Shelley, is voicing his own disdain in his futile attempts at becoming a famous poet.

Georgiades 2 Paraphrase: I met a traveler from an ancient land who told me that Two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert. Near them half sunk in the sand is the statues shattered face. The frown, wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command show that its sculptor knew the passions of this man well and was able to portray them and manage to keep them alive on this statue, a statue of a man whose hand mocked them and heart was fed. On the pedestal, the words are written: My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, the mighty works, and become in despair! Nothing else remains around this colossal wreck which is in decay, now boundless and bare- the lone and level sands stretch far away. Structure: Ozymandias is a Petrarchan Sonnet written in the form of Iambic Pentameter. The rhyme scheme is a little different from the regular ABAB-CDCD-EFEF-GG. Instead, it is ABABACDC-EDEFEF. It seems as though there are two divisions in the poem. Each division of the poem is one continuous line of thought. The D part of the rhyme embedded in both divisions links the poem together. Although the poem appears to be short with only one stanza, it contains lengthy lines, two divisions, and many descriptive words with many embedded meanings. Shift: The shift in the poem occurs between the two divisions of the poem, between lines 8 and 9 and perhaps even during line 8. The first part of the poem focuses on analyzing the situation and offers a description of ones viewpoint on the statue of Ozymandias. The tone seems to be one of nostalgia for the past in a sort of praising manner. However, line 8 shifts to a tone of more mocking towards the king, as the second part of the poem describes the Kings high praises of himself. This high self-esteem is mocked by the fact that nothing still stands as verification of his claims. Speaker: The speaker tells us a story about the statue of Ozymandias. While the speaker himself has not seen the statue, he tells us the story he has heard about the statue and what a

Georgiades 3 traveler has said about it. Therefore, the speaker is considered second-hand knowledge. However, the speakers point of view is crucial to the purpose of the poem. The reader only knows the great King Ozymandias through the speakers point of view, which seems to not counter the travelers point of view. Instead, through his lack of voice, he accepts it and offers it to the reader as complete truth. In turn, the reader must also validate the speakers claim that Ozymandias is known for nothing more than being an old broken statue covered by sand in the middle of nowhere, despite the pedestals claim that he and the empire were once so much more. While Ozymandias sought fame, he actually achieved a degree of infamy, as the speakers point of view brings to life the idea that what was once desired and what actually came into existence are two completely different entities; the former, although sought, was never accomplished. Tone: Throughout the poem, there seems to be a shift in the tone. The poem starts out describing a statue; the tone begins one of praises, as it praises the statue as being sculpted with passions. The tone starts as one of almost sorrow in the sense that this statue survives alone with nothing else. But then, the tone switches to one of irony in an almost mocking manner. The speaker notes that the pedestal on the statue was mocked. While the pedestal states the proclamation of the king, one of great works, the king of kings, no kingdom remains; his claims are being mocked because none of his greatness has lived on. Theme: The theme seems to be one of perpetual existence, or the lack thereof. While the once highly self-praising and acclaimed king believed himself to be everlasting, his great works and efforts were done in vein. He was unable to make a lasting impact on civilization, as everything that were once his is own doings are now lost. In particular, it is the fame of the king and the fame that many seek that can be viewed with futility. Just the very fact that the king

Georgiades 4 stands alone in the sand in the middle of nowhere with nothing but a forgotten kingdom demonstrates that although he may have been famous and powerful in his day, he has ended up unimportant and forgotten. This theme may relate to the author himself. It may be that Shelley has found contempt in his attempts at becoming a famous poet. Title: At first glance, the title seems to be simple and expected. The title Ozymandias is the name of the great king whose statue is described throughout the poem. It seems fitting to name the title after the king, but is it not ironic that the poem discusses the inefficacy of the kings attempts to become famous and remembered, yet there is still a poem named after him? Coincidence, or part of Shelleys mastery? For that matter, I prefer the latter. Rhetorics: Must I even bother myself with listing the rhyme scheme, this is in fact a sonnet. For this poem in particular, the rhyme scheme is ABABACDC-EDEFEF. The importance of this rhyme scheme is that the D in the first and second division link the poem together as one. There is an anostrophe in the phrase Well those passions read, which is normally read those passions well. This is done in order to enhance the rhythm throughout the poem. There is also alliteration throughout the poem: two vast and trunkless, cold command, the hand that mockd them and the heart that fed, boundless and bare, and lone and level sand stretch. The alliterations do not stop here, but continue throughout the piece in order to create a more song-like lyric that flows well.