Running Head: POETRY ESSAY 1
Poetry Essay
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POETRY ESSAY 2
Poetry Essay
Ozymandias
Thesis: Man can only propagate his achievements through the use of art.
Percy Shelly’s poem, Ozymandias is set in a traditional community. In the third line of
the poem, it appears that the happenings take place in a desert. The author describes the setting
of the poem in the second line of the poem “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone standing in the
sand” ( Shelley, 1992). Typically, sand is found in dry areas. Besides, the poem talks about
Egypt with the tenth line bringing out the name of the Egyptian king as Ozymandias. From the
storyline, one would quickly judge that the setting of the poem is in a desert place in Egypt.
Besides, the author goes ahead to mention that a shattered visage on the sand existed next to a
sunken half hip of sand. Visage, which is a Latin word, is used when referring to 'face’. Also, we
can say that the word stands out because it is different from the dialect used in the poem. In the
10th line, however, the poet describes the word based on a time atrophied statute. This is because,
in ancient times, Egypt celebrated its achievements through buildings.
From Ninian Smith, a well-known archaeologist, pyramids in ancient Egypt were used in
symbolizing immortality. In the 5th and 6th line of the poem, the author says that the immortalized
sculptor was the vision of the subjects (Shelley, 1992). Since it was Ozymandias desire to be
remembered, he had his name inscribed on a sculptor and invited anyone who attracted to the
sculptor to view it with honour. Even though the author only mentions the sculptor based on his
profession, his work revolves around several significant themes.Besides, despite the fact the
sculptor's work is only mentioned ones, it is surrounded by themes like arrogance, imagination
and expression (Okon, 2012).
POETRY ESSAY 3
The 5th stanza of the poem mentions something about the wrinkled lip and sneer
(Shelley,1992). The above themes are only evident due to the skills that exist in the sculptor. It is
from the sculptor that time can surpass itself through the creation of the sculpture. Also, the
sculptor can internalize Ozymandias arrogance as he tries outlasting time using his image. He is
also able to capture Ozymandias passion using the words written on the pedestal. The memories
of Ozymandias emotions survive on the lifeless statute despite the fact that sculptor and the
subject are no longer alive. The sculpture and the influence it has on time can be described as an
oxymoron. Since the sculpture has survived for a long time, it is thus believed to have seen and
experienced the effects of time rendering outstanding. From the poem, Ozymandias intended to
preserve his image and visage. However, since the sculpture was exposed to the desert for a long
period leading to erosion of some of its parts, we can conclude that the intentions that
Ozymandias had were lost (Okon, 2012).
Eventually, even though the sculpture initially captured Ozymandias good deeds, it now
captures the effects of time and besides exposes the evilness of Ozymandias. It is from the
sculpture that the evilness of a king who would eventually succumb to time is exposed. The
poem is of a sonnet type as it begins with them of power and mighty. The stoic figures of two
legs that stand firm in the desert are used to symbolize power since even though the entire statute
had toppled, they still stood firm. In the 11th line says, “Look on my works, ye Mighty, and
despair’ (Shelley, 1992). This statement is used in describing the kind of power that Ozymandias
held being the king of Egypt. However, the theme of power is later reversed when concentrating
on the power of time as opposed to that of kingship. Besides, we get to see what is left behind as
time elapses. The two legs together with a shattered visage are all that is left as time moves by.
POETRY ESSAY 4
Ironically, we can say that the sculptor's work has the power to withstand time as it leads to a
kind of revival that is seen through the sculpture (Okon, 2012).
In the 12th stanza, the poet state's that nothing was left behind. The above statement
alludes the fact that with time the art was the only thing left behind. Also, the statement indicates
that the only way one can understand or tell about the events that happened prior is by looking at
the sculpture. The author uses sonnet to bring out the fact that art is the only thing that can
withstand and pass information regarding the past (Okon, 2012).
POETRY ESSAY 5
References
Okon, E. E. (2012). Archaeological Reflections on Ancient Egyptian Religion and Society.
European Scientific Journal, 8(26).
Shelley, P. B. (1992). Ozymandias. James L. Weil.
