Question: Who wrote the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
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Percy Bysshe Shelley.
The poem “Ozymandias” was written by Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of the most celebrated Romantic poets of the early 19th century. Written in 1817 and published in 1818, “Ozymandias” is often considered one of Shelley’s most famous and frequently anthologized poems. It exemplifies the Romantic fascination with antiquity, the transience of power, and the inevitable decay of human constructs.
The poem itself is a sonnet, a form that Shelley manipulated with great skill. “Ozymandias” describes the ruins of a statue in the desert: the legs of stone stand without a torso, and near them lies a shattered visage with a frown and “sneer of cold command.” On the pedestal near the statue, an inscription reads, “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” However, around the decay of that colossal wreck, nothing remains but the boundless and bare sands stretching far away. The poem is a meditation on the hubris of kings, the impermanence of empire, and the passing of time, themes that resonate with the Romantic ideals of the sublime and the power of nature over human endeavors.
Shelley was inspired to write “Ozymandias” as part of a friendly competition with his contemporary and friend, Horace Smith, who wrote a similarly themed poem also entitled “Ozymandias.” In Shelley’s version, the focus is sharp and poignant, encapsulating the might and majesty of Ozymandias’ rule and its inevitable decline into obscurity and ruin.
“Ozymandias” is an evocative piece, rich in imagery and layered with irony. The irony in the poem is palpable as it juxtaposes the imperious message of the inscription with the desolate scene surrounding the broken statue. This contrast serves as a powerful statement on the futility of human pride and the timeless, often overlooked wisdom that all glory is transient. The themes and imagery Shelley employs in “Ozymandias” have made the poem a lasting symbol of the Romantic era’s preoccupations with nature, history, and the limits of human achievement. Through this poem, Shelley not only reflects on the fallibility of tyranny and the vanity of pompous leaders but also crafts a narrative that remains relevant in discussions about cultural legacy and historical memory.