Irony And Symbolism In Ozymandias

The poem Epitaph of a Tyrant was written by 20th century poet Wystan Hugh Auden, describes a power that is now gone. Auden lived through the first and second world wars, which were home to the multitude of tyrants. Some examples are Adolf Hitler (architect of the third reich), and Joseph Stalin, who I feel is a very relevant example to the play by William Shakespeare. In his early years, Stalin was earning a reputation as a great leader for his contributions to not only the USSR, but to the world. He helped end the Nazi imperialization of Europe, and

Shelley’s poem and depiction of Ozymandias could be a symbolic way of promoting his views against the monarchy, as he depicts Ozymandias as a tyrant with harsh descriptions such as “a sneer of cold command” and mocks him with the juxtaposition of “king of kings” and “colossal wreck”. However, instead of obviously putting forward his views and risking negative exposure, Shelley distances himself from the poem with intriguing use of multiple perspectives. The poem begins with “I met”, a first person introduction, but quickly switches to the traveller’s perspective as Shelley depicts what the traveller saw. In this way, he subtly puts across his socialist views without incriminating himself through symbolism and distancing himself from the narrative. In this way, the poem presents two powerful rulers, with Ozymandias symbolising King George.

The life of a dominant king who got lost in the things of the world, resulted in him losing focus on his destiny through power and time. It is a battle between man and the natural world he faced. Percy Shelley’s poem, Ozymandias, demonstrates that no matter the position one holds, in time, power can be arrogant and ruling, but cannot ultimately last for an eternity.

Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote this poem "Ozymandias" to express to us that possessions do not mean immortality. He used very strong imagery and irony to get his point across throughout the poem. In drawing these vivid and ironic pictures in our minds, Shelley was trying to explain that no one lives forever, and nor do their possessions. Shelley expresses this poem’s moral through a vivid and ironic picture. A shattered stone statue with only the legs and head remaining, standing in the desert, the face is proud and arrogant, "Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read"(lines, 4-6).

Romanticism is composed of several different themes, all of which are definitive of what Romanticism entails; one of the most prevalent and important of these themes is that of alienation, whether it be from oneself or from the world. Several poets in the Romantic period wrote on this theme, but one who imparted the most meaning in the fewest amount of words is Percy Bysshe Shelley in “Ozymandias.” Shelley tackles the idea of separate existence from yourself in a unique way: as opposed to the way William Wordsworth would tell his audience what they needed to do in order to avoid alienation, Shelley presents to his audience an example of alienation causing a person to fade into past. In telling the story of Ozymandias, King of Kings, Shelley

The simile itself is one of the relentlessness, power and inevitability of a great stream and hence, of the effects of justice as well. This is King's way of calling for an unstoppable justice to prevail. Kings next allusion to the Bible; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh see it together,” just hammers his message of equality in. Another non biblical allusion would be “sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent” which is a reference to one of Shakespeare’s plays.

The poem "Ozymandias" is one of the best sonnets of Percy Bysshe Shelley. In this poem Shelley described a mighty king who was striving in his whole life for his possessions and got involved in worldly assignments so much that he forgot his ultimate destiny. Beside this, Shelley reminds the readers of their mortality through the realization that our earthly accomplishments, so important to us now, will one day be finished. By drawing these vivid and ironic pictures in readers minds, with different symbols, Shelley was trying to illustrate that no one lives forever in the

The Epic of Gilgamesh has its place as one of the first examples of epic poetry in recorded history. The epic describes the adventures of the demigod-king Gilgamesh who, after the death of his close friend Enkidu, seeks immortality but is ultimately unsuccessful. This story arc is not dissimilar to those found in the epics of the ancient Greeks centuries later. This excerpt from The Epic of Gilgamesh clearly demonstrates Gilgamesh’s reckless lust for pride and fame at all costs.

There is clear tension weaved through out Shelley’s poem. It creates an emotional imbalance that makes the reader feel uncertainty because of the opposite ideas that are presented in the same lines. “The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed them” (Shelley 8). Ozymandias was a harsh ruler that didn’t spare a kind word to his subjects. Even though they endorsed and supported him, he couldn’t be bothered to treat them with respect. He “mocked” them but despite that, in the same line it is said he supplied them with food. Ozymandias knew the fine line between being a strict leader and malevolent king. He fed his people because that was the only reason they would tolerate his severity without revolting. He made it so they were dependent on him and enforced their loyalty. The kindness of feeding them is a mask for his true, much more selfish nature. That is why the two words are linked because although they are opposite concepts, it’s all a part of his identity and how he rules as a king. Another example of these conflicting ideologies is in line 7, “Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things.” “Surviving” is all his subjects were afforded. They are not allowed to live full and plentiful lives because of the cruelty of their ruler. They were oppressed and although they were technically alive, they didn’t have their own free will. They had to follow their ruler’s orders and were slaves. They become “lifeless” because they have no free will. Their job is to be dutiful servants to Ozymandias. The tension in the poem conveys the depth and complexity of Ozymandias. He puts on a façade but his subjects see past the thin veiled mask. They are aware of his cruelty and

Shelley Percy is one of the most highly regarded Romantic poets of the 19th century. Many of Shelley’s poem tell about the nature of the human condition. In many of his poems Shelley use elements of nature (seashells, the wind, the ocean, etc.) to discuss truths about the human condition. Percy Shelley examines the one consistent characteristic of being human in his poem “Mutability”. In his poem “Mutability” Shelley shows the fragility and unpredictability of the human condition.

Through this Shelley incorporates Plato’s ideas of clearing the mind of human ignorance and superficial striving to reach a deeper truth as oblivion is inevitable and the superficial is transient with people’s memory. Shelley chose to depict Ozymandias in this light to highlight his hubris because of his own ideology and lack of respect for authority as he lived in a time of questioning power, which is common throughout many romantic era poems. Blake then generates a contrasting angry

 The poem "Ozymandias" tells a story about a traveler, who reveals his or her story to the narrator of the poem. The author of the poem is Percy Bysshe Shelley. He keeps the interest of the poem by using constant sounds and images that are clear and concise, by supplying mystery with words that have more than one meaning, and by using a spectrum of words that capture the interpreters attention.

Shelley’s version of “Ozymandias” pays particular attention to the details of what remains of Ramses’s statue. Shelley conveys to the reader that no matter how powerful a ruler may be, their influence will fade with time. The description of what Babylon looks like when the poem was written gives the reader a clear

The poem “Ozymandias” is considered one of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s best sonnets. It was written in 1817 and is still recognized today as its meaning still holds true. “Ozymandias” illustrates the fall of power and mortality through a once powerful king. This is shown through the pride of the king, the tyranny that the king ruled by, and the transience of his ruling and empire.

In the poem Percy Bysshe Shelley “Ozymandias” there are several different sound devices portrayed. The author demonstrates use of rhyme and meter. In the beginning of the poem the author used rhyming words to give a description of the mans journey through the dessert, and informing that he found a statue. It states, " Two vast and trunk less legs of stone stand in the dessert." Although, the statue is destroyed and seems to be smashed, considering the 2 legs. Towards the end of the poem the author demonstrates irony, when it says," a colossal wreck, boundless and bare." It was once said to be mighty and powerful, but reveals there is nothing but sand on the desert. "Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things" references that the