Romanticism primarily affected English artistic, literary and intellectual culture during a period of reform and political upheaval, coinciding with the Age of Revolution. This period of change allowed for the revisiting and revision of medieval works, transforming them mostly into subjective poetry that emphasized the depth of the poets' psychology. The emphasis on emotion above logic has led to exploration of the realms of fantasy and imagination, as well as an unbridled passion for nature and ancient relics of the past. Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" exemplifies these qualities of the Romantic Age and serves as an example of literary Romanticism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay As per the title, this poem discusses what remains of Ozymandias, the Egyptian pharaoh Rameses II, and the remnants of his legacy based on the image of his statue falling apart in the desert. The poem begins with a general view of the statue – two severed stone legs and a crumbling face resting in the sand – before delving into more detailed descriptions such as the stern expression on the statue's face and the inscription on its pedestal. The engraved words represent a proclamation of pride: Ozymandias was the “King of Kings” and all who come across what remains of him should tremble and “despair” before his might. This statement, unfortunately, falls on deaf ears and is only met by the vast and lonely expanse of desert sand ahead. "Ozymandias" is told from the point of view of a speaker who meets a traveler with a story to share and remembers the details of the traveler's aforementioned tale. This poem mainly consists of the character quoting the traveler's words, the former only speaking very briefly to provide context for how the latter fits into the rest of the poem. Therefore, there is little to no description of how this speaker felt about Ozymandias. However, the second speaker of this poem, the traveler, sheds more light on their attitude towards what they witnessed on their journey. Despite the statue's decaying face, the traveler notes how Ozymandias' eroded grin was “mocked” by the sculptor's hands, thus presenting the idea that everything eventually falls to dust. This poem is a sonnet written as a block of text in iambic pentameter. There are 14 verses, irregular and continuous, according to an ABABACDCEDEFEF rhyme scheme. This poetic form conveys power and potency, especially when read aloud, and creates a sense of lyricism. The poem therefore resembles a parable or a lament, expresses a deep emotion and presents a moral lesson. Likewise, the use of figurative devices is also used to convey meaning in this poem. There are extremely strong images in the descriptions of the broken statue, demonstrating the significance of its destroyed state and detailed carvings. Aside from this, the use of assonance in “an ancient land” of line 1 and alliteration in the “cold command” of line 5 emphasizes the respective mystique of distant lands and rigidity in Ozymandias' expression. “Ozymandias” has many themes found in the romantic realm. poems, such as exoticism, mystery, strong emotions, irony, and criticism of higher authority. The descriptions of the bleak desert and the implications of the “ancient land” represent the romantics' strong fascination with nature, leading the traveler to discover the statue of Ozymandias. While it could have been intended as a representation of the pharaoh's strength and authority, it became a caricature of who Ozymandias was..