Starter quiz
- In 'Ozymandias', what power does Shelley suggest doesn't last forever?
- power of nature
- power of humans ✓
- power of memory
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- In the poem 'Ozymandias', the voice of Ozymandias is...
- weak
- loud
- arrogant ✓
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- What semantic field is used in the poem 'Ozymandias' and what does it show?
- love, to show how egotistical Ozymandias was
- decay, to show how the statue and Ozymandias' power fell into ruin ✓
- opulence, to show the greed of Pharaohs
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- How does the quote ''sneer of cold command'' from 'Ozymandias' depict a tyrannical leader?
- it shows how the ruler was cruel and demanded obedience ✓
- it shows how the ruler was powerful
- it shows how the ruler was bossy
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- The poem 'Ozymandias' can be seen as...
- a love poem to the ancient Egyptians.
- an allegory for the ephemeral nature of all human power. ✓
- a ballad that praises nature.
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- What is ironic in the poem 'Ozymandias'?
- the ruler thought of his legacy as eternal but the statue is a pitiful ''wreck'' ✓
- the ruler thought of his legacy as eternal and the statue stands tall
- the ruler knew he would be defeated much like the statue
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Exit quiz
- What does Shelley emphasise the power of in 'Ozymandias'?
- humans
- nature ✓
- memory
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- What technique does Shelley use to emphasise nature's power at the end of 'Ozymandias'?
- onomatopoeia
- simile
- alliteration ✓
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- Which line taken from Shelley's 'Ozymandias' uses irony?
- ''The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed''
- ''Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains.'' ✓
- ''Tell that its sculptor well those passions read''
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- Which is true regarding Shelley's use of the sonnet form in the poem 'Ozymandias'?
- Shelley adheres to the Shakespearean sonnet form
- Shelley adheres to the Petrarchan sonnet form
- Shelley merges the Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnet form ✓
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- Why might Shelley have subverted the traditional sonnet form when writing 'Ozymandias'?
- to expose the love Ozymandias had for himself
- to show that man's power does not last, much like the power of literary styles ✓
- to show that literary conventions stand the test of time
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- Which line marks the volta of the sonnet 'Ozymandias' and why is it significant?
- ''Nothing beside remains'' - it shows Ozymandias lost power
- ''The hand that mocked...and the heart that fed'' - it shows Ozymandias' pride
- ''And on the pedestal, these words appear:'' - it introduces the ironic tone ✓
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Breaking the sonnet form reflects the way that human power and man-made structures can be disrupted and destroyed.
- Shelley uses symbolic adjectives to emphasise the temporary nature of political and human power and achievements.
- The alliterative final imagery reinforces the insignificance of rulers compared with the desert sands.
- The ironic quoting of Ozymandias’ words demonstrates the meaninglessness of his legacy and his weakness.
Common misconception
The form of poem an author might choose means little to the message
Poets pick their forms carefully, as we can see in 'Ozymandias' even the slight tweaking of form can impact the reading of the poem and its meaning.
Keywords
Sonnet - a poem of fourteen lines, usually focusing on love
Alliteration - when two or more words near each other start with the same sound
Ironic - happening in a way contrary to what is expected
Petrarchan - describing a sonnet used by the Italian poet Petrarch in the 1300s
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