Key Quotes & Comparisons

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Key Quotations in Ozymandias

Here are key quotations to remember for your exam:

“Vast and trunkless legs of stone”

Metaphor.
This describes the statue. The ruined statue is a metaphor for political power.

“Half sunk”

Metaphor.
This describes the statue. The ruined statue is a metaphor for political power.

“Shattered visage”

Metaphor.
This describes the statue. The ruined statue is a metaphor for political power.
Just as the face of the statue is “shattered”, “decay[ed]” and a “wreck”, so too is Ozymandias’ power.

“Sneer of cold command”

Alliteration.
The use of sound in the poem contributes to the speaker’s distaste towards Ozymandias.
- For example, the alliteration of the harsh ‘c’ and ‘b’ sound in “cold command” and “boundless and bare”.

“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings..."

“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: / Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”.
The repetition of “king of kings” shows how Ozymandias wished to portray himself as omnipotent (all powerful).
It suggests that he is trying to deify himself (make himself a god) and wants to be worshipped as one.

“Nothing besides remains. Round the decay..."

“Nothing besides remains. Round the decay / of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare”.
Juxtaposition.
- The juxtaposition of “colossal” and “wreck” emphasises the contrast between his former power and his current state.
Caesura.
- The caesura after “remains” in line 12 highlights how Ozymandias’ power has come to an end.

Key Comparisons: Ozymandias

Here are some themes that come up in Ozymandias and other texts:

Powerful individuals, misuse of power and corruption

You may want to compare the theme of powerful individuals, misuse of power and corruption in Ozymandias to the following texts:
- My Last Duchess.
- London.

Power of nature vs power of humans

You may want to compare the theme of the power of nature vs power of humans in Ozymandias to the following texts:
- Storm on the Island.
- Exposure.
- The Prelude.
- Tissue.

1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

1.1Ozymandias Analysis

1.1.1Summary

1.1.2Key Ideas

1.1.3Themes

1.1.4Irony & Rhythm

1.1.5Key Quotes & Comparisons

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Ozymandias

2London - William Blake (1757-1827)

2.1London Analysis

2.1.1Summary

2.1.2Themes & Structure

2.1.3Themes & Structure 2

2.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

2.1.5Exam-Style Questions - London

3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

3.1Storm on the Island Analysis

3.1.1Summary & Structure

3.1.2Themes

3.1.3Themes 2

3.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Blake & Heaney

4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

4.1Exposure Analysis

4.1.1Summary

4.1.2Personification

4.1.3Themes

4.1.4Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

4.1.5End of Topic Test - Exposure

5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

5.1War Photographer Analysis

5.1.1Summary

5.1.2Themes

5.1.3Imagery

5.1.4Comparisons & Key Quotes

6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

6.1My Last Duchess Analysis

6.1.1Summary

6.1.2Characterisation & Themes

6.1.3Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

6.1.4End of Topic Test - Duffy & Browning

7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

7.1Extract from The Prelude Analysis

7.1.1Summary

7.1.2Personification & Imagery

7.1.3Themes

7.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

7.1.5End of Topic Test - The Prelude

8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

8.1Charge of the Light Brigade Analysis

8.1.1Summary

8.1.2Themes

8.1.3Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons

8.1.4End of Topic Test - Charge of the Light Brigade

8.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Charge of the Light Brigade

9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

9.1Bayonet Charge Analysis

9.1.1Summary

9.1.2Themes

9.1.3Themes 2

9.1.4Structure & Key Comparisons

9.1.5End of Topic Test - Bayonet Charge

10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

10.1Poppies Analysis

10.1.1Summary

10.1.2Theme of Motherhood

10.1.3Imagery

10.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

10.1.5End of Topic Test - Poppies

11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

11.1Tissue Analysis

11.1.1Summary

11.1.2Themes & Symbolism

11.1.3Religion & Conflict

11.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

11.1.5End of Topic Test - Tissue

12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

12.1The Emigree Analysis

12.1.1Summary & Structure

12.1.2Themes

12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

12.1.4End of Topic Test - The Emigree

13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

13.1Kamikaze Analysis

13.1.1Summary & Structure

13.1.2Themes

13.1.3Themes 2

13.1.4Structure, Quotes & Comparisons

13.1.5End of Topic Test - Kamikaze

14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

14.1Checking Out Me History Analysis

14.1.1Summary

14.1.2Themes

14.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

14.1.4End of Topic Test - Checking Out Me History

15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

15.1Remains Analysis

15.1.1Summary

15.1.2Themes: Desensitisation &Trauma

15.1.3Themes: Guilt

15.1.4Themes: Nature of War

15.1.5Structure

15.1.6Key Quotes & Comparisons

15.1.7End of Topic Test - Remains

16Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

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