Ozymandias Analysis

I met a traveller 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 sculptorwell 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.'

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Here in this poem, the poet tells that he met a traveller from an antique land, which actually refers to Egypt. the traveller says: Two vast trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert and near them a visage lies, which has a sneer(one-sided smile)on it. this shows that the person of whom yhe statue was, was cruel and unkind.
Next, he says that the sculptor read those passions well which yet survive. This shows that the sculptor knew the person\'s habits, behaviour, etc. The words on the pedestal- \"My name is Ozymandias, the king of kings. Look on my works, ye mighty and despair!\" tell that the statue was of a king called Ozymandias who was boasting himself. The king tells other kings to look on to his achievements and by doig this, they will definitely lose all hopes. The poet tells even though the time has passed, the pride of the king has not vanished. There is nothing beside it, only sand and sand....

| Posted on 2013-01-13 | by a guest

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my name is Faiq
Shelley wants to describes that Human beings are mortal

| Posted on 2012-12-11 | by a guest

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It is understandable that money makes us disembarrass. But how to act if somebody has no money? The one way is to receive the business loans or college loan.

| Posted on 2012-12-11 | by a guest

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Here is one word to think about in terms of the poem, if you take the Burke\'s and Tom Cochrane\'s views and think about it in terms of the poem. Sublime.

| Posted on 2012-11-23 | by a guest

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can a person immrtalised himself through money and power?
this is the topic for the declamation. please help me!

| Posted on 2012-11-19 | by a guest

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our power well not stay forever... so we care for it... don\'t be shellfish
| Posted on 2010-05-04 | by a guest
Dear the person who wrote this, I vow I\'ll try my hardest no to be a shellfish

| Posted on 2012-09-16 | by a guest

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nobody cares about the egypitain pharaoh so just quit at life.

| Posted on 2012-04-27 | by a guest

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the hand that mock is for the people who remembered the tyranny of the king while the heart that fed is those people who appreciated the statue which is the work of art. rex valdez

| Posted on 2012-02-26 | by a guest

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ozy is a greek word for air and mandias is a greek word for king so basically ozymandias is the king of air, or in other words kind of nothing

| Posted on 2012-01-15 | by a guest

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The poem is written by the great poet P.B. Shelley. It is an Italian sonnet comprising of an octave and a sestet, with octave representing the immense pride and majesty whereas sestet its resolution.
The central theme of the poem is the complete and inevitable decline of all leaders and of the empire they build, however mighty in their own time. The statue of Ramses II in the British museum is thought to have inspired the poem. Ozymandias was another name for Ramses the great, pharaoh of the 19th century of ancient Egypt.
Highlighting the excessive pride and disastrous downfall of man, Shelley condenses the history of civilization through the use of metaphor of rise, peak and fall of ozymandias. He shows that all the works of human kind including social structure will eventually become history. He establishes the theme, “Nothing Lasts” by using specific imagery, speaker voices and by contrasting this fact with the idea that some things stand the test of time. Shelley conveys a tone of greatness and power associated with the ones mighty statue and the civilization and king for which it stood, yet at the same time shows how this prominent ode to power crumbled at the hands of time. He uses situational irony to deliver his message that power over the period of time fades as do the accomplishment associated with it even for the most powerful of men. In contrast, the poet asserts that some things like art do remain after the effect read, which yet survived on these lifeless things.” Even after the destruction of the statue, its craftsmanship is still apparent and the skill of artisan must have been great indeed to capture the emotion of a man so intoxicated by power. Shelley wants us to see beyond the greatness of the king for which the statue was erected and appreciate the beauty of the thing itself. Various poetic devices have been used in this poem.

| Posted on 2011-11-26 | by a guest

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Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem “Ozymandias” demonstrates a theme of permanence. The story is hearsay to the speaker, and his enthusiasm to further share the story will only continue its eternalness. The imagery of the statue itself, its destruction and the unaffected pedestal further expand on the everlasting qualities of the monument. The prolonged existence of the fable and the expansiveness of the desert on a timeless and vast earth prove the solidity of Ozymandias and everything he leaves behind.
The persona of the poem seems as though he is passing on an interesting story to a fellow traveler, much like he himself experienced in his exploration. The speaker “met a traveler from an antique land” which sparked the entire discussion of the ruined statue. The persona did not personally experience this spectacle, yet can recall word for word the detailed imagery of the ruins. Not only does this show how enthralling the description was to the speaker, but how eager he was to inform others of the statue’s presence. The theme of permanence is well developed because the reader must assume that the story will only continue to be spread, a legend for all interested in hearing it.
A statue is a fantastic image for permanence. It was originally constructed by a tyrant king to glorify himself, yet constructed in a manner that discredits him. The “frown and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command” are obvious examples of negative emotion. The sculptor was inspired by Ozymandias in life, and the result is a proper depiction of his personality even in death. Before the statue was destroyed, it was a representation of the king’s presumed permanence, and the details of his demeanor are undyingly expressed. It is impossible to know whether the effigy was abandoned and eroded without attention or forcefully destroyed by the resentful subjects of Ozymandias; however, either option proves that the feelings of the subjects towards their leader are eternal, inflicting irreversible damage.
The status of the monument is described in the poem in abundant detail, adding to the theme even further. Phrases like “trunkless legs,” “shattered visage,” and “colossal wreck” stick in the reader’s mind like glue. Though the crushed statue seemingly contradicts the theme, the durability is not of importance. The permanence lies within the human emotion surrounding Ozymandias. The “hand that mocked” and “heart that fed” cannot actually be seen on an unalterable sculpture, yet they are still mentioned. The legend of the tyrannous ruler overshadows the visual representation of Ozymandias, and the traveler cannot distinguish his previous knowledge from the actual visual. This shows that the effects of arrogance and cruelty are also everlasting, even though the state of the statue was not.
Most importantly, the attached placard is intact, which reads: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!” This arrogant attitude, straight from the mouth of the king himself, unfolds a completely different kind of permanence: his legacy. Though these words are not a positive reflection, they are accurate and indestructible, contrary to the condition of the rest of the statue.
The longevity of the legend is vital to the understanding of the theme. Thousands of years have passed since the construction of the monument at the time it is reported to the speaker of the poem, but still it remains. Though not intact, Ozymandias’ effigy continues to be a source of information for travelers and historians to understand the era of his domain, and his character. The legacy of the king outlasts his life, his monument, and survives to be shared by people centuries after his reign.
Though the “lone and level sands stretch far away” from the wreckage, it is there to be seen, and has been, by a transient traveler. “Nothing beside remains,” yet the legacy lives on. It is interesting enough to tell to a passing acquaintance and vivid enough to describe in magnificent detail. It is obvious that no amount of decay, time, or distance can destroy the permanence of the statue, and everything it represents historically and emotionally. “Ozymandias,” with the use of distinct imagery and evocative emotions, develops a theme of permanence. Interestingly enough, the poem itself further correlates with the theme. The poet lived during the late 1700s and early 1800s, yet his poetry is analyzed and cherished two hundred years later. Shelley has proven his own solidity in the world of literature, and has furthered the permanence of Ozymandias, the fabled king, by informing poetry buffs and students alike of his existence.Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem “Ozymandias” demonstrates a theme of permanence. The story is hearsay to the speaker, and his enthusiasm to further share the story will only continue its eternalness. The imagery of the statue itself, its destruction and the unaffected pedestal further expand on the everlasting qualities of the monument. The prolonged existence of the fable and the expansiveness of the desert on a timeless and vast earth prove the solidity of Ozymandias and everything he leaves behind.
The persona of the poem seems as though he is passing on an interesting story to a fellow traveler, much like he himself experienced in his exploration. The speaker “met a traveler from an antique land” which sparked the entire discussion of the ruined statue. The persona did not personally experience this spectacle, yet can recall word for word the detailed imagery of the ruins. Not only does this show how enthralling the description was to the speaker, but how eager he was to inform others of the statue’s presence. The theme of permanence is well developed because the reader must assume that the story will only continue to be spread, a legend for all interested in hearing it.
A statue is a fantastic image for permanence. It was originally constructed by a tyrant king to glorify himself, yet constructed in a manner that discredits him. The “frown and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command” are obvious examples of negative emotion. The sculptor was inspired by Ozymandias in life, and the result is a proper depiction of his personality even in death. Before the statue was destroyed, it was a representation of the king’s presumed permanence, and the details of his demeanor are undyingly expressed. It is impossible to know whether the effigy was abandoned and eroded without attention or forcefully destroyed by the resentful subjects of Ozymandias; however, either option proves that the feelings of the subjects towards their leader are eternal, inflicting irreversible damage.
The status of the monument is described in the poem in abundant detail, adding to the theme even further. Phrases like “trunkless legs,” “shattered visage,” and “colossal wreck” stick in the reader’s mind like glue. Though the crushed statue seemingly contradicts the theme, the durability is not of importance. The permanence lies within the human emotion surrounding Ozymandias. The “hand that mocked” and “heart that fed” cannot actually be seen on an unalterable sculpture, yet they are still mentioned. The legend of the tyrannous ruler overshadows the visual representation of Ozymandias, and the traveler cannot distinguish his previous knowledge from the actual visual. This shows that the effects of arrogance and cruelty are also everlasting, even though the state of the statue was not.
Most importantly, the attached placard is intact, which reads: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!” This arrogant attitude, straight from the mouth of the king himself, unfolds a completely different kind of permanence: his legacy. Though these words are not a positive reflection, they are accurate and indestructible, contrary to the condition of the rest of the statue.
The longevity of the legend is vital to the understanding of the theme. Thousands

| Posted on 2011-11-05 | by a guest

.: :.

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem “Ozymandias” demonstrates a theme of permanence. The story is hearsay to the speaker, and his enthusiasm to further share the story will only continue its eternalness. The imagery of the statue itself, its destruction and the unaffected pedestal further expand on the everlasting qualities of the monument. The prolonged existence of the fable and the expansiveness of the desert on a timeless and vast earth prove the solidity of Ozymandias and everything he leaves behind.
The persona of the poem seems as though he is passing on an interesting story to a fellow traveler, much like he himself experienced in his exploration. The speaker “met a traveler from an antique land” which sparked the entire discussion of the ruined statue. The persona did not personally experience this spectacle, yet can recall word for word the detailed imagery of the ruins. Not only does this show how enthralling the description was to the speaker, but how eager he was to inform others of the statue’s presence. The theme of permanence is well developed because the reader must assume that the story will only continue to be spread, a legend for all interested in hearing it.
A statue is a fantastic image for permanence. It was originally constructed by a tyrant king to glorify himself, yet constructed in a manner that discredits him. The “frown and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command” are obvious examples of negative emotion. The sculptor was inspired by Ozymandias in life, and the result is a proper depiction of his personality even in death. Before the statue was destroyed, it was a representation of the king’s presumed permanence, and the details of his demeanor are undyingly expressed. It is impossible to know whether the effigy was abandoned and eroded without attention or forcefully destroyed by the resentful subjects of Ozymandias; however, either option proves that the feelings of the subjects towards their leader are eternal, inflicting irreversible damage.
The status of the monument is described in the poem in abundant detail, adding to the theme even further. Phrases like “trunkless legs,” “shattered visage,” and “colossal wreck” stick in the reader’s mind like glue. Though the crushed statue seemingly contradicts the theme, the durability is not of importance. The permanence lies within the human emotion surrounding Ozymandias. The “hand that mocked” and “heart that fed” cannot actually be seen on an unalterable sculpture, yet they are still mentioned. The legend of the tyrannous ruler overshadows the visual representation of Ozymandias, and the traveler cannot distinguish his previous knowledge from the actual visual. This shows that the effects of arrogance and cruelty are also everlasting, even though the state of the statue was not.
Most importantly, the attached placard is intact, which reads: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!” This arrogant attitude, straight from the mouth of the king himself, unfolds a completely different kind of permanence: his legacy. Though these words are not a positive reflection, they are accurate and indestructible, contrary to the condition of the rest of the statue.
The longevity of the legend is vital to the understanding of the theme. Thousands of years have passed since the construction of the monument at the time it is reported to the speaker of the poem, but still it remains. Though not intact, Ozymandias’ effigy continues to be a source of information for travelers and historians to understand the era of his domain, and his character. The legacy of the king outlasts his life, his monument, and survives to be shared by people centuries after his reign.
Though the “lone and level sands stretch far away” from the wreckage, it is there to be seen, and has been, by a transient traveler. “Nothing beside remains,” yet the legacy lives on. It is interesting enough to tell to a passing acquaintance and vivid enough to describe in magnificent detail. It is obvious that no amount of decay, time, or distance can destroy the permanence of the statue, and everything it represents historically and emotionally. “Ozymandias,” with the use of distinct imagery and evocative emotions, develops a theme of permanence. Interestingly enough, the poem itself further correlates with the theme. The poet lived during the late 1700s and early 1800s, yet his poetry is analyzed and cherished two hundred years later. Shelley has proven his own solidity in the world of literature, and has furthered the permanence of Ozymandias, the fabled king, by informing poetry buffs and students alike of his existence.

| Posted on 2011-11-05 | by a guest

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ozymandias is a gr8 poem nd it also shows dt tym seeks to destroy everythin..

| Posted on 2011-11-03 | by a guest

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as a revolutionary poet, shelly leads his readers to revolutionary thoughts... we can say poetry -art on word- will live 4ever than the art on stone which will be crumbled by time and history.but a question hunts \'whose hand it refers...(the hand that..) the kings or the sculptors?
anne

| Posted on 2011-10-26 | by a guest

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.MODERATED MY BOOTY. ONLY BOOTY WARRIORS CAN MODERATE ME, AND I DON'T SEE NONE AROUND HERE.. BOOOTAY! THAT IS ALL--WAIT! THERE'S MORE! Picky picky picky peppers ate your mom. THE END!

| Posted on 2011-05-15 | by a guest

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\'Ozymandias\' is a poem written by Shelley in which he attempts to highlight the true value of language and poetry. Ozymandias makes the point that language has an immortality, whereas the statue of Ozymandias is a \'half sunk\' and \'a shattered visage\' of the power and complete control it once embodied. All that is left are the words \'Now look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair\', and the speaker makes it clear that \'nothing beside remains\' apart from these words. Whilst the power of the \'king of kings\' has \'decayed\', language is the only survivor. Shelley was a firm believer in the \'higher value\' of poetry in comparison to other art forms; this is evident in his essay \'A Defense of Poetry\' in which he states that \'words are a more direct representation of the actions and passions of our internal being and is susceptible of mor various and delicate combinations....than any other art form\'. It is for this reason that Shelley also asserted \'all high poetry is infinite...durable, universal and permanant\'. We can apply this to Ozymandias; whilst the King believed his presence and authority was infinite, his statue is merely a crumbling relic. Shelley however, in creating Ozymandias in literature has immortalized himself.

| Posted on 2011-05-15 | by a guest

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MODERATED MY BOOTY. ONLY BOOTY WARRIORS CAN MODERATE ME, AND I DON\'T SEE NONE AROUND HERE.. BOOOTAY! THAT IS ALL--WAIT! THERE\'S MORE! Picky picky picky peppers ate your mom. THE END!

| Posted on 2011-05-05 | by a guest

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JUST SO YOU KNOW IM BEING KEYLOGGED. HAHAHAHAH. THAt\'s a joke. Just kidding. I\'m not being keylogged. Nother tactic to avoid keylogging

| Posted on 2011-05-05 | by a guest

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I am 12 yeers old and i why is teh man in a dessert?

| Posted on 2011-03-21 | by a guest

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I was asked to write an essay comparing this poem (Ozymandias) with \'When I have fears that I may cease to be\' (look it up).
I guess in both of them there is someone that express his feelings by creating something!

| Posted on 2011-03-16 | by a guest

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This poem relates a lot of problems with time. . . YEAH BOY!

| Posted on 2011-01-11 | by a guest

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I have to say when i recieved this poem for a project in English i was not stoked, but after reading this i actually find myself enjoying it. It has quite a bit of meaning behind its words. I thought it was a bunch of nonsense. I guess not! haha =D

| Posted on 2011-01-06 | by a guest

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I read and learned about this poem in school. The meaning is strong but it\'s said in a veary hard-to-understand way. It shows how even the most mighty and powerful peopple and places can get defeated by time. The reason we learned about this is becaudse we are reading \"The Tripod Triligy\" which a charchter\'s name is Azimandias. In this book Tripods take over, it takes place in the future. This shows even the most powerful countries like America were defeated by time.

| Posted on 2010-11-23 | by a guest

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By contrasting the wishes of Ozymandians,i.e.,to be remembered, feared and respected for ever,with the lonely and useless ruin of the statue, the poet foregrounds the idea of the vanity of human wishes.
Yideg

| Posted on 2010-10-29 | by a guest

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By contrasting the wishes of Ozymandians,i.e.,to be remembered, feared and respected for ever,with the lonely and useless ruin of the statue, the poet foregrounds the idea of the vanity of human wishes.
Yideg

| Posted on 2010-10-29 | by a guest

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discourses evident include that of power and time.

| Posted on 2010-10-25 | by a guest

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This is among the best poems in the English language. A masterpiece. I wish everyone who loved art would read this poem, give it consideration. I think it would revive people\'s love for the meter, tone, and style of pre-pomo poetry. To understand this kind of sculpted beauty. Magnificent.

| Posted on 2010-10-22 | by a guest

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What is the aswer to thiss?? With close reference to \"Ozymandias\" by Percy B. Shelly show how he very clearly gives the message that no one lasts forever, even the mightiest of men die and are forgotten

| Posted on 2010-10-07 | by a guest

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Im in 8 grade the poem is amazing shelly wants to tell us about autocracy.

| Posted on 2010-09-08 | by a guest

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the title is also significant.
ozy is a greek word meaning air, myndias is also a greek term meaning king. so, ozymandias means the king of air or in other words the king of nothing. his name shows his power is temperory.
cheers
salman khattak.

| Posted on 2010-07-28 | by a guest

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ozymanias was a mighty king he was so proud of himself but life show him that this state will not be for ever one day come and he will die too and no one will remind him look u r left in desert and nothing left just two hands and legs and every human is mortal.
thanx :kany

| Posted on 2010-06-13 | by a guest

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ozymanias was a mighty king he was so proud of himself but life show him that this state will not be for ever one day come and he will die too and no one will remind him look u r left in desert and nothing left just two hands and legs and every human is mortal.
thanx :kany

| Posted on 2010-06-13 | by a guest

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ozymanias was a mighty king he was so proud of himselfs but life show him that this state not be for ever one day come and u will die too and no onw will remind u look u r left in desert and nothing left just two hands and legs and every human is mortal
thanx :kany

| Posted on 2010-06-13 | by a guest

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That the rationale of this poem might be universal may be shown in the destruction of the Sadaam Hussein statue with the help of Marines (do you suppose some of them might have read the poem?), or in the fall of the Berlin Wall. Not only does absolute power corrupt absolutely, it also passes away (thank you, Deor). Art Hensley

| Posted on 2010-06-11 | by a guest

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Briefly it is about the destructive power of death and immortality of art.By the way i find your comment quite funny but rightful also.
Ţ.A

| Posted on 2010-05-21 | by a guest

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I came across this posting site after doing some research on Ozymandias to illustrate a point I was making ( an expanded metaphor, perhaps) on another subject. I began reading the feedback, and have come away with this impression.
I am glad the moderators left a variety of comments intact. Most were thoughtful and many with insight. But what put the cherry on the cake was the comment about the poem being "hotter than the dessert", not once, but three times by some very self- assured cretin ( don't worry, he is not insulted; he will never look it up). He demonstrates so well that in our age, it is not the kings who bring us down with their hubris, but the great unwashed with their happy idiocy.
TomH

| Posted on 2010-05-08 | by a guest

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our power well not stay forever... so we care for it... don't be shellfish

| Posted on 2010-05-04 | by a guest

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This poem is firstly a warning against the hubris of an individual. Shelley was not a believer in autocracy, and was therefore initially in favour of the French Revolution. The arrogance of Ozymandias is now being mocked, and the crumbling ruins which surround the statue could be representative of the deconstruction of the French system under Louis XIV. This poem essentially convinces us that all individual power is eventually subject to the indiscriminate power of history.
At the risk of over-analysing, the suggestion that Ozymandias' words have survived, but the buildings stand in ruin, implies that art and language long outlast the other legacies of power. In repeating Ozymandias' threatening words, then following them with "Nothing beside remains...", Shelley erases our preconceived image of the king, and interposes centuries of ruin between him and us.
Structurally, he writes in a traditional Italian sonnet form, which is odd as these are usually linked with love, but now - possibly ironically - the form is being used to represent decay and destruction. In using a framing narrative of speaking through a second narrator, Shelley further distances the reader from Ozymandias - fading the image of the king, and distancing the reader from him, therefore rendering him less powerful and influential.

| Posted on 2010-04-23 | by a guest

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omg i just no the hole story of this :( nd ozymandias is a statue of rameces the second :( this is the worst poem i eva heard :(

| Posted on 2010-04-23 | by a guest

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this poem makes english class the worst part of my day...

| Posted on 2010-04-22 | by a guest