1. Imagery: Shelley creates vivid imagery to describe the statue of Ozymandias and its surroundings. He uses words such as "trunkless legs," "vast and trunkless," "shattered visage," and "lone and level sands" to paint a picture of desolation and decay.
2. Contrast: The contrast between the grandiosity of Ozymandias's statue and the harsh reality of its surroundings is a central theme of the poem. Shelley uses words like "colossal" and "mighty" to describe the statue, while using "nothing beside remains" and "lone and level sands" to describe the landscape.
3. Symbolism: The statue of Ozymandias can be seen as a symbol of human pride and arrogance. Shelley uses words like "king of kings," "mighty," and "colossal" to convey Ozymandias's sense of self-importance. However, the statue is ultimately defeated by time, and its decay symbolizes the futility of human ambition.
4. Irony: The poem is filled with irony, as Shelley contrasts Ozymandias's grandiloquent inscription with the reality of his statue's decay. The use of words like "survey" and "command" to describe Ozymandias's statue adds to the irony, as the statue is now nothing more than a ruin.
5. Alliteration: Shelley uses alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and emphasis in the poem. For example, the repetition of the "s" sound in the line "I met a traveller from an antique land" creates a sense of mystery and intrigue.
6. Rhyme: The poem uses a regular rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) to create a sense of unity and coherence. The rhymes help to bind the poem together and create a memorable structure.
Overall, Shelley's skillful use of language creates a powerful and evocative poem that conveys the themes of human pride, the passage of time, and the futility of human ambition.