Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

[baraxor]

The name "Ozymandias" is based on one of the names of Ramesses II.

[xcheesyxbaconx]

I can tell that Shelley also wrote Frankenstein.

[molliedogmolliedog]

@xcheesyxbaconx sure Shelley wrote Frankenstein, but it was a different one to P.B Shelley.

[csunday95]

@xcheesyxbaconx it was actually his wife, Mary Shelly, that wrote Frankenstein

[nldstone]

Nothing beside remains... except a white cadillac :)

(Children of the lamp, a cooky to all who get it)

[MrDanielzeak]

8 people still worship ozymandias

[Essevuh]

nothing beside remains...

[kingfisher1031]

This poem is THE link between poems of the past and poems of the present. A sonnet, it combines traditional meter with image-based deconstruction.

[ap327145]

@helvis213 It actually is effective even though I wasnt expecting it, the whisper is supposed to reaffirm that the power and greatness of Ozymandias has faded and no longer exists even though he obviously thought his power would live on forever, this poem strongly symbolises that No matter what, though it may take time change will always come, and things dont stay the same forever. Irony also.

[thed3m3nt3d]

This is one of my favourite poems. It speaks not only of mans' insignificance but also of his legacy. What a man DOES and CREATES with his life will outlast the BEING. A man does not truly die until he is forgotten and lost to time. In this way Shelley is immortal.

[DJchilcott]

@ThePrymeRadebe

I feel that the whispering suits the tone very well. This a former great power, now just a shadow of its once glory speaking. If such a thing was to be given a voice, a whisper in the wind makes a lot of sense to me.

[jerryhello100]

@helvis213 He might. But then again he might tell me, with a sneer of cold command, to look on his work and despair.

[myfyv]

The 2008 edition of the Lonely Planet's travel guide to Egypt says the poem was inspired by the fallen statue of Ramesses II at the Ramesseum, a memorial temple built by Ramesses at Thebes, near Luxor in Upper Egypt. This statue, however, does not have "two vast and trunkless legs of stone", nor does it have a "shattered visage" with a "frown / And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command." Nor does the base of the statue at Thebes have any inscription. Where then was the original statue found?

[Moorington]

@helvis213 I enjoyed the whispering. 

[8baller93]

Thanks for the video, it's helped me a lot with poetry out loud

[mrvendetor]

brilliant reading. you should do fire and ice by Robert frost.

[Gazzthemightyarseole]

very prophetic to me in some ways.one of the few poems to be relevant to how people think and respond to life.."look on my works ye mighty and despair.".BP should take notice an look at the mess their making .greed builds greed hope is a different matter....sorry if my waffle/rant bothers anyone i apologise in advance.

[Michael326]

MY NAME IS OZYMANDIAS

KING OF KINGS

[heliokaminos]

eccezionale!

[helvis213]

Thank you.

Glad you enjoyed!

[ATrinidad21]

Ozymandias also best super villian/hero? name

[XaveJamesGrey]

Quite nicely read!

[Elenkhos]

very nice.

[DDrogba113]

@MaLeina6 Shelley WAS a great poet.. :P

[maofas]

When I taught high school English this was the poem I used to introduce poetry unit to students, that it was a rational process with a point, not just flowery language and feelings. I didn't like poetry myself all growing up though I loved Lit, but Shelley (and Keats, Coleridge, and others, but Shelly most of all) helped me see the value of poetry.

[Awesomeoo100]

@maofas bizarre that you talk about rationality in poetry and then list keats and coleridge among your favorite poets. The British romantic movement was decidedly NOT rational.

[maofas]

@Awesomeoo100 No offense intended, but you didn't understand my post at all.

[Ilska]

So happy to have found this thought provoking poem on Youtube.

[JoanneAndersonMEd]

Beautiful interpreted. Thank you.

[ukraineintherain]

God damn I love this poem! I can quote that pedestal all day, "Look upon my works ye mighty, and despair!"

[helvis213]

We're glad you enjoyed.

[wowkelthuzad70hunt]

sweet, I need to have this memorized by tomarow thanks. gona run it on a loop.

[JBHutto]

Check out the claymation video of this poem. It should be on the related videos, picture of a gray guy.

[ILLEGALvideo]

Excellent work, I'm very glad I found this video, as this is my favorite poem.

[helvis213]

Thank you sir.

I'm glad you found it, too!

[fredericsi]

Nice video

[brychar66]

Very good reading and excellent video. Loved the whisper of the great king and warlord! And the cosmic hints in the beginning video. Great!

[helvis213]

Thanx!

I'm glad you enjoyed.