Percy bysshe shelley ozymandias poem breaking

  • Intro
  • Summary
  • Themes
  • Line-by-Line
    Explanations
  • Symbols
  • Poetic
    Devices
  • Vocabulary &
    References
  • Form, Meter, &
    Rhyme Scheme
  • Speaker
  • Setting
  • Context
  • Resources

The Full Text of “Ozymandias”

1I met a traveller from an antique land,

2Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

3Stand in the desert.

Percy bysshe shelley ozymandias poem breaking bad The Structure of the Poem. He concludes the main idea of the poem is the transient nature of power , the end of tyranny, and the ravages of times. Shelley uses vivid and powerful language to create a vivid picture of the once-great king and his ruined empire. Nothing does: all things must pass.

. . . Near them, on the sand,

4Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

5And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

6Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

7Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

8The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;

9And on the pedestal, these words appear:

10My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

11Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

12Nothing beside remains.

Round the decay

13Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

14The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

The Full Text of “Ozymandias”

1I met a traveller from an antique land,

2Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

3Stand in the desert. .

Percy bysshe shelley ozymandias poem breaking The statue is of a once-great king, Ozymandias, who boasts of his power and achievements. Member Area. 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! The historical significance of Ozymandias lies in its commentary on the transience of power and the inevitable decline of empires.

. . Near them, on the sand,

4Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

5And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

6Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

7Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

8The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;

9And on the pedestal, these words appear:

10My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

11Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

12Nothing beside remains.

Round the decay

13Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

14The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

  • “Ozymandias” Introduction

  • “Ozymandias” Summary

  • “Ozymandias” Themes

    • The Transience of Power

      • See where this theme is active in the poem.
    • The Power of Art

      • See where this theme is active in the poem.
    • Man Versus Nature

      • See where this theme is active in the poem.
  • Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “Ozymandias”

    • Lines

      I met a traveller from an antique land,
      Who said

    • Lines

      —“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
      Stand in the desert.

      . .

      Ozymandias analysis It also serves as a reminder of the insignificance of human achievements in the grand scheme of things. The poem is a commentary on the transience of power and the inevitable decline of empires. Shelley presents a first-person speaker who speaks about a statue and its facial countenances. The Critical Analysis of Ozymandias.

      . Near them, on the sand,

    • Lines

      Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
      And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

    • Lines

      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;

    • Lines

      And on the pedestal, these words appear:
      My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
      Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

    • Lines

      Nothing beside remains.

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

  • “Ozymandias” Symbols

  • “Ozymandias” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

  • “Ozymandias” Vocabulary

    Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

    • Antique
    • Trunkless
    • Visage
    • Passions
    • Stamped
    • Mocked
    • Pedestal
    • Ozymandias
    • Remains
  • Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Ozymandias”

  • “Ozymandias” Speaker

  • “Ozymandias” Setting

  • Literary and Historical Context of “Ozymandias”

  • More “Ozymandias” Resources

1I met a traveller from an antique land,

2Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

3Stand in the desert.

.

Percy bysshe shelley ozymandias poem breaking news The statue is of a once-great king, Ozymandias, who boasts of his power and achievements. He was also deeply concerned with the political and social issues of his time, including the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Ozymandias is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience and to inspire us to reflect on our place in the world. Some see it as a warning against the dangers of pride and hubris, while others view it as a commentary on the fleeting nature of power and fame.

. . Near them, on the sand,

4Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

5And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

6Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

7Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

8The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;

9And on the pedestal, these words appear:

10My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

11Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

12Nothing beside remains.

Round the decay

13Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

14The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Lines

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed