The first time a lot of students read Ozymandias they might find it difficult to fully understand. Some of the English is old-fashioned and when studying it at GCSE level it may be a challenge to get to grips with.
Ozymandias is a sonnet written by the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, published in 1818. It stands as one of Shelley's most famous and enduring works. The poem delves into themes of the fleeting nature of power, the futility of human achievement, and the inevitable decay of all things with time. Through a vivid narrative and a stark, desolate setting, Shelley presents a powerful commentary on hubris and the ultimate futility of attempting to immortalise oneself through monuments or deeds.
Overview of the Poem's Narrative and Speaker
The poem is a first-person account by a narrator who meets a traveller from an "antique land." This traveller describes the ruins of a vast and once-imposing statue in a distant desert. Through the traveller's account, the reader is introduced to the remains of the statue of Ozymandias, an ancient king whose kingdom and achievements have long since crumbled into oblivion. The narrative is framed as a secondhand story, providing a layer of detachment that allows the reader to observe the scene from a distance, much like the narrator himself.
The speaker is anonymous and largely acts as a conduit for the story told by the traveller. This distancing serves to emphasise the themes of transience and the impermanence of human endeavours. The traveller, the only character with any direct description, is also nameless and serves primarily as an observer, recounting the ruins he has seen.
Description of the Setting and Characters
The setting of the poem is a vast, desolate desert, which serves as a powerful symbol of time's relentless march and the eventual decline of all things. We explore much more of this in our analysis of the themes within the poem.
The statue of Ozymandias stands in this barren landscape, half-buried in the sand, with its "two vast and trunkless legs of stone" and a shattered face lying nearby. The image of this ruined monument in a deserted wasteland emphasises the futility of human arrogance and ambition. The setting underscores the contrast between Ozymandias's aspirations for immortality and the reality of his forgotten and lost empire.
There are only two characters in the poem, the narrator and the traveller. But this is a tale about both the present and the past...
The Narrator ✍️
The narrator is a silent listener who relays the story, while the traveller is the one who provides the vivid imagery and description of the scene.
Ozymandias 🔍
Ozymandias, though not directly present in the poem, looms large as the central figure. He is depicted through the remnants of his statue and the inscription on its pedestal and the irony of the poem lies in the fact that nothing of his kingdom remains.
Summary of the Poem's Main Events and Plot
Some people wonder “what is Ozymandias about?” and this is a valid question, but what it is about is just one part of the picture. What is represented is far more important.
As a summary, the poem begins with the narrator recounting a conversation with a traveller from an "antique land." This simply means an old land that is rooted in history.
The traveller describes encountering the ruins of a once-great statue in the middle of a desert. The statue, which is broken and weathered by time, consists of "two vast and trunkless legs of stone" and a "shattered visage" lying half-buried in the sand. Despite the ruin, the expression on the face of the statue, its "frown, and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command" is still recognizable, suggesting the character of the ruler it once depicted: a powerful and probably arrogant and egotistical king.
There is not a huge level of plot during the poem. It is not like it weaves complex webs and tells us too much of a story. Instead, it serves as a symbolic message for the reader.
Go into more detail about the poetic devices in Ozymandias.
Exploration of the Central Message and Irony
The central message of "Ozymandias" revolves around the themes of impermanence, the futility of human arrogance, and the inevitable decline of all empires and achievements.
Shelley uses the image of a ruined statue in a desolate landscape to illustrate how even the mightiest of rulers are eventually forgotten, their legacies reduced to broken stone in the sands of time. The poem serves as a cautionary tale against the hubris and vanity of those who seek to immortalise themselves through monuments or conquests.
A key element of the poem's message is its use of irony. Ozymandias's inscription on the pedestal commands viewers to "Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" The phrase is meant to showcase the grandeur and power of his accomplishments, suggesting that even the mightiest rulers should fear his greatness. However, the irony is that there are no works left to admire. Now we see just ruins in a deserted wasteland.
The command to "despair" takes on a new meaning: rather than despairing at the power of Ozymandias, one might despair at the futility of human endeavours and the inevitability of decay.
Another layer of irony lies in the contrast between Ozymandias's self-assessment and the reality of his fate. While he saw himself as the "king of kings" whose glory would last forever, time has reduced his empire to dust, and his once-mighty image now lies broken and eroded. This illustrates the ultimate impotence of human power and pride in the face of time and nature's relentless forces.
Key Quotes From Ozymandias
Here are a few important quotes you'll want to remember to highlight in your exam:
| Quote | Explanation |
|---|---|
| "I met a traveller from an antique land" | This opening line sets the stage for the entire poem, establishing a narrative framework that distances the reader from the events being described. The use of "traveller" and "antique land" are poetic devices that invoke a sense of mystery and timelessness, suggesting that the story being told is an old one, removed from the present. This distance further reinforces the themes of transience and the concept of human achievement. |
| "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone / Stand in the desert" | These lines introduce the central image of the poem: the ruined statue of Ozymandias. The use of "vast" suggests the grandeur and ambition of the monument, while "trunkless" immediately implies that it is incomplete and broken. The image of the legs standing in isolation amidst the desert symbolises the fragmentary nature of human legacy and the inevitability of decay. |
| "And on the pedestal, these words appear: / My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: / Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" | This inscription captures the arrogance and pride of Ozymandias. He clearly saw himself as an unparalleled ruler whose achievements would inspire awe and fear for generations to come. The phrase "king of kings" suggests a sense of ultimate authority and dominance, while the command "Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" reflects his belief that his accomplishments would be insurmountable. |
| "Nothing beside remains. Round the decay / Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare / The lone and level sands stretch far away." | These lines drive home the poem's central message about the impermanence of human achievement. The "colossal Wreck" suggests not only the physical destruction of the statue but also the metaphorical collapse of Ozymandias's empire and legacy. The description of the "lone and level sands" conveys a sense of vast emptiness and desolation, emphasising the ultimate futility of human endeavours against the backdrop of time and nature's immensity. |
Conclusion
When analysing Ozymandias we see that it is a powerful meditation on the themes of impermanence, human arrogance, and the ultimate futility of attempting to defy time and mortality through monuments and grand achievements.
The poem has had a huge impact on society and is remembered through other media. It has influenced many filmmakers and musicians, among other artists. The episode of Breaking Bad in season five titled Ozymandias relates to the collapse of an empire, and the protagonist reads the poem in full throughout the series.
The media company Ozy was named after the poem, and so is Ozymandias in the comic book series Watchmen. The ripples of this poem have continued to make a huge impact.
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