Ozymandias Analysis Essay Example

statue may lack a trunk, it is not considered "lifeless," but rather remembered for something notable during its lifetime. These words are either preceded or followed by punctuation marks that encourage readers to reflect on the downfall of "Ozymandias." Examples include "stamped upon these lifeless things," "wreck," "boundless," and "bare."

Will the legend persist even after the end of the reign when he is only "Half sunk"?

Shelley only uses enjambment twice in his writing. One example is when he vividly describes people's hatred for Ozymadias and how it still persists, even after his statue remains. Later on, Shelley changes the eighth line for a better effect and then uses the enjambment style when describing the colossal work's decay. This is done to highlight the irony of how history can survive but Ozymandias's reign doesn't. It is worth noting that the Petrarchan style of sonnets allowed Shelley to make these changes. This is why he chose to write within this structure. The sonnet style is known to be straightforward and concise.

When it comes to emotional impact, highlighting individual words is more effective than using free verse with smooth sentences. Such highlighting is concise and demands the use of strict techniques like assonance or consonance. For instance, in Shelley's "Ozymandias," the repeated "s" sound in "sand...shattered...survive...stamped" creates a contradiction or juxtaposition of meaning, much like the contrast between Ozymandias' reign and his eventual decay.