"Ozymandias"
"Ozymandias" is a sonnet, consisting of 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter (a meter with ten syllables per line). It is a dramatic monologue spoken by a traveler who encounters the ruined statue of the once-mighty pharaoh Ozymandias.
Summary:
- The poem begins with the speaker describing the vast and lonely desert, where he comes across a crumbling statue.
- The statue is inscribed with the words "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
- The speaker is struck by the arrogance and pride of Ozymandias' words, but as he continues to look around, he realizes that the once-grand monuments have been reduced to ruins.
- The only thing that remains is the shattered statue with the boastful inscription, and it becomes a symbol of the fleeting nature of power and glory.
- The poem concludes with the speaker reflecting on the irony that Ozymandias' attempt at immortality has resulted in his legacy being remembered as a cautionary tale.
"Ozymandias" is a profound meditation on the transient nature of human power and the futility of human attempts to achieve lasting fame and glory. It serves as a reminder that even the greatest empires and rulers will eventually crumble and be forgotten.