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!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
What the Poem Says
“Ozymandias” presents a fascinating encounter with the remnants of a once-great king. The poem is framed as a story told to the speaker by a traveller who has journeyed to an ancient land. The traveller describes the ruins of a colossal statue, specifically its fragmented legs and a shattered face lying in the desert sand. The most striking aspect of the statue isn’t its grandeur, but the discernible expression—a frown, a wrinkled lip, and a sneer—that the sculptor captured. These features reveal the king’s arrogance and commanding personality, qualities that seem to have outlived the king himself. Inscribed on the pedestal are the boastful words, “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” However, the traveller concludes by emphasizing the desolate surroundings and nothing remains of the king’s once-great empire, only the lone and level sands stretching endlessly.
Why This Poem Matters
At its heart, “Ozymandias” is a powerful meditation on the transient nature of power, fame, and human ambition. The poem serves as a stark reminder that even the most powerful rulers and empires are ultimately subject to the ravages of time and decay. Ozymandias, a Greek name for the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II, believed his legacy would be eternal, yet the poem presents a scene of utter ruin, suggesting that all earthly achievements are destined to crumble. It’s a humbling poem, urging us to consider the limitations of human endeavor and the inevitable march of time. The poem isn’t merely about a fallen king; it’s a universal commentary on the futility of seeking lasting glory through worldly power.
Key Parts of the Poem
- Lines 1-8: The Description of the Ruins These opening lines establish the setting and introduce the fragmented statue. Notice how Shelley focuses on the details that convey the king’s personality, even in decay. Consider the line “whose frown and wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command” and this isn’t just a physical description, but a character study. The sculptor’s skill is also highlighted, suggesting that art can capture and preserve personality even when empires fall.
- Lines 9-14: The Inscription and the Final Image This section presents Ozymandias’s boastful declaration and then immediately undermines it with the stark reality of the surrounding desert. The contrast between the king’s arrogance and the desolate landscape is crucial. The final line, “The lone and level sands stretch far away,” is particularly poignant, emphasizing the emptiness and finality of the scene.
Literary Devices That Make the Poem Shine
- Irony The most prominent device is irony. Ozymandias intended his statue to inspire awe and fear, commanding others to “despair” before his greatness. Instead, the statue lies broken and forgotten, a testament to the impermanence of power. The inscription, meant to demonstrate his might, now underscores his insignificance.
- Imagery Shelley uses vivid imagery to create a powerful mental picture of the ruins. Phrases like “trunkless legs of stone,” “shattered visage,” and “lone and level sands” appeal to our senses and make the scene come alive.
- Alliteration The use of alliteration, such as “cold command,” adds a musical quality to the poem and emphasizes certain phrases.
- Personification While subtle, the poem personifies the statue’s expression. The “frown” and “sneer” are human characteristics attributed to the inanimate stone, suggesting that the king’s personality has somehow survived in the sculpture.
- Metaphor The ruined statue serves as a metaphor for all earthly power and ambition. It represents the inevitable decline of all empires and the futility of seeking lasting glory through worldly achievements.
- Enjambment Shelley skillfully uses enjambment, where a line continues onto the next without punctuation. This technique creates a sense of flow and momentum, drawing the reader deeper into the poem’s narrative.
Poetic Structure
“Ozymandias” is a sonnet of fourteen lines, but its rhyme scheme is unconventional. The poem follows an ABABACDDEFEFGG pattern, which differs from the traditional Shakespearean or Petrarchan forms. It is written mainly in iambic pentameter, a rhythmic pattern of five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables per line, but Shelley occasionally varies the meter for emphasis or effect. This deliberate departure from traditional poetic forms underscores the poem’s themes of decay and the subversion of expectations.
How to Use This Poem in Teaching
- Discuss the Themes of Power and Legacy Encourage students to consider how the poem relates to contemporary issues of power, leadership, and the pursuit of legacy. What are the different ways people try to achieve lasting fame or influence? What are the limitations of those efforts?
- Analyze the Literary Devices Have students identify and analyze the various literary devices used in the poem, such as irony, imagery, and metaphor. How do these devices contribute to the poem’s overall message?
- Creative Writing Activity Challenge students to write their own poems or short stories exploring the themes of time, decay, and the impermanence of human achievements. They could write from the perspective of another ruined statue or explore the legacy of a contemporary figure.
By carefully examining “Ozymandias,” readers can gain a deeper understanding of not only poetic technique but also the enduring questions about power, legacy, and the human condition. The poem’s enduring relevance lies in its ability to challenge our assumptions about the nature of greatness and remind us of the inevitable passage of time.