Ozymandias is a sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley about the ruins of a statue in the desert. It tells the story of a traveler who comes upon two enormous legs of stone and a shattered face half buried in the sand. The face still bears a sneering expression of "cold command" that tells of the ruler's power, though now only "lifeless things" remain. The only thing left whole is the inscription on the statue's pedestal, which reads "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" The sonnet reflects on how even the mightiest of rulers and their works will fade over time.

1. Ozymandias
Percy Bysshe Shelley

2. The
Sonnet

3. I met a traveller from an antique
land…

4. …Who said: Two vast and
trunk less legs of stone stand
in the desert…

5. …Near them, on the sand, half
sunk, a shattered visage lies…

6. …Whose frown, and wrinkled lip,
and sneer of cold command…

7. …Tell that its sculptor well
those passions read which yet
survive, stamped on these
lifeless things…

8. …The hand that mocked them,
and the heart that fed…

9. …And on the pedestal these
words appear:

11. …Nothing besides remains
Round the decay of that
colossal wreck, boundless and
bare…

12. …The lone and level sands
stretch far away...

13. Ozymandias is a powerful sonnet about theOzymandias is a powerful sonnet about the
transitory nature of life and itstransitory nature of life and its
pretensions of fame and fortune.pretensions of fame and fortune.
Shelley chose, however, to poke holes in theShelley chose, however, to poke holes in the
“great man” theory of history, questioning“great man” theory of history, questioning
its validity and its rationality.its validity and its rationality.

14. Romantics criticized the glorification of
science. They cherished intuition,
mystical feelings and emotions.
This new generation of poets flouted
tradition, inventing their own
vocabularies, subject matters, and poetic
form.
“Ozymandias” exemplifies both in theme
and in execution these “rebellious”
notions.

15. PB Shelley belonged to the creed of
Romantics. William Blake, George Gordon,
Lord Byron, John Keats, Samuel Taylor
Coleridge and William Wordsworth were
some other Romantics.

16. Shelley’s original draft
of Ozymandias

18. About the Poet
Born:Born: August 4, 1792August 4, 1792
Famous as:Famous as: Romantic and lyric poetRomantic and lyric poet
Place of birth:Place of birth: Horsham, EnglandHorsham, England
DeathDeath: July 8, 1822July 8, 1822
Nationality:Nationality: EnglishEnglish
Famous works:Famous works: OzymandiasOzymandias,, Ode to the WestOde to the West
WindWind,, Music, When Soft Voices Die,Music, When Soft Voices Die, TheThe
CloudCloud andand The Masque of Anarchy.The Masque of Anarchy.

19. Ramses IIRamses II
Ramses II also known as Ramses theRamses II also known as Ramses the
Great, was the third pharaoh of theGreat, was the third pharaoh of the
19th dynasty of Egypt. He is often19th dynasty of Egypt. He is often
regarded as the greatest, mostregarded as the greatest, most
celebrated and most powerfulcelebrated and most powerful
pharaoh of the Egyptian empire. Hepharaoh of the Egyptian empire. He
is also known as Ozymandias in theis also known as Ozymandias in the
Greek sources, from aGreek sources, from a
transliteration into Greek of a parttransliteration into Greek of a part
of Ramses' throne name,of Ramses' throne name,

20. Shelley began writing his poem in 1817,Shelley began writing his poem in 1817,
soon after the announcement of thesoon after the announcement of the
British museum's acquisition of a largeBritish museum's acquisition of a large
fragment of a statue of Ramses II.fragment of a statue of Ramses II.
Shelley wrote the poem in friendlyShelley wrote the poem in friendly
competition with his friend and fellowcompetition with his friend and fellow
poet Horace Smith, who also wrote apoet Horace Smith, who also wrote a
sonnet on the same topic. Shelley andsonnet on the same topic. Shelley and
Smith's sonnets were published in theSmith's sonnets were published in the

21. The End