The period in which a written work was created has power to influence it’s context and meaning. For this assignment I looked in to resources that explained the history pertaining to “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
-The Oxford Companion to English Literature
https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192806871.001.0001/acref-9780192806871
With this resource I was able to understand more of the history during the period that “Ozymandius” was written. The poem was published in 1818, just a few years after Shelley traveled through post‐war France, Switzerland, and Germany. The many wars and bloodshed in the years leading up to the publication of “Ozymandius” perhaps influenced the idea of lacking a greater power and peace in this world, which is expressed in the poem. Many governments, such as France, were not stable during these years despite their seeming previous power. Additionally, at this time there were many authors and people that explored the thoughts of atheism, and expressed their thoughts on a Godless world. This also could have played a role in shaping the poem as it refers to the fallen Ozymandias as “King of Kings,” a phrase used to reference Christ in the Bible.
-Timelines of Arts and Literature
This source provides a timeline of the world’s events and the literary highlights of each year since 500 B.C. I researched the year of and leading up to the publishing of “Oxymandius.” I learned that in 1815, Napolean reentered France and in the “Hundred Days” raised a new army. However, he was defeated the same year by Allied forces. Despite Napolean’s army and his vicious ruling he was unable to continue his reign. This connects to the poem, as “Oxymandius” was, as his statue plate reads, once a great ruler. The irony of the poem also demonstrates this connection as Oxymandius statue lies in the sand defeated, similar to Napolean’s defeat. I loved the simple format of this book and the information was very relevant when searching to better understand a piece of literature from a historic point of view.
When I first read Shelley’s poem, I was pretty unclear on the meaning. I feel that as I read through these sources I was better able to understand Shelley more and his experiences as well as his poem “Oxymandius.”
Wow that's such an interesting analysis about the history during the period that "Ozymandias" was written. I was especially interested in how Shelley was living immediately before and during he wrote this poem, and I think your explanation of his disillusionment as a result of war is fascinating!
ReplyDeleteWoah, the poem makes so much more sense now as a social commentary now that I know the era in which it was written! What a cool find!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that Napoleon had such a large influence on Shelley's writings! So interesting!
ReplyDeleteThis is very helpful! I really appreciate all the historical context.
ReplyDeleteI'm really intrigued by the fact that many poets were writing about atheism, and I wonder if we looked at more of Shelley's poems if we could find more evidences of exploring thoughts of atheism!
ReplyDeleteThis analysis really brings home the inevitability of despair. In a way it seems like the only writing that can last unironically is writing which acknowledges it's own descent into ruin. I can definitely see people in a mad max-esque landscape reading Ozymandias and relating to it. After all, the only certain thing is death.
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