Ozymandias - Power & Politics Literature Analysis
English
Year 9
9 questions
~18 mins
1 views0 downloads
About This Worksheet
A worksheet comprising exam-style questions exploring themes of power and politics in Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem 'Ozymandias'. It includes analysis prompts focusing on literary techniques and creative writing tasks to deepen understanding of the poem's themes.
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Ozymandias - Power & Politics Literature Analysis
Subject: EnglishGrade: Year 9
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Untitled Worksheet
Grade Year 9
A
Scene Summary and Context Guide
Ozymandias is a sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley that reflects on the fleeting nature of power and the inevitable decline of empires. The poem begins with a traveller recounting a ruined statue in the desert, where two vast legs stand and a shattered visage lies nearby. The inscription on the pedestal boasts of Ozymandias's mighty reign, yet the desolation around them suggests the transient nature of human achievements. Shelley wrote this poem in 1818, during a period of political upheaval, and it serves as a commentary on hubris and the impermanence of power. The phrase 'Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!' is famously contrasted with the ruined state of the statue, illustrating the disparity between perceived greatness and inevitable decay. The poem uses vivid imagery and irony to explore how even the most powerful rulers are ultimately subject to time and nature's forces. This scene invites reflection on how language and symbolism in poetry can critique political authority and highlight themes of mortality and legacy.
B
Questions
Answer the following questions based on the scene summary and context guide.
1.
What is the main theme explored in 'Ozymandias'?
[2 marks]2.
Explain the significance of the phrase 'Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!' in the poem.
[3 marks]3.
Identify one literary device Shelley uses in the description of the statue's ruins and explain its effect.
[3 marks]4.
Analyze how Shelley’s use of irony enhances the poem's message.
[6 marks]5.
Describe the structure of the poem and how it contributes to its themes.
[3 marks]6.
What does the broken visage of Ozymandias symbolize?
[2 marks]7.
Identify and explain the effect of one poetic technique Shelley uses in the phrase 'boundless and bare'.
[3 marks]8.
How does Shelley’s portrayal of the statue reflect on the themes of power and mortality?
[3 marks]9.
Create a brief poetic response: imagine how the statue might 'speak' about its own history.
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Details
- Created
- 12/31/2025
- Updated
- 12/31/2025
- Type
- worksheet