Ozymandias Quiz and Flashcards by Percy Bysshe Shelley

What is the main theme of the poem 'Ozymandias'?

What was the original publication of the poem 'Ozymandias'?

Who was the historical figure that inspired the poem 'Ozymandias'?

What was the inspiration behind Shelley's poem 'Ozymandias'?

What is the characteristic of the poem 'Ozymandias' in terms of its length?

What is the similarity between the poems of Shelley and Smith?

What is the name of the king whose statue is described in Shelley's poem?

What is the structure of Shelley's poem 'Ozymandias'?

What is the significance of the enjambment in Shelley's poem?

What is the theme of decline and fall of mighty empires associated with?

What is the central theme of the poem 'Ozymandias'?

What does the desert setting of the poem symbolize?

What is the significance of the 'shattered visage' of the statue in the poem?

What is the significance of the inscription on the base of the statue in the poem?

What is the significance of the poem 'Ozymandias' in the context of Romantic literature?

Ozymandias Poem

The poem "Ozymandias" is written by Percy Bysshe Shelley and was first published in The Examiner in 1818.
The poem is a sonnet, consisting of 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter with a rhyme scheme of ABABA CDC EDE FEF.
The poem explores several major themes of Romantic poetry, including the impermanence of empire and the sublime.

Historical Context

The name "Ozymandias" is a Greek name for Ramses II, an ancient Egyptian king who reigned in the 13th century BCE.
During Shelley's lifetime, European archaeologists were uncovering extraordinary artifacts in parts of Egypt, including a large statue of Ramses II that was brought to the British Museum.

Themes

The inevitability of imperial decline: the poem meditates on how even the most powerful empires must eventually decline and fall to ruin.
The power of nature: the poem portrays nature as an uncaring and indiscriminate force that does not respect human constructions.
The timelessness of art: the poem suggests that great art has a timelessness beyond what empires can achieve, and that it can survive even when the power of the civilization that created it has long since dissipated.

Symbolism

The legs of the statue: they are the first thing that the traveler comments on, and they are the only part of the statue still standing, symbolizing the decline of empire.
The shattered visage of the statue: the face still has a "frown, and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command" that give readers a sense of what Ozymandias might have been like during his lifetime.
The inscription on the base of the statue: it spells out the idea of the poem clearly, that Ozymandias believed that his works would last forever, but the ruin of his once-great statue and city tell a different story.
The endless sands that surround the statue: they symbolize the power of nature and the futility of attempting to create such a permanent monument.

Test your knowledge of Shelley's famous sonnet 'Ozymandias', exploring its themes, structure, and historical context. Learn about the poem's significance, its Romantic poetry themes, and the poet's life. Dive into the world of 19th-century literature with this quiz!