ozymandias power of nature essay

Power of Nature

Despite the efforts of humans to make a stamp on the earth, nature will always outlast everything:

• ‘Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert’
• ‘on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies’
• ‘Nothing beside remains.’
• ‘Round the decay of that colossal wreck’
• ‘The lone and level sands stretch far away’

Extract from the Prelude

During his journey in a boat, the young boy is forced to realise the awesome power of nature:

• ‘One summer evening’
• Small circles glittering idly in the moon’
• ‘summit of a craggy ridge, The horizon’s utmost boundary’
• ‘far above Was nothing but the stars and the grey sky’
• ‘the grim shape Towered up between me and the stars’
• ‘measured motion like a living thing, Strode after me.’

Soldiers faced extreme weather conditions, whilst they were deployed at war.

• Merciless iced east winds that knife us…’
• ‘Like twitching agonies of men among its brambles’
• ‘ait that shudders black with snow’
• ‘sidelong flowing flakes that flock, pause and renew’
• _‘wind’s nonchalance’ _
• ‘Pale flakes with lingering stealth come feeling for our faces-‘
• ‘His frost will fasten on this mud and us’
• ‘All their eyes are ice’

Storm on the Island

The storm reflects the power of nature and how manipulate the actions of humans:

• ‘leaves and branches Can raise a chorus in a gale’
• It blows full Blast’
• ‘But there are no trees, no natural shelter’
• ‘You might think that the sea is company’
• We are bombarded by the empty air’

Bayonet Charge

It is often forgotten that nature is also damaged, during times of conflict:

• ‘Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge’
• Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame’
• ‘mouth wide Open silent, its eyes standing out.’

Nature is used as a symbol to communicate deeper meanings and concepts:

• ‘poppies had already been placed’
• ‘white cat hairs’
• ‘released a song bird from its cage’
• ‘a single dove flew from the pear tree’
• ‘The dove pulled freely against the sky’

Nature is powerful, because it has always existed and will continue long after generations of people:

• ‘The sun shines through their borderlines’
• ‘the marks that rivers make’
• ‘roads, railtracks, mountainfolds’
• ‘a grand design //with living tissue’
• ‘turned into your skin’

Exposure to nature reduces negative emotions and tension. The pilot changes his direction, because nature reminds him of the benefits of living:

• ‘he must have looked far down at the little fishing boats’
• ‘green-blue translucent sea’
• ‘arcing in swathes like a huge flag… in the figure of eight’
• ‘dark shoals of fishes… swivelled towards the sun’
• ‘turbulent inrush of breakers’
• ‘cloud-marked mackerel, black crabs, feathery prawns… whitebait’
• ‘tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous’

Ozymandias Summary & Analysis by Percy Bysshe Shelley

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

“Ozymandias” is a sonnet written by the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Shelley wrote “Ozymandias” in 1817 as part of a poetry contest with a friend and had it published in The Examiner in 1818 under the pen name Glirastes. The title “Ozymandias” refers to an alternate name of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II. In the poem, Shelley describes a crumbling statue of Ozymandias as a way to portray the transience of political power and to praise art’s ability to preserve the past. Although the poem is a 14-line sonnet, it breaks from the typical sonnet tradition in both its form and rhyme scheme , a tactic that reflects Shelley’s interest in challenging conventions, both political and poetic.

• Read the full text of “Ozymandias”

The Full Text of “Ozymandias”

1 I met a traveller from an antique land,

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

3 Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,

4 Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

5 And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

6 Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

7 Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

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

9 And on the pedestal, these words appear:

10 My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

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

12 Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

13 Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

14 The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

“Ozymandias” Summary

“ozymandias” themes.

The Transience of Power

• See where this theme is active in the poem.

The Power of Art

Man Versus Nature

Line-by-line explanation & analysis of “ozymandias”.

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 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!

Lines 12-14

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

“Ozymandias” Symbols

• See where this symbol appears in the poem.

“Ozymandias” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

• See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

Alliteration

“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.

• See where this vocabulary word appears in the poem.

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Ozymandias”

Rhyme scheme, “ozymandias” speaker, “ozymandias” setting, literary and historical context of “ozymandias”, more “ozymandias” resources, external resources.

British Library's "Introduction to Ozymandias" — The British Library has a short introduction to "Ozymandias" that includes excerpts of potential sources for the poem, historical information about Ramses II (Ozymandias), as well as details about Shelley's radical politics.

Draft of "Ozymandias" — The Bodleian Library at Oxford University digitized and transcribed an early draft of "Ozymandias" from 1817 and made it available online. 

"Ozymandias": Original Printing — Shelley first published "Ozymandias" in The Examiner in 1818, under the name "Glirastes." This is a scan of the first edition printing.

British Museum: The Younger Memnon — This website shows the statue of Ramses II (Ozymandias), the discovery of which may have inspired Shelley's poem.

Breaking Bad and Ozymandias — The tv show Breaking Bad featured the poem "Ozymandias" in a trailer for the final season. The BBC explains why and embeds the trailer in the webpage. 

LitCharts on Other Poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley

England in 1819

Love’s Philosophy

Music, When Soft Voices Die

Ode to the West Wind

Song to the Men of England

Stanzas Written in Dejection, Near Naples

The Question

To a Skylark

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, understanding ozymandias: expert poem analysis.

General Education

With its heavy irony and iconic line, "Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" "Ozymandias" is one of the most famous poems of the Romantic era. It was written by Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1817 and eventually became his most famous work. The poem describes the half-buried remnants of a statue of Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II and contrasts the pharaoh's proud words with his ruined likeness.

In this guide, we give the background on how "Ozymandias" was created, explain the key Ozymandias meaning, and discuss the poetic devices used in this poem. By the end of this article, you'll have a complete understanding of "Ozymandias."

Ozymandias Poem: Full Text

Below is the complete text of Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Ozymandias."

How Was "Ozymandias" Created?

There are actually two Ozymandias poems, and they were written as part of a friendly writing competition. The poet Horace Smith spent the end of 1817 with Percy Shelley and his wife Mary Shelley (the author of Frankenstein ). During this time, Percy Shelley and Smith challenged each other to a poetry competition. The Shelleys moved in literary circles, and they and their friends would often challenge each other to writing competitions, so this wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

For this competition, Shelley and Smith wrote about the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II ("Ozymandias" is the Greek name for Ramesses II). Earlier in 1817, it was announced that archaeologists had discovered the remains of a statue of Ramesses II and were sending the fragments to the British Museum. This may have been the inspiration behind the theme of the competition. Ancient Egypt in general was also very much in vogue among the British upper classes, and many of Shelley's contemporaries took a great interest in the period and any new archaeological discoveries in Egypt.

In writing his poem, Shelley was highly influenced by ancient Greek writings on Egypt, particularly those of a historian named Diodorus Siculus. In his Bibliotheca historica , Diodorus states that the following phrase was inscribed at the base of a statue of Ramesses II: "King of Kings Ozymandias am I. If any want to know how great I am and where I lie, let him outdo me in my work." Diodorus is the "traveler from an antique land" Shelley refers to in the poem's opening line.

Shelley's poem was published under the pen name "Glirastes" on January 11, 1818, in the weekly paper The Examiner. (Smith's poem was published in the same paper several weeks later). Shelley later republished the poem in 1819 in his collection Rosalind and Helen . Although it didn't receive much attention when it was published, "Ozymandias" eventually became Shelley's most well-known work, and the phrase "look on my works, ye mighty, and despair" is often referenced in popular culture.

What Is the Meaning Behind "Ozymandias"?

What message was Shelley trying to convey with the poem Ozymandias? The major theme behind "Ozymandias" is that all power is temporary, no matter how prideful or tyrannical a ruler is.

Ramesses II was one of the ancient world's most powerful rulers. He reigned as pharaoh for 66 years, led the Egyptians to numerous military victories, built massive monuments and temples, and accumulated huge stores of wealth. He eventually became known as Ramesses the Great and was revered for centuries after his death.

Throughout the poem, Ramesses' pride is evident, from the boastful inscription where he declares himself a "king of kings" to the "sneer of cold command" on his statue. However, "Ozymandias" makes it clear that every person, even the most powerful person in the land, will eventually be brought low, their name nearly forgotten and monuments to their power becoming buried in the sand.

Although the poem only discusses Ozymandias, it implies that all rulers, dynasties, and political regimes will eventually crumble as well, as nothing can withstand time forever. At the time the poem was written, Napoleon had recently fallen from power and was living in exile, after years of ruling and invading much of Europe. His fate is not unlike Ozymandias'. When Ozymandias orders "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" he meant to cause his rivals despair over his incredible power, but he may have only caused them despair when they realized their ignominious end was as inevitable as his.

The fallen statue of Ramesses II in Luxor, Egypt that Shelley is said to have based his poem on

What Poetic Devices Does "Ozymandias" Include?

For a fairly short poem, "Ozymandias" is full of poetic devices . A poetic device is a linguistic tool that a poet can use to help convey their message, as well as make the poem more interesting to read or hear. In this section we discuss the key poetic devices in the Ozymandias poem.

"Ozymandias" is a sonnet, which is a type of poetic structure. All sonnets, including "Ozymandias" are fourteen lines long and written in iambic pentameter. The iambic pentameter sounds more natural than many other rhythms, but it still has a purposeful enough rhythm to easily differentiate it from normal speech (even in the 1800s no one would naturally speak the way "Ozymandias" was written).

Contrary to many other sonnets though, "Ozymandias" has an unusual rhyming scheme, following the pattern ABABA CDCEDEFE. Most sonnets follow the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA and CDECDE or CDCDCD.

Sonnets have been a standard poetry format for a long time—Shakespeare famously wrote sonnets—and it would have been an obvious choice for Shelley and Smith to use for their competition since sonnets have a set structure but still allow the poet a great deal of freedom within that structure.

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of a sound or letter at the beginning of multiple words in a sentence or paragraph. There are several instances of alliteration in "Ozymandias" including the phrases "cold command" and " boundless and bare."

The repetition in alliteration often makes a poem sound more interesting and pleasant, and it can also create a soothing rhythm in contrast to the tension caused by enjambment (see below).

An apostrophe is a poetic device where the writer addresses an exclamation to a person or thing that isn't present. In "Ozymandias" the apostrophe occurs in the inscription on the statue's pedestal: "Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" This isn't being spoken to anyone in particular, just whoever happens to come across the statue.

Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence beyond a line break, couplet, or stanza without an expected pause.

In "Ozymandias" there are numerous examples of enjambment, including "Who said—"Two vast and trunkless legs of stone/Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand," and "Nothing beside remains. Round the decay/Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare" In both examples, the line break occurs in the middle of a sentence.

Enjambment is a way for the poet to build action and tension within a poem. The tension comes from the fact that the poet's thought isn't finished at the end of a sentence. Each line with enjambment is a mini-cliffhanger, which makes the reader want to keep reading to learn what happens next. Enjambment can also create drama, especially when the following line isn't what the reader expected it to be.

Irony is when tone or exaggeration is used to convey a meaning opposite to what's being literally said. The Ozymandias meaning is full of irony. In the poem, Shelley contrasts Ozymandias' boastful words of power in with the image of his ruined statue lying broken and forgotten in the sand. Ozymandias might have been powerful when he ordered those words written, but that power is now long gone, and his boasts now seem slightly silly in the present time.

What's Next?

Are you also learning about Edgar Allen Poe's " The Raven " in class? Read our guide to learn all about this famous poem, including its meaning, literary devices, and what that raven actually stands for.

There are many poetic devices that are crucial to know, and you can become an expert on them by checking out our guide on the 20 most important poetic devices.

Dylan Thomas' "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night," is another extremely famous poem. Our article will give you some in-depth information on the meaning of Dylan Thomas' poem , including how to analyze it!

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Example A (L7) Grade GCSE / iGCSE Essay: Ozymandias + Power

This essay gives an example of the standard required to achieve an L7 grade (the equivalent of an ‘A’) at GCSE and iGCSE level. The question is taken from a Cambridge (CAIE) style exam format, but it could be applied to a range of different exam boards. 

THE QUESTION:

Write about the way in which Shelley presents power in Ozymandias. (WJEC /Eduqas) 

“Examine the ways in which Shelley explores feelings about power in the poem “Ozymandias”.  (Cambridge / CAIE) 

Note: For AQA, bear in mind that the structure has to be comparative, talking about both poems together and drawing important comparisons or contrasts on the topic. 

Thanks for reading! Find more of our English Literature and Language courses on the links below: 

CAIE IGCSE Poetry 2023-2025 (Songs of Ourselves, Volume 2, Part 4)

CAIE IGCSE Poetry 2023-2025 (Songs of Ourselves, Volume 1, Part 4) 

AQA GCSE Power and Conflict Poetry

In “Ozymandias,” Percy Bysshe Shelley explores the theme of power through the portrayal of a fallen king and his crumbling statue. The poem’s imagery and language convey the transience of human power and the ultimate insignificance of even the most powerful rulers. Through the use of structural devices such as enjambment and imagery, Shelley effectively highlights the fleeting nature of power and the hubris of those who seek to control it.

The first way in which Shelley explores feelings about power in “Ozymandias” is through the description of the statue itself. The statue is described as “two vast and trunkless legs of stone” and “a shattered visage” which suggests that the king, once powerful and imposing, is now reduced to nothing more than a broken and insignificant remnant of his former self. The use of imagery in this description serves to highlight the fleeting nature of power and the eventual downfall of even the greatest rulers. Additionally, the use of enjambment in this line, where the line breaks abruptly between “two vast” and “and trunkless,” adds to the sense of the statue being incomplete and broken, further emphasizing the idea of the king’s power being reduced to nothing.

The second way in which Shelley explores feelings about power in “Ozymandias” is through the use of the inscription on the statue’s base. The inscription, which reads “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”, emphasises the king’s hubris and the futility of his attempts to immortalize himself through his works. The use of imperative language, “Look on my works,” serves to highlight the king’s desire for control and admiration. The repetition of the word “my” further emphasizes the king’s ego and his belief that his power and works belong only to him. The inscription also serves to mock the king’s attempts to control how he will be remembered, as his statue and inscription have been reduced to nothing more than a “colossal wreck” in the desert.

Ted Hughes Poetry Essay Questions

The third way in which Shelley explores feelings about power in “Ozymandias” is through the use of the traveller as the narrator of the poem. The traveller is able to reflect on the statue and the inscription, and through his observations, the reader is able to gain a sense of perspective on the king and his reign. The use of a first-person narrator serves to underscore the idea that all power is fleeting and that even the greatest rulers will eventually be forgotten. The traveler’s presence in the poem also serves as a contrast to the king’s hubris, reminding the reader that even the most powerful leaders are ultimately mortal and insignificant.

In “Ozymandias,” Shelley effectively explores feelings about power through the use of imagery, language, and structural devices. Through the portrayal of a fallen king and his crumbling statue, Shelley conveys the transience of human power and the ultimate insignificance of even the most powerful rulers. The use of enjambment, imagery, and first-person narration serve to highlight the fleeting nature of power and the hubris of those who seek to control it. The poem serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of power and the futility of attempts to immortalize oneself through one’s works.

• No need to mention techniques in the introduction 
• Great register – using precise academic language 
• Good, clear structure – the topic sentences could be stronger for the middle paragraphs, they are a bit repetitive 
• Contextual points would deepen your analysis – consider adding in 1-2 context points in the middle paragraphs 
• A good application of both language devices and structural features 
• A clear understanding of themes and messages – although a little repetitive in your ideas at times 
• Try to avoid saying ‘the word’ and instead say the technique, e.g. ‘the possessive pronoun ‘my’ 
• Clear conclusion, but a little repetitive – try to add something more to your thesis here 

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AQA “Power and Conflict”: Ozymandias and Kamikaze analysis

The current educational situation is more challenging than ever, with closing schools and exam uncertainties impacting students all over the country. This is especially for GCSE students looking to keep up their essay and study skills, which is why I have moved all lessons online and will be providing as many digital resources, hints and tips as possible over the coming months.

When it comes to poetry, many students find essay structure the hardest part to master. There is really nothing complicated to this though, and if you follow the trusty PEEZAP structure (useful for all essay subjects, not just English), then your analysis will be off to a flying start. I have provided a model example of this structure below – comparing Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley and Kamikaze by Beatrice Garland below. But first, what exactly is PEEZAP?

• P – Point (i.e. make your key statement or argument)
• E – Evidence (back this up with a quotation from the text)
• E – Explanation (tell me why this piece of evidence supports your point)
• Z – Zoom (go into more detail, i.e. is there anything else in the text that backs up your argument, or any other way you can develop your point)
• A – Analyse (another quote and some terminology to support your “zoom”)
• P – Perspective (poems, plays and novels are all written by people, for people – how does all this impact the reader, do you have any context to explain the writer’s intentions?)

If you are unfamiliar with these poems, watch the YouTube videos first. Then take a look at the essay below. Be a critical teacher! Do you agree with the PEEZAP markings, and what would you improve – and why?

An Ozymandias reading by Bryan Cranston and BBC Teach analysis by Akala:

There is also a very useful colour-coded reading of Kamikaze , in addition to a Guardian documentary on real-life Kamikaze pilots:

Feeling ready? Let’s go on the structure masterclass…

In Ozymandias, the poet explores ideas about fate and power. Compare this with one other poem of your choice ( Kamikaze ).

Introduction – Introduce your main point (in relation to the question), before focusing on what the poems have in common, as well as differences. Even if they deal with similar themes, no two poems will be exactly the same – so show you’re aware of the nuances.

In Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley and Kamikaze by Beatrice Garland, both poets present ideas about the inevitability and inescapability of fate. In Ozymandias , Shelley presents the decaying statue of an ancient King as an allegory for the eventual end of power that we are all fated to suffer – most especially the proud. Kamikaze also deals with the futility of trying to avoid one’s fate (and death), but from a much more personal, human perspective. Whilst these two poems differ greatly in their structure, settings and imagery, both ultimately provide the same (somewhat sombre) memorial to human beings inevitably and powerlessly subject to the vicissitudes of fate and their own mortality.

PEEZAP Paragraph 1

PEEZAP Paragraph 2

Structure – More difficult to follow the PEEZAP structure exactly – but so important to think about how each poem’s rhyme scheme and structure reinforces its central message.

Whilst Garland’s poem is presented in seven regular sestets (with a shift to italics to indicate a change of speaker), there is no overt rhyme scheme. This can be compared with Ozymandias , which also has a regular structure (written in a sonnet form, in iambic pentameter) and an irregular rhyme scheme. For Shelley, the irregular rhyme scheme could be symbolic of the broken statue itself – no longer perfect, and falling apart as the poem progresses. The sonnet form (usually composed as romantic love poems) could serve as a further ironic joke about the ruler’s ill-fated ego – or perhaps offer a more nostalgic, romantic tone of a lost legend. In a similar way, Garland’s poem offers no easy answers to the question posed by the pilot’s fate. Just like the non-existent rhyme scheme, no neat or easily comprehensible solutions are presented– challenging the reader to make their own judgments on events.

Conclusion – This should reflect the points made in the introduction – pointing out the similarities and differences.

In conclusion, both Ozymandias and Kamikaze depict central protagonists attempting (and failing) to escape their own fate. Whilst Ozymandias presents a more ironic description of a ruler sure of his own power and infallibility, Kamikaze presents a more nuanced, personalised description of an individual pilot trying to return home. Both poems explore the attempt to escape our human mortality in one way or another however, and both show characters ultimately drawn back to their very human, very lonely destinies – both fated to be forgotten and ignored in one way or another.

For more essay skills practice, take a look at my previous post on GCSE English terminology . With a combination of good structure, killer analysis and sophisticated terminology – you can’t go wrong. Do get in touch with any questions, and happy essay writing!

More  Power and Conflict  sample poetry essays:

• A comparison of  Exposure  and  Charge of the Light Brigade
• A comparison of  Tissue  and  The Émigrée
• A comparison of  Storm on the Island and The Prelude
• A comparison of London and My Last Duchess

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5 thoughts on “ AQA “Power and Conflict”: Ozymandias and Kamikaze analysis ”

• Pingback: Storm on the Island and The Prelude: GCSE Poem Analysis – AC studies

I just came across the Ozymandias poem and it made me stop and reasses my priorities in life. It’s a powerful piece and this review does both those poems justice. 👏

Like Liked by 1 person

Hi Kendi – thank you so much, that’s amazing it’s changed your own thought processes – how powerful. It’s a great and really thought provoking poem isn’t it? Really glad you enjoyed the analysis as well, and thanks for sharing.

Hi there! You helped me massively with my English poetry essay on the power of humans by the unique ideas discussed on this blog post so really, thank you so much! The ideas were unique and perceptive and many of my English teachers believe that Kamikaze and Ozymandias cannot be compared but this has been really insightful. Thank youu ❤

Hi – thank you very much for your message, and I am so glad that you found some of the ideas in the essay useful! All the very best for your studies, and good luck for any upcoming exams! 🙂 Amelia

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Poetry — Ozymandias Tone

Ozymandias Tone

• Categories: Poetry

About this sample

Words: 616 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 616 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

In analyzing the tone of "Ozymandias,"

Another theme that is prominent in "ozymandias" is the ephemeral nature of power..

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AQA Exemplar Ozymandias & Storm on the Island

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

5 February 2020

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AQA Grade 9 Exemplar full response to “how is Power of nature explored” . The model essay compares nature in poems ‘Ozymandias’ and ‘Storm on the Island’ . This resource models an answer to Paper 2 Section B on the ‘Power and Conflict’ section of the anthology. Ideal for use with top set students who are struggling to breach the gap between grade 7-8 and grade 9. Preview is one of the paragraphs.

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Bundle of Grade 9 Exemplar responses to AQA English Literature. The responses cover Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, Lord of the Flies and the 'Power and Conflict' anthology.

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GCSE English Resources for the AQA board

Ozymandias and Storm

Both Storm on the Island and Ozymandias explore the power of nature.

Storm on the Island is written as a blank verse which mirrors the pattern of everyday speech and makes the poem seem like a conversation. The first person plural “we” is used showing how it is a collective experience. The poem is compact in one stanza which can reflect the sturdiness of the houses. The writer also uses direct address to involve the reader in his fear by directly speaking to ‘you’. Ozymandias on the other hand is a sonnet, with a strict form, though it doesn’t follow the regular rhyme scheme of a sonnet and has a turning point or volta . This may be reflecting the way human powers can be destroyed. The poem uses iambic pentameter but this is often disrupted. Ozymandias is a second person account which distances the reader even further.

In Storm on the Island the poem’s structure shifts from sense of security to fear. “But no” seems to be the turning point with the slow pace and caesura reflecting the last moments of the calm before the storm. In Ozymandias the narrator builds up an image of the statue by focusing on different parts of it in turn, for example the “sneer cold command” reflects the arrogance of the ruler. The poem ends by describing the enormous desert which helps sum up the insignificance of the statue.

In Storm on the Island the narrator uses contrasting descriptions of safety and fear. At the beginning of the poem the narrator uses lots of words to do with safety and security. “We are prepared” is the opening line of the poem which instantly creates a feeling of safety. The tone changes though, and the sense of danger increases as familiar things become frightening during the storm. The repetition of the word “company” on line 6 and 12 is used to emphasise the loneliness of the setting. The writer ends the poem by saying “it is a huge nothing that we fear” which contrasts with the opening. It is saying the storm is invisible but the fact they “fear” it compared to the beginning where they felt “prepared” demonstrates the real power of nature.

In Ozymandias the poem focuses on the power of the King which is shown as a statue and represents the power of humans. However this power is lost as ultimately nature has ruined the statue showing that nature and time have more power than anything else. The use of alliteration “boundless and bare” and “lone and level” emphasise the feeling of empty space in the surrounding desert. Also, how the desert sands “stretch far away” shows how the desert is vast and survives longer than a statue, underlining the insignificance of the statue of Ozymandias compared to the power of nature.

Storm on the Island uses violent imagery often described in warlike terms, with similes, metaphors and personification combining to emphasise the danger and effects of the storm. “Exploding comfortably” is an example that uses juxtaposition to show the feelings of fear and safety. The wind is described as “pummels” which is a very violent way to describe it. The simile “spits like a tame cat turned savage” shows how familiar things become frightening during the storm. The words “strafes”, “salvo” and “bombarded” are normally used to describe war. The wind is compared to a fighter plane attacking the island.

Storm on the Island also uses forceful sounds like “blast” to demonstrate the strength of nature, and the poem also uses sibilance and assonance, “it begins…spray hits” and “sit…tight”. The ‘i’ and ‘s’ sounds are combined to imitate the hissing of the spitting of the sea.

Even though both poems are based on two different things – and written well over a hundred years apart – they both explore the relationship between man use imagery and violent language to show the power and effect of nature.

Examiner’s comments: If written under exam conditions, this would be an comfortable 8 or 9. There’s a wide range of quotes and references from both poems, which explore the way both poets present man’s relationship to nature. To see why this is such a good essay, it’s worth looking at how little time the student dwells on an individual idea – she has a point to make, makes it, and then moves on. This allows her to explore such a wide range of quotes in a relatively short space of time. Also, she will often support a single idea with quotes taken from throughout the poem which makes for a much more sophisticated essay. She also mentions a very wide range of techniques and embeds the technical terms in a way that seems comfortable rather than as though she’s trying to show off. Really good essay.

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“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Decay of Political Power Essay

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Introduction

The poem Ozymandias, by Percy Bysshe Shelly, is a fascinating examination of a decaying statue that resonates a central principle: history marches forward and no man can stop it. It is through various literary techniques that Shelly’s belief — art and language outlast politics — shines through. As the poem creates the mysterious sculpture found in “an antique land” and subsequently destroys it, the reader experiences a sense of ironic loss that almost hedges into hopelessness. Shelly’s poem Ozymandias effectively communicates that political power is not everlasting and even the most feared of leaders cannot halt the passage of time through its use of irony, alliteration, and metaphor.

Shelly’s main literary device in Ozymandias is his use of irony to emphasize the decay of political power at the hands of time. Ironically, Ozymandias’ statue bears a “wrinkled lip” and “sneer of cold command”, features that indicate a powerful and foreboding king, but the statue itself is falling apart. Even the inscription declaring that people should “look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!” is ironic; the reign would no longer strike fear in anyone for it had crumbled many years ago. Shelly examines the statue, constructing an image of the king and his rule only to rip it apart in the latter half of the poem by pointing out that there was very little left of even the statue, just as there is nothing left of Ozymandias’ reign. This sense of irony, that a king who was so feared that his people suffered by “the hand that mocked them…” lost his kingdom and life to the sands of history, which eventually overtake all men, runs deeply in Shelly’s Ozymandias.

Shelly uses alliteration frequently in Ozymandias to draw attention to certain images throughout the poem. The use of alliteration gives the poem a rhythm and flow in addition to illuminating the importance of certain lines. The letter ‘s’ in particular is repeated on three separate alliterative occasions. At the beginning of the poem, Shelly describes where the traveler found the statue, “…on the sand, [h]alf sunk, a shattered…”. This draws the reader’s attention to the hidden, already destroyed image of the statue; it is not proudly displayed anymore, it is buried and hidden and alone. The ‘s’ alliteration continues as Shelly describes the sneer and “cold command” that “…yet survive, stamped on…” the statue’s pedestal. This particular point is alliterated not once but twice because it is, simply, the entire point of the poem. Shelly uses “sneer”, “survive”, and “stamped” to reiterate the ‘s’ sound as well as “cold command” within the same sentence to emphasize that art lives on, the sculptor’s work survived, even though Ozymandias is long dead and his period of rule long since over. Finally, Shelly says that “the lone and level sands stretch far away” at the end of the poem, giving the illusion of never-ending space that stretches forever; history goes forever, no one can stop it. Through the use of alliteration, Shelly commands his reader’s attention to the central theme of his poem; no political power is strong enough to resist the decay of time.

The decaying statue in Ozymandias is a metaphor for the decay of political power. Shelly effectively utilizes this metaphor throughout the poem to emphasize that political power is not ever-lasting. Art, however, is eternal and despite the march of time, the statue remains as evidence of what was and what has been lost. The broken statue itself is a metaphor of a ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ sentiment. Shelly describes the statue, the king, the rule, and even the people under Ozymandias, but in the latter half of the poem, the statue is nothing but a “colossal wreck”. “Nothing beside remains”, save for the inscription and the sneer on the statue’s ancient face. Ozymandias is lost and his kingdom gone. He is even further removed from the reader because Shelly uses the narrator as a person relaying a story he heard from yet someone else. Not only is the reign of the king over, not only is his statue a decaying mess, but he is not even directly known to the author; Ozymandias is so far removed from history, he may as well not even exist. But the statue heralded a much-feared, strong king from a bygone era, illustrating Shelly’s metaphor that encompasses the entire poem. The lost king Ozymandias could not hold onto his power, but the sculptor’s statue lasted throughout the ages.

The poem Ozymandias is an incredible illustration of how nothing can last forever; no man can hold onto absolute power for all time. Everyone who lives also dies, every era and every kingdom will eventually dissolve or morph into something different. Art, however, carries forward forever, even if it is a “colossal wreck” by the time it is rediscovered. Through Shelly’s use of irony, alliteration, and metaphor, the reader experiences a dramatic sense of haunting reality: everything ends and people are powerless to stop it.

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IvyPanda. (2022, January 3). “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Decay of Political Power. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ozymandias-by-percy-bysshe-shelley-decay-of-political-power/

"“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Decay of Political Power." IvyPanda , 3 Jan. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/ozymandias-by-percy-bysshe-shelley-decay-of-political-power/.

IvyPanda . (2022) '“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Decay of Political Power'. 3 January.

IvyPanda . 2022. "“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Decay of Political Power." January 3, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ozymandias-by-percy-bysshe-shelley-decay-of-political-power/.

1. IvyPanda . "“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Decay of Political Power." January 3, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ozymandias-by-percy-bysshe-shelley-decay-of-political-power/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Decay of Political Power." January 3, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ozymandias-by-percy-bysshe-shelley-decay-of-political-power/.