The Cyclical Of Nature : Ozymandias

The "colossal" size of the statue is a symbol of Ramses's lofty self-promotion royal ambition, In line 2 the traveler describes two "legs of stone" with no torso, our first indication that the statue is partly destroyed. Even though the stones are "lifeless," they paradoxically give life to the passions that still survive. Line 11 refers to "works," which might be a reference to other statues, works of art, or monuments commissioned by Ozymandias. This line is ambiguous; Ozymandias could be telling the mighty to despair because their works will never be as good as his or he could be telling them to despair because their works will all eventually crumble just like his. The poem describes the features on the face of the statue and, by extension,

In conveying the issue of time and nature, the poet introduces a traveler from an ‘antique land’, who sees the remains of a vast statue, which gives this poem’s meaning. The antique land refers to a place in pass civilization that no longer exist. The poet uses certain language to express the idea in a more understanding, visual way. The statue reflects Ozymandias’ power and the attitude he holds against others. The facial expressions sculpted in the statue are a mockery of those who he viewed as less prominent in the society. “And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command” (Shelley 4). The poet used Ozymandias’ sneer to convey his attitude towards others as uncaring and rude, as he thinks that he holds a great power among everyone else. Shelley used the phrase “cold command” to also emphasize Ozymandias’ sneer, to imply that he was selfish, not caring about the situation of

From this you can imagine a very conceited, arrogant pharaoh, commanding his people building this great vast statue hoping his power would be immortality. And when this great piece of work is done, he demanded to put such words on the pedestal: ‘"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings. Look at my works, ye Mighty and despair!"’(Lines, 10-11). Ozymandias seemed to think that as long as his sculpture was there, his kingdom would last forever.

Shelley dwells little on the small details of Ozymandias' face, but by Ozymandias' frown, wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, delivered in less than two lines, immediately carry to the reader a vision of a cold, callous, yet strong and determined leader who is commanding his people building his great vast statue hoping his power would be immortal. These concrete items are vital to the description, but are not as strong as what can not be seen. Shelley gives a nod to the talent of the sculptor, from whom Ozymandias received a mirror image of his personality, placed in stone because of his thinking to survive

In Ozymandias, the narrator speaks of an “antique land” that he’s travelled to and comes across a statue which is the King Ozymandias (who is the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II.) The structure of the poem is written in an petrarchan

Despite any futile resistance, every living creature eventually succumbs to death. Ultimately, death is part of living. Death is inevitable. Likewise, although a diminutive moth may appear to be insignificant and pathetic, it can symbolize the true, many connections between the duality of life and death and human beings. For instance, Annie Dillard and Virginia Woolf illustrate similar, universal messages of the value of life through the metaphor of a moth. However, the manner in which they portray their themes and purpose varies, for their personal experiences and writing styles influence their provisions of life and death.

Despite any futile resistance, each living creature eventually succumbs to the forces of death. Ultimately, death is a part of living. Death is inevitable. Likewise, although a diminutive moth may appear to be insignificant and pathetic, it can symbolize the true connections between the duality of life and death and human beings. For instance, Annie Dillard and Virginia Woolf illustrate similar, universal messages about the value of life through the metaphor of a moth. However, the manner in which they portray their themes and purpose varies, for their personal experiences and writing styles influence their perspectives of life and death.

Life and death are leaves us with an known and unknown that are unavoidable. In the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost symbolism, rhyme, and allusion are used to describe not only nature’s life cycle but the human life cycle as well. The allegory “Used to Live Here Once” by Jean Rhys uses symbolism and motif to deliver a story of a woman who has died but is unaware that she has actually passed away. Even though both of these pieces of literature utilize similar elements that symbolize the human life cycle in their writings they are very different in nature, and the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” leaves you with an actual reality of all beings lifecycles and the allegory leaves you with imagination only.

The American author Erin Morganstern says, “All empires must fall eventually. It is the way of things” (Goodreads). In this quote she explores the idea that nothing lasts forever, especially when it comes to power, an idea explored through literature. Harlan Ellison’s ‘Repent Harlequin’ Said the Ticktockman explores a society where being late is punishable with death, and the Harlequin rebels, throwing off the mechanical structure of society, demonstrating the idea of power collapsing. Percy Bysshe Shelley also illustrates this idea in his poem Ozymandias, where a traveler finds the destroyed ruins of a statue that has an inscription telling the observer to look upon his works and despair. The distinctive uses of symbolism and irony in ‘Repent Harlequin’ Said the Ticktockman and Ozymandias craft a theme that even the most powerful dynasties will fall, attempting to show rulers the foolishness of thinking they will be in power forever.

A poem about a statue that has far outlived its boastful inscribers, albeit shattered in pieces. This discrepancy is seen between the lines 10-12, “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings/ Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!/ Nothing beside remains. Round the decay…” Clearly, these people thought they were mighty and great, but instead, they are gone and all that remains are the shattered statues. When we die, we cannot take anything with us. It doesn’t matter how rich and important someone is in life; They are nothing but a memory when they are

‘Ozymandias’ tells the tale of a powerful king, who has lost his legacy through the passage of time. The speaker is recounting a story heard by travelers, men who have seen the hardships of power and the negative consequences that follow. Once a powerful statue dedicated to the “king of kings,” (Shelley, 217) has become no more than “two vast and trunkless legs of stone…” Although Ozymandias was the king of kings, nothing beside remains. This text shows the ways in which legacies come and go, but live on through art forms, such as this poem. Irony is shown in this poem, by the phrase “…Nothing beside remains. Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, the lone and level sands stretch far away.” (Shelley, 217) The irony is situational,

In historical context, the statues referenced here are three-dimensional likenesses of the individuals that transcended this dimensional plane. The cultures of the Egyptians and Sumerians believed that life on Earth was a larger part of a journey of the consciousness. The statues depicted are an attempt to capture the essence or ideals of the individuals carved into the respective medium selected by the artist.

The author is talking about a statute that has been destroyed and is placed in the sands of Egypt. The pedestal which is the base or the support of a statue, is representing the king that the statue is of. The king was the support for all of his people, his people depended on him. It's ironic because he claims to be the king of kings, despite his statue being destroyed. The kings statue has fallen to the ground, even though he was treated very

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

By calling himself “king of kings”, he alludes to God and believes he is greater than all other men. He ruled his kingdom solely on the fear of those beneath him. The intimidating language on the pedestal and the statue made for him display that Ozymandias possessed almighty power. To end the poem, Shelley writes, “Round the decay of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The line and level sands stretch far away.” As time passed, the sand literally destroyed the symbol of what was once the greatest man alive.