Sound and Sense #7

Prompt: Write an essay analyzing the language and poetic devices that Shelley uses to convey the message of his poem.

Thesis: Through the use of situational irony and an extended metaphor, Shelley portrays the temporary nature of human power and pride.

Topic 1: The comparison of the rule of Ozymandias to the condition of the statue is used to show the fragile nature of power.

Quote 1: " Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,/ And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command" (Shelley 4-5).

Analysis 1: From the description of the statue's "wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command" the reader is shown how Ozymandias portrayed himself with an outward appearance of power and pride.  The fact that this face is a "shattered visage" makes is clear that this former representation has been destroyed,  and no longer has significance.

Topic 2: The boastful inscription on the base of the statue ironically represents the temporary nature of power.

Quote 2: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:/ Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" (Shelley 10-11).

Analysis 2: The intended interpretation of the phrase makes it seem like a warning to the those who would compare themselves to him. Instead it reads as a warning to that the power that they hold is temporary.

Hamlet #7

Upon hearing about Fortinbras and the army that he is leading into Norway,  Hamlet recieves the revelation that convinces him to finally act upon his desire for revenge. As Fortinbras is willing sacrifice so much in the struggle for so little, Hamlet has not yet acted upon his desire for revenge. He asserts that god "gave us not/That capability and god-like reason/To fust in us unused" and that by extension, he who has cause for action has not done so is like a simple beast. Reflecting back on his strange plots and odd behavior that he used to try and oust and humiliate Claudius,  he says it is "to my shame" that he had not acted earlier, when Fortinbras is carried out much greater action with much less cause. He may finally be thinking clearly about his revenge instead of descending into madness.

Hamlet #5

In this section of the play, Hamlet recites one of the most famous of Shakespeare's soliloquies, in which he discusses the concept of death and what it really means to people. The very first line, "to be or not be - that is the question" (III.i.64), presents life and suicide as two equally considerable options. He describes life as a courageous struggle to endure suffering and suicide is a proactive opposition of those abuses. he asks though, if death is an escape from the pain of life, then why don't people choose to die. his only explanation is that "in that sleep of death what dreams may come, /[...]/ Must give us pause" (III.i.74-76). This confuses him however given that no one has ever come and told them that what comes after death is worse than life. This debate is interesting, because in Shakespeare's time most people subscribed to some form of Christianity which would certainly answer their questions about what came after death. Perhaps in writing this passage Shakespeare wanted to question this general lack of trust in religion, or possibly he wanted to show that Hamlet has completely divorced himself from faith and religion.