#Ozymandias sparknotes full#

As the elder son among one brother, John, and four sisters, Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret, and Hellen, Percy stood in line not only to inherit his grandfatherвЂ™s considerable estate but also to sit in Parliament one day. Born on August 4, 1792-the year of the Terror in France-Percy Bysshe Shelley (the вЂњByssheвЂќ from his grandfather, a peer of the realm) was the son of Timothy and Elizabeth Shelley. More than any other English Romantic writer, with the possible exception of his friend George Gordon, Lord Byron, ShelleyвЂ™s life and reputation have had a history and life of their own apart from the reputation of his various works, and one that contiued to evolve even after his death from drowning at the age of 29. From the beginning of his writing career at the age of 17, throughout his life, and even to the present day, the very name of Shelley has evoked either the strongest vehemence or the warmest praise, bordering on worship. RomanticismвЂ™s major themes-restlessness and brooding, rebellion against authority, interchange with nature, the power of the visionary imagination and of poetry, the pursuit of ideal love, and the untamed spirit ever in search of freedom-all of these Shelley exemplified in the way he lived his life and live on in the substantial body of work that he left the world after his legendary death by drowning at age 29. Their statues may still be seen but within a space of them, they will decay eventually get destroyed.The life and works of Percy Bysshe Shelley exemplify English Romanticism in both its extremes of joyous ecstasy and brooding despair. Within a space of time, their wicked rule and works are forgotten. The wicked ones reign supreme only to end up leaving everything. In all, the central theme of the poem is focused on the futility of clinging to power in a wicked manner. The former great Ramses II Empire is now an empty desert. HeвЂ™s no longer the King of Kings as engraved on the statue. The engraved wordings on the pedestal no longer have any meaning since the works of the king have already been destroyed. The only thing left for him is the dilapidating statue which keeps on shattering by the day.

Hence, the name 'Ozymandias' actually mocks King Ramses II and also ridicules his empire and rule. From this interpretation, thereвЂ™s nothing left for the Ramses Ii Empire.

#Ozymandias sparknotes full#

Hence, the full name literally translates to 'ruler of air'. The 'Ozy' in the name means 'airвЂ™ while 'Mandias' means 'to rule'. Actually, what is written is 'Ozymandias King of Kings, Look on my works, ye mighty and despair'. The poet goes ahead to describe the details seen on the pedestal of the statue. The sculptor who created the image captured RamsesвЂ™ personality judging from the facial expression of the statue.

During his time, he was seen as a very wicked ruler. He describes the dilapidating statue as representing the symbols of Ramses personality. He recounts his experience when he met a traveler in the ancient Egypt where the statue of Ramses II was seen positioned at a spot. In the poem, Shelley describes the remains of Ramses II Empire which is also referred to as 'Ozymandias'.

The major theme of the sonnet is centered on the unavoidable decline of all wicked world leaders and their great empires.

Both poets were competing with each other in their write-ups. The other 'Ozymandias' written by Horace Smith, ShelleyвЂ™s friend is also a sonnet. This means, itвЂ™s written as a 14-line poem. Shelley wrote the poem in competition with Horace Smith, his friend who equally wrote another 'Ozymandias'. It was published in the January, 1818 issue of 'The Examiner' in London. 'Ozymandias' is a poem written by Percy Shelley.