Anthology Ozymandias essay

Could someone please mark this and please tell me some improvements. Thankyou
I only did it on Ozymandias to see if I had a good understanding of this poem.
How is the poem Ozymandias presented as a power and conflict poem

The poem Ozymandias is used to explore the power of nature over time and its power over humans. Percy Shelly presents Ozymandias as a poem showing the selfishness and egotistical man that will eventually be taken away by the times of endless sand. Shelly could have done this to warn his readers of the allusion of power and man holds and to not abuse it over others. Shelly uses the poem to spread his political message to warn others that their tyranny will not last however their treatment of others will be carved into time for all to see.

Shelly uses the poem to highlight that no one will be able to overpower time. The poem starts with ‘’I met a traveller from an antique land” implying that Egypt is a faraway land abandoned by time forgotten by people. The word antique suggests that Egypt is old and ancient therefor irrelevant to the new world. Shelly could have done this to show how a land once so powerful will be swallowed by time no matter what anyone tries to do. The world ‘traveller’ suggests that Egypt has been covered up by the sands of time only found once looked for or found by accident. This could also like to ‘I’ which is only used once in the poem implying that Shelly wanted to detach himself from his political message in order to avoid criticism. Perhaps he wanted to move the criticism onto the fictional ‘traveller.’ Shelly could have done this to show the greed and power of people will be covered by the sands of time, soon forgotten and left to be found as an ancient ruin. He wanted to shed light on the tyranny of some powerful leaders and warn them that their tyranny will not last long.

Shelly explores the tyrannical power of leaders over others and the consequences of their actions. He depicts the image of two vast and trunkless legs sand in the dessert implying that this was once a might statue of a powerful leader, Ozymandias. The phrase ‘vast and trunkless legs’ suggest that the statue has been broken by time and nature. The word vast creates a powering tone suggesting this statue was once towering over Egypt, demonstrating the influence of Ozymandias. The phrase ‘trunkless legs’ imply that the statue is no longer once. It is now irrelevant as there is no one to fear its might. This could also suggest that there was no knowledge or intelligence of Ozymandias. Not only this but it shows how the ancient power of Ozymandias is trying to linger in the world through his last legs showing how his power and strength has been turned into a weak and ‘shattered visage.’ Perhaps Shelly has done this to create a sense of amusement as the once great statue has now been turned into legs with no upper body signifying its insignificance. Shelly could have done this to show his readers that the power of man will not lost no matter if they have been preserved as a statue as they will be treated mercilessly by time and nature.

Shelly presents the illusion of power through Ozymandias. He is described as a whose frown and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command. The repetition of the word ‘and’ creates a tiring tone as the lists of tyrannical features seams never ending. The word wrinkled lip suggests he had been turned into a weak and frail man by his own sculptor. This image also conjures a look of disgust and contempt over his subjects felling no remorse for them, his people whom he should protect yet viewing them as inferior to him. This is paired with his rule over all of Egypt which allows him to oppress and torture them without any sympathy or remorse. The alliteration ‘sneered with cold command’ creates a mocking tone as he smiles, harbouring horrid intent towards his subjects. This shows his heartlessness and malicious cruelty. This shows the power and arrogance of kings and their sense of superiority and confidence. The word command associates with war opposing Shelly’s pacifist views on war. Shelly could have done this to show that one person with too much power can lead to them discarding those below them, he warns his readers that people with political and religious views can lead to them judging others therefore oppressing them. During Shelly’s time King George iii ruled, his abused his power and ruled like a tyrant showing his cold and hideous feelings towards his subjects, involving himself in many military conflicts. Shelly uses the character of Ozymandias to expose the bad deeds that King Gorge iii had committed and warned his readers to abandon kings like him as he too will be forgotten in history.

Shelly based his poem on Ozymandias the name given to the Pharaoh Rameses ii as his statue had been recently found and brought up lots of controversy. Shelly used this statue to show how his rule was forgotten by history and his tyrannical power and heartlessness towards his subjects lead to his demise. He thought his memories would live on forever even as he commands to ‘look at my works’ which not longer exist. This shows his insignificance in history. This is also ironic as Rameses believed he would expand Egypt and rule over the world. Shelly had done this to warn rulers like Rameses that their power would be long forgotten yet their treatment of others will be remembered by the ‘sculpture’ who ‘mocked them’.

Shelly examines the power of nature as the only thing that is lest aster the sweep of time. He describes the ‘lone and level sands stretch far and wide’ implying that there is nothing left of the tyrannical ruler other than the sands of time. The word lone suggests that the area is a void of sand with on one to rule over or be remembered by mirroring the life of Ozymandias. The ‘level sands stretch far and wide’ suggest that there is nothing but sand for miles away implying that there will be no body to see the historic ruler threw the endless sand. This also shows how there has been nothing but sand all this time showing that only nature can withstand time. Showing its power over mankind. Shelly does this to show hoe strong nature is and to make others fear this power and to not play with it if they do not want to suffer the consequences that Ramses ii and King Gorge iii suffered.

Shelley has written this poem as a sonnet as he is a romantic poet attracted by the beauty of nature. He could have used this to show how Ozymandias loved himself more than the people he needed to protect therefor making him heartless to others. There is also the use of iambic pentameter and irregular rhyme which he uses this to show how power can be held by anyone but cannot last forever. He uses nature to show his readers that not one can stand against nature and that it is not what it seems. He uses the power of nature to attack tyrants who use their power to oppress others. These thoughts are then carried by the next tine of kings making this a never-ending torture for that underneath them. Shelley promotes his political message of anti-religion and anti-monarchy views as he is criticizing those who give all power to one person. Shelly could have done this to show his readers that if one person has all power he will be blinded by this power which heightens their pride that gives him a sense of entitlement leading them to think they are ‘king of kings’.

Reply 1

mjflay0923

Overall Grade: 7/8 (High Level 4)
This is a strong essay with detailed ideas and a solid understanding of the poem. With refinement and better clarity, it could achieve a Grade 9.
Improvements:

Clarity and Grammar:

Simplify phrases to improve flow. For example:

Instead of “Shelly could have done this to warn his readers of the allusion of power and man holds and to not abuse it over others,” write, “Shelley warns readers about the illusion of power and its abuse.”

Structure:

Group similar ideas together to avoid repetition. For example, analysis of tyranny could be consolidated into one paragraph.

Use topic sentences to clearly introduce the focus of each paragraph.

Further Analysis of Form:

Expand on the use of the sonnet form and irregular rhyme scheme. How does this reflect Ozymandias’ temporary power or Shelley’s message?

Avoid Repetition:

10.

The idea that “nature and time overpower humanity” is repeated throughout. Focus on varied examples of this theme rather than reiterating the same point.

11.

Embed Context More Smoothly:

12.

Contextual points (e.g., King George III) could be woven more subtly into analysis rather than being explicitly stated as comparisons.

Reply 2

Ameera;)

Thankyou soo much, this realy helped!

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