what does shattered visage mean in ozymandias

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare, The lone and level sands stretch far away.. The heart that fed is an odd, slightly lurid phrase, apparently referring to the sculptors own fervent way of nourishing himself on his massive project. Ozymandias: A Complete Analysis I met a traveller from an antique land, Who said"Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. It was half-sunk because it had been ravaged by time which spares no one, whether rich or poor. The title "Ozymandias" refers to an alternate name of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II. My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; I met a traveller from an antique land,Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. The statue is very lifelike, and the expression found there is convincing, for its sculptor well those passions read. And yet all the overconfidence and pompousness in the world could be written on the face of that King of Kings"; it would make no difference. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? It was half-sunk because it had been ravaged by time which spares no one whether rich or poor. He had a frowning expression on his face which reflected his scornful and contemptuous nature. He eventually became known as Ramesses the Great and was revered for centuries after his death. In the first line, he talks about meeting a traveler from an antique country. 6 How is irony used in the poem Ozymandias? The poet Horace Smith spent the end of 1817 with Percy Shelley and his wife Mary Shelley (the author of Frankenstein). face Near them on the sand, Half sunk, a shatter'd visage lies "Visage" means face; a face implies a head, so we are being told that the head belonging to this sculpture is partially buried in the sand, near the legs. He is Ramesses II or Ramesses the Great. In the wake of Napoleons conquest of Egypt in 1798, the archeological treasures found there stimulated the European imagination. 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. No matter how hard a man tries to rivet his name, at some point, people will forget him. The traveler tells a story to the speaker. It means both "made fun of" and "copied," or "imitated." It is an important piece that features how a great ruler like Ozymandias and his legacy was buried in the pages of history. Ramesses II was one of the ancient world's most powerful rulers. 2 What part of the statue is shattered in Ozymandias? Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown. This isn't being spoken to anyone in particular, just whoever happens to come across the statue. ", Below is the complete text of Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Ozymandias.". What is the tone of the poem "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley? Enjambment is a way for the poet to build action and tension within a poem. Revisiting the Shelleys 200 years after their masterpieces. For example, in lines 3-5 : Stand in the desertNear them, on the sand. 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. . Ozymandias and his sculptor bear a fascinating relation to Shelley himself: they might be seen as warnings concerning the aggressive character of human action (whether the kings or the artists). Students (upto class 10+2) preparing for All Government Exams, CBSE Board Exam, ICSE Board Exam, State Board Exam, JEE (Mains+Advance) and NEET can ask questions from any subject and get quick answers by subject teachers/ experts/mentors/students. He is ordering those who see him to look upon all that he has created but do not appreciate what he has done. The words written on the pedestal, the stand that once held the statue, now seem meaningless and rhetorical; it's the statement of an arrogant despot. The title Ozymandias refers to an alternate name of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. He eventually married Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, the daughter of philosopher William Godwin, and eloped with her to Europe, living in a circle of artistic friends and lovers which included for a time Lord Byron. The visage is taken apart by the poet, who collaborates with time's ruinous force. The poet yields to a strong, invisible power as the politician cannot. The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed; The traveler then turns his attention to the sculptor who made the statue. Weirdly, the "passions" still survive because they are "stamp'd on these lifeless things." The hand that held the rod fed not only the citizen but also mocked their pettiness. In London? 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. In lines two through four, the traveler describes a statue he saw in Egypt. The passage described a similar statue and quoted the inscription: King of Kings Ozymandias am I. Shelley wrote this poem inspired by this description of the statue of Ozymandias from Diodorus. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose . However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The poem "Ozymandias" by P. B. Shelley presents a first-person speaker who speaks about a statue and its facial countenances. He had a frowning expression on his face which reflected his scornful and contemptuous nature. . Shelleys final lines, with their picture of the surrounding desert, are his attempt to remove himself from both the king and the sculptorto assert an uncanny, ironic perspective, superior to the battle between ruler and ruled that contaminates both. what is the purpose of 'shattered visage'? Need more help with this topic? Shelley first published "Ozymandias" in The Examiner in 1818, under the name "Glirastes." Though Ozymandias believes he speaks for himself, in Shelleys poem his monument testifies against him. 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. Here the traveler begins his speech. The main theme is introduced in the very beginning where Shelleys speaker describes the colossal Wreck of Ozymandias half sunk in the lone desert. He not only notices how the parts of the statue stand on the sand but also depicts the surroundings. The face of Ozymandias, and his egotistical claims, feed into the theme of the poemall things fade. ', Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare, The lone and level sands stretch far away. This is a scan of the first edition printing. . Near them, on the sand. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Smith produced a now-forgotten poem with the unfortunate title On a Stupendous Leg of Granite, Discovered Standing by Itself in the Deserts of Egypt, with the Inscription Inserted Below. Shelleys contribution was Ozymandias, one of the best-known sonnets in European literature. The fallen titan Ozymandias becomes an occasion for Shelleys exercise of this most tenuous yet persisting form, poetry. The eleventh line starts with a trochee (DUMda), followed by a double-stressed spondee, bringing energy and emphasis. The poem now tells us more about the "passions" of the face depicted on the statue. Though Shelley was one of the important Romantic poets, he never achieved fame while he was alive. Round the decay Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.. What does this line from "Ozymandias" mean. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. a broken face. Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! A once great leader has been left to history and will be buried in the sand in time. Nothing beside remains. . After briefly describing the "visage" (3), the lines shift our attention away from the statue to the guy who made the statue, the "sculptor.". Even scholars have trouble figuring out what they mean. Are you also learning about Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" in class? Shelley first published "Ozymandias" in The Examiner in 1818, under the name "Glirastes." Stand in the desert. Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things. Here, as in the case of Ozymandias, the inert fact of the monument displaces the presence of the dead person it commemorates: the proud claim is made on behalf of art (the tomb and its creator), not the deceased. Ozymandias by P. B. Shelley describes a travelers reaction to the half-buried, worn-out statue of the great pharaoh, Ramses II. The "lifeless things" are the fragments of the statue in the desert. Take a note of their prevalence: antique/land/vast/stand/sand/shattered/command/passions/stamped/hand/and/Ozymandias/sands. The central theme of the poem is the transience of glory, as well as power. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem. Question 4. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Latest answer posted September 30, 2016 at 9:52:52 PM. If the artistic rebel merely plays Prometheus to Ozymandias Zeus, the two will remain locked in futile struggle (the subject of Shelleys great verse drama Prometheus Unbound). Who does the 'shattered visage' in the poem,'Ozymandias', belong to and why is it 'half sunk'? Tragically, Shelley died young, at the age of 29, when the boat he was sailing got caught in a storm. Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, Instead of the "face" Shelly said "visage" which is remote formal and strange. The shattered visage in the poem Ozymandias belongs to the King Ozymandias. "Visage" means face; a face implies a head, so we are being told that the head belonging to this sculpture is partially buried in the sand, near the legs. Besides, he was married to Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Stand in the desert. Napoleon? The syntax is fascinating, the first eleven lines a single sentence, so only one definite stop for the reader. If any want to know how great I am and where I lie, let him outdo me in my work. The critic Leslie Brisman remarks on the way the timelessness of metaphor escapes the limits of experience in Shelley. He had a frowning expression on his face which reflected his scornful and contemptuous nature. 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. Column-like legs but no torso: the center of this great figure, whoever he may have been, remains missing. Poem Solutions Limited International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, Discover and learn about the greatest poetry, straight to your inbox, Discover and learn about the greatest poetry ever straight to your inbox. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs. A softer pyrrhic is sandwiched between iambs. He had a frowning expression on his face which reflected his scornful and contemptuous nature. Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare 4 What is ironic about the fate of Ozymandias? In Shelleys literary cycle, the members would challenge each other to write poems about a common subject. The tv show Breaking Bad featured the poem "Ozymandias" in a trailer for the final season. Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown. What makes the whole so successful is the way the poet has seamlessly woven all three together, the final image of the distant, endless sands contrasting powerfully with the now hollow words of Ozymandias. Round the decay/Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare" In both examples, the line break occurs in the middle of a sentence. The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed; And on the pedestal, these words appear: This metaphor is made even more commanding in the poem by Shelleys use of an actual ruler. The words carved on the pedestal, on which the leader sits, also tell of Ozymandias personality. Overall, this sonnet paints a picture of an egotistical character who thought himself without rival but who was cruel to his people. The size of the statue undoubtedly makes us wonder about the greatness and power of the ruler. The "shattered visage" refers to A. The leader, much like his land, and much like the broken statue depicting him, has fallen. Are these fragmentary legs all that is left? Shelley plays with a number of figurative devices in order to make the sonnet more appealing to readers. Instant PDF downloads. Those legs are huge ("vast") and "trunkless." (read the full definition & explanation with examples). Ozymandias, the title of Shelleys one of the best-known sonnets refers to the Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, Ramesses II. He concludes the main idea of the poem is the transient nature of power, the end of tyranny, and the ravages of times. Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. Monarchs and dictators and tyrants are all subject to change sooner or later - and Shelley's language reflects his dislike for such rulers. Welcome to Sarthaks eConnect: A unique platform where students can interact with teachers/experts/students to get solutions to their queries. 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. . rosariomividaa3 and 5 more users found this answer helpful. It is also easy to interpret that this ruler probably had a lot of pride as the supreme leader of his civilization. . Summary and Analysis Ozymandias. The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! But if you think these lines are unclear, you're right. Shelley implements irony into these lines to show that even though this broken statue remains, the leaders civilization does not. Near them, on the sand. Besides, Shelleys diction here is important. "Ozymandias" couldn't mean (Ramses II) because of the words inwards function. 'Ozymandias' I met a traveller from an antique land, Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. . Which yet survive, stamp'd on these lifeless things, The hand that mock'd them and the heart that fed. Besides, the sonnet also utilizes the themes of vainglory, the power of art, the decline of power, etc. This poem is a powerful meditation on the fleeting nature of power and the importance of humility, showcasing Shelley's poetic talents and the enduring relevance of its message. Shelley later republished the poem in 1819 in his collection Rosalind and Helen. "Tell" is a cool word. In "Ozymandias" the apostrophe occurs in the inscription on the statue's pedestal: "Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Through the eyes of the traveler, the reader sees two massive legs carved from stone lying in the desert sand. "Antique" means something really old, like that couch at your grandmother's or the bunny ears on top of your television. Poem Analysis, https://poemanalysis.com/percy-bysshe-shelley/ozymandias/. . Ozymandias is a sonnet written by the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. 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, Dictators, despots and others who abuse their absolute power will fall foul of events eventually. shattered visage" carries a haughty expression of the greatest disdain: his lips are frowning in a "sneer," and they are described as "wrinkled," an . I met a traveller from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. "Mock'd" has two meanings in this passage. While one can read this poem to be about an ancient leader of Egypt, the poem could also be read as a criticism for the world in which Shelley lived. What is ironic about the fate of Ozymandias ? I met / a trave / ller from / an an / tique land, Who said: / Two vast / and trunk / less legs / of stone. Irony is when tone or exaggeration is used to convey a meaning opposite to what's being literally said. If any want to know how great I am and where I lie, let him outdo me in my work. (The statue and its inscription do not survive, and were not seen by Shelley; his inspiration for Ozymandias was verbal rather than visual.). And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read. Shelley says nothing about the rest of the face; he describes only the mouth, with its "frown,/And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command." I met a traveller from an antique land. 2. An apostrophe is a poetic device where the writer addresses an exclamation to a person or thing that isn't present. And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command. The fragments of the statue are called "lifeless things," the sculptor is dead, and so is the statue's subject. There, he saw a large and intimidating statue of Ramses in the desert. In addition to the Diodorus passage, Shelley must have recalled similar examples of boastfulness in the epitaphic tradition. 4Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown. Instead there is a simple shift of emphasis, the narrator sharing the words on the pedestal that are in effect, the words of the fallen leader. The kings that he challenges with the evidence of his superiority are the rival rulers of the nations he has enslaved, perhaps the Israelites and Canaanites known from the biblical account. These lines are much clearer than the first, however, and it is clear to the reader what, exactly, is occurring in the sonnet. The Ozymandias meaning is full of irony. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. After reading the lines, My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;/ Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! readers can understand the nature of the speaker. Had he wanted to, he could have stamped out any of his subjects who offended him. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Timelessness can be achieved only by the poets words, not by the rulers will to dominate. Ozymandias is written by one of the greatest 19th-century British poets, Percy Bysshe Shelley. The most important theme is the impermanence of a rulers glory and his legacy. In the next line, the traveler provides interesting insight into the leader here. British Library's "Introduction to Ozymandias". First, his hands show that the pharaoh mocked his people, yet his heart was not all bad: he fed and cared for his people, as well. The inscription further reinforces the idea that this once all-powerful leader thought greatly of himself, building up his ego by declaring he is king of kings no less. 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, Ask below and we'll reply! Readers who liked Shelleys Ozymandias could also find the following poems interesting. For instance, the line, Two vast and trunkless legs of stone, arouses both fear and pity in the readers hearts. The image described is very strange: a pair of legs, with a head nearby. The broken face lying in the sand C. A town which has fallen into ruin D. The smiling face of Ozymandias' statue 5. The traveler almost seems to be mocking the ruler. The second quatrain shifts to another mediating figure, now not the traveler but the sculptor who depicted the pharaoh. 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. . Ozymandias is about the nature of power. From this, he is able to tell that this ruler probably had absolute power, and he most definitely ruled with an iron fist. LitCharts Teacher Editions. It is through you visiting Poem Analysis that we are able to contribute to charity. The sculptors attitude might resembleat any event, it certainly suitsthe pharaohs own aggressive enjoyment of empire. In Shelleys sonnet, the traveller from an antique land is the historian Siculus. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. and more. On a road somewhere? Shelley's use of despair puts everything into perspective. In the Greek Anthology (8.177), for example, a gigantic tomb on a high cliff proudly insists that it is the eighth wonder of the world. Ozymandias, the king, had got written at the pedestal of the statue, I am the king of kings'. The reason he did this may have been to represent the corruption of authority or lawmakers. . In this section we discuss the key poetic devices in the Ozymandias poem. Shelley and Smith remembered the Roman-era historian Diodorus Siculus, who described a statue of Ozymandias, more commonly known as Rameses II (possibly the pharaoh referred to in the Book of Exodus).

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