OzymandiasOzymandiasPercy Byshee Shelley Percy Byshee Shelley

Poem Poem I met a traveler from an antique land I met a traveler from an antique land

Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert… Near them, on the sand, Stand in the desert… Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:

And on the pedestal these words appear: And on the pedestal these words appear: ““My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Structure of the poem Structure of the poem A sonnet in Loose Iambic Pentameter Although this poem is in Iambic

Pentameter some lines are not in it. Ex: Line 12 “Nothing beside remains:

round the decay” It is an Italian Sonnet with an octave

and a sestet Rhyme Scheme is ABABACDCEDEFEF There are three speakers in the poem:

the person who meets the traveler, the traveler, and Ozymandias. .

Structure cont. Structure cont. Ozymandias is an ancient Greek name for Ozymandias is an ancient Greek name for

Ramesses II of Egypt Ramesses II of Egypt The themes of this poem are all things are The themes of this poem are all things are

subject to the laws of time –human life and their subject to the laws of time –human life and their accomplishments disappear over time.accomplishments disappear over time.

The diction is trunkless, antique, sunk, shattered, The diction is trunkless, antique, sunk, shattered, wrinkled, cold, lifeless, survived, mighty, despair, wrinkled, cold, lifeless, survived, mighty, despair, decay, colossal, wreck, boundless, and bare. decay, colossal, wreck, boundless, and bare.

The tone is cold to express that Ozymadias was The tone is cold to express that Ozymadias was emotionless and commanded a lot and to express emotionless and commanded a lot and to express his fall. his fall.

An example of imagery from line 12-14 is the An example of imagery from line 12-14 is the statue in the middle of the desert alone. statue in the middle of the desert alone.

Interpretation Interpretation

The speaker remembers meting a traveler from an “antique land.”

The traveler describe it as a barren desert with only a leg pedestal and head of a broken statute of Ramesses II.

On the pedestal it says, “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

For anyone who is reading this he is basically saying “Look around and see how amazing I am!”

But around the statue there is no evidence of his accomplishments only sand as far as you can see.

Information on Ramesses Information on Ramesses IIII Born 1303 BC, died July

or August 1213 BC. At the age of 14,

Ramesses was appointed Prince by his father Seti I.

Also known as Ramesses the Great

He was the third Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Egypt.

He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire

The Great Ancestor He had made Egypt rich

from all the supplied and riches he had collect from other empire.

Nine more pharaoh took the name Ramesses in his honor, but non equalized his greatness.

Author’s Biography Author’s Biography

Percy Byshee Shelley was born on August 4, Percy Byshee Shelley was born on August 4, 1792.1792.

He went to Sion House Academy before he He went to Sion House Academy before he attended Oxford University.attended Oxford University.

Percy was expelled from Oxford in 1804 for Percy was expelled from Oxford in 1804 for expressing his atheistic views. expressing his atheistic views.

In 1817 he wrote one of his most famous In 1817 he wrote one of his most famous works “Ozymandias. Which was later works “Ozymandias. Which was later published in 1818.published in 1818.

He married twice and his second wife Mary He married twice and his second wife Mary Shelley was the author of “Frankenstein.” Shelley was the author of “Frankenstein.” They inspired each other to continue writing.They inspired each other to continue writing.

On July 8, 1822 Shelley drowned in a storm On July 8, 1822 Shelley drowned in a storm while sailing his schooner. while sailing his schooner.