Ozymandias (1818): An Analysis
Beginning of paper
Ozymandias (1818): An Analysis
I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, 5
Tell that its sculptor w ....
Middle of paper
.... but not in a common way. He not only wanted to leave behind
a record of himself for future generations, he wanted his memory exalted
above that of others, and even above the "Mighty" who would live after him.
He did not want to give up at death the power he had wielded in life.
The irony in this poem lies in the difference between what Ozymandias
intends -- to hold onto the glory of his works after time takes its course
with him -- and what actually happens. This great monument's "frown, ....
------------------
Word count: 834
Page count: 4 (approximately 250 words per page)
