In a similar way to Ozymandias, Beatrice Garland also explores the futility of trying to avoid your own fate and destiny. The desert sands (also representative of time) have inevitably outlasted the Pharaoh’s ego and power, and he is left to his faded, unimportant fate. The final alliterative phrases “boundless and bare”, “lone and level” and “sands stretch” all further serve to reinforce this message. This “colossal wreck”, representing both the Pharaoh’s ego and the statue itself, is now left alone in the sands of the desert. Here, Shelley is presenting an ironic take on this belief, pointing out that all that remains is an arrogant boast on a ruined statue. The Egyptian Pharaoh’s believed themselves to be gods in mortal form – “king of kings” with legacies that lasted for ever. Written by Shelley in 1819, the poem was inspired by the recent unearthing of a large statue of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramesses II. Just like the statue itself, they are being eroded by time and nature. The poem describes “two vast and trunkless legs of stone” which serve as a metaphor for the pharaoh’s own ego and power. In Ozymandias, the central motif of a collapsing statue is used to depict a futile and ill-fated struggle to maintain power and survival.

Be a critical teacher! Do you agree with the PEEZAP markings, and what would you improve – and why?Īn Ozymandias reading by Bryan Cranston and BBC Teach analysis by Akala: If you are unfamiliar with these poems, watch the YouTube videos first.

P – Perspective (poems, plays and novels are all written by people, for people – how does all this impact the reader, do you have any context to explain the writer’s intentions?).

A – Analyse (another quote and some terminology to support your “zoom”).

is there anything else in the text that backs up your argument, or any other way you can develop your point)

E – Explanation (tell me why this piece of evidence supports your point).

E – Evidence (back this up with a quotation from the text).

I have provided a model example of this structure below – comparing Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley and Kamikaze by Beatrice Garland below.

There is really nothing complicated to this though, and if you follow the trusty PEEZAP structure (useful for all essay subjects, not just English), then your analysis will be off to a flying start. When it comes to poetry, many students find essay structure the hardest part to master. This is especially for GCSE students looking to keep up their essay and study skills, which is why I have moved all lessons online and will be providing as many digital resources, hints and tips as possible over the coming months. The current educational situation is more challenging than ever, with closing schools and exam uncertainties impacting students all over the country.

Ozymandias poem pdf