model essay london and ozymandias

Ozymandias and London Essay

Q. Compare how the writers present ideas about power in London and one other poem from the anthology.

Both London and Ozymandias explore cruelty. In Ozymandias, Shelley tells the story of a traveller who comes across a statue of an ancient ruler. Shelley makes clear the ancient ruler looked down on his people by writing ‘sneer of cold command’. This imagery helps the reader to imagine the facial expression of the statue, which gives the reader an indication of the kind of ruler Ozymandias was. Shelley’s use of the word ‘sneer’ implies that Ozymandias looked down on his people. Shelley’s use of the words ‘cold command’ suggest that he was a heartless, unkind ruler who did not show any warmth towards his people. Shelley uses Ozymandias as an example of other cruel leaders, such as King George, King of England at the time Shelley was writing, who did not use their power to look after their people. In London, Blake demonstrates that the poor people suffer from the cruelty of their leaders by writing that they are in ‘mind-forged manacles’. This imagery helps the reader to imagine that the poor people are in chains and are trapped. The chains in this image symbolise how trapped the poor people feel as a result of having no money or opportunities. Blake uses his poem to criticise people in power for allowing this cruelty to continue.

Both poems explore misuse of power. In Ozymandias, Shelley makes clear the ruler was arrogant by writing that he had the words ‘king of kings’ written on the base of his statue. Not only did Ozymandias misuse his power and his country’s money to have a statue erected for himself, but he also chose to describe himself as the best king on the base of the statue, which indicates how arrogant he was. Shelley criticises Ozymandias for being arrogant, as this is not a good quality in a leader. Leaders should use their power to help others, not to put up statues that celebrate how powerful they are. Shelley uses the arrogance of Ozymandias to criticise other leaders, such as King George, who was king of England at the time Shelley was writing. In London, Blake criticises the church’s misuse of power by describing it as ‘blackening’. Blake’s use of the word ‘blackening’ associates churches with funerals because black is the colour many people wear when they attend funerals in churches. Perhaps Blake does this in order to criticise the church for not doing enough to help poor people, and poor children especially, who worked in terrible conditions in factories and up chimneys. Many of these people died as a result of the terrible and unsafe working conditions. The colour black could symbolise the church’s responsibility for their deaths. Although he was a religious man, Blake was angry with the church for not doing more to stop poor people from being exploited in this way.

Both poems explore nature and humankind . Shelley makes clear Ozymandias no longer has power by describing his statue as a ‘colossal wreck’. This imagery helps the reader to imagine that the statue has been destroyed and lies in pieces on the sand. Shelley’s use of the word ‘colossal’ represents how huge Ozymandias’s power was when he was still alive. Shelley’s use of the word ‘wreck’ not only helps the reader to imagine the destroyed statue but also refers to how little power Ozymandias still has. Shelley gives the reader a very clear message about the power of nature versus the power of humankind.Through the fact that the statue has been destroyed by nature, Shelley clearly indicates that nature is far more powerful. In contrast, humans are more powerful than nature in London. In the opening stanza, Blake describes the River Thames as ‘chartered’, which indicates that even the river, which is something natural and should be owned by everyone, is owned by the wealthiest people in London. Blake’s repetition of the word ‘chartered’ emphasises the anger he feels about the charter system, which resulted in large parts of the city, including the river, being owned and managed by the wealthy people, leaving nothing for the poor. Blake uses his poem to challenge inequality in London at the time.

Both Blake and Shelley use their poems, ‘London’ and ‘Ozymandias’, to expose the ways that power has been abused by leaders of Empires new and old.

Both writers highlight how the populace suffer under cruel leaders. In ‘Ozymandias’, Shelley tells the story of a traveller who comes across a statue of the ancient ruler, Ozymandias (better known as Rameses II). Shelley conveys a sense of the pharoah’s superiority over his people when he describes the statue with a ‘sneer of cold command’. This vivid imagery helps the reader to imagine the disdainful facial expression of the statue, and therefore the supercilious attitude of the ruler himself. Shelley’s choice of the word ‘sneer’ implies that Ozymandias looked down on his people. Furthermore, the 'sharp 'C' sound in the alliterative phrase ‘cold command’ actually makes the words sound cruel, reflecting the idea of a heartless, unkind ruler who showed no warmth or compassion towards his own people. Shelley cleverly highlights the cruelty of Ozymandias’ rule through his pondering of the ancient statue; arguably though, he also uses the image of ‘Ozymandias’ to reflect on the cruelty of contemporary leaders, such as King George. George III was King of England at the time Shelley (and Blake) was writing; King George was criticised for his reckless spending and failure to look after his people. Unlike Shelley however, Blake does not focus on the cruelty of one ruler but instead highlights the numerous ways that people suffer because of an imbalance of power with the monarchy, church and financial institutions. In the opening stanza of ‘London’ Blake describes the River Thames as ‘chartered’, which indicates that even the river, which is something natural and should be owned by everyone, is owned by the wealthiest people in London. Blake’s repetition of ‘chartered’ emphasises the anger he feels about the charter system, which resulted in large parts of the city, including the river, being owned and managed by the wealthy people, leaving nothing for the poor.

Like Shelley, Blake uses his poem to criticise the people in power who cause or allow this cruel inequality to continue.

Both Shelley and Blake explore the misuse of power in their poems. In Ozymandias, Shelley emphasises the pharaoh's pride and arrogance through the declaration ‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings’ written on the base of his statue. Not only did Ozymandias misuse his power and his country’s money to have a statue erected for himself, but the blasphemous boast ‘King of Kings’ suggests that he saw himself as a god-like figure of irreproachable power and status. Perhaps Shelley draws attention to Ozymandias’ self-consumed arrogance in order to emphasise the traits of a tyrant. Good leaders use their power to help others, yet history is full of tyrants who erect great monuments but abuse their power and people. In London, Blake shows that he is appalled by the church’s misuse of power by describing it as ‘blackening’. Blake’s choice of the word ‘blackening’ connotes.death, despair and corruption, in sharp contrast to the light, goodness and hope that Christianity is supposed to represent. Perhaps Blake does this in order to criticise the church for not doing enough to help the poor people (and children) who worked, suffered and sometimes died in terrible conditions in factories and up chimneys. Interpreted this way, the colour black could also symbolise the church’s responsibility for their deaths. Although he was a religious man, Blake’s damning imagery makes it clear that he was angry with the church for not doing more to stop poor people from being exploited in this way.

Whereas Shelley shows that Ozymandias’ power was in the past, Blake’s poem emphasises the ongoing oppression of the poor. For all the pride and arrogance conveyed through Shelley’s portrayal of the great ruler, the bitter irony is that Ozymandias no longer has power. The ancient statue is a ‘colossal wreck’. This oxymoronic imagery perfectly conveys both the ‘colossal’ scale of Ozymandias’s power when alive, and the desolate ‘wreck’ of his statue’s (and Empire’s) remnants. Shelley gives the reader a very clear message that the power of nature and time is more powerful than humankind, and even the most powerful leaders and Empires (Eygptian or British) will fade eventually. This idea of time and nature breaking down man’s power and pride is also reflected in the structure of the poem, as Shelley’s choice of a sonnet with tight rhymes could be seen to reflect Ozmandias’ tight control; however Shelley subverts the conventional rhyme scheme at points perhaps to show that nature and time are beyond humankind’s control. In contrast, Blake’s ‘London’ is very much in the present. He uses four regular quatrains and a tight ABAB rhyme scheme to reinforce the sense of oppression and to show how people feel that the control in London is neverending. Furthermore, Blake demonstrates how the poor are oppressed by the ongoing cruelty of the rich and powerful through the metaphor of ‘mind-forged manacles’. This emotive imagery helps the reader to imagine and pity the poor people in chains. Because Blake describes the chains as ‘mind-forged’ he draws attention to the mental anguish of a multitude who suffer due to social and financial constraints. Unlike physical chains, these bonds cannot be easily removed; the poor are so accustomed to hardship and poverty that they see no possibility of change. Perhaps Blake creates this sense of control and ongoing oppression to expose the imbalance of power in late 18th century London and maybe to provoke the reader’s sense of injustice. Unquestionably, the two poems show that the abuse of power has always been an issue, as those in power continue to oppress the poor for their own gain.

• High School
• You don't have any recent items yet.
• You don't have any modules yet.
• You don't have any books yet.
• You don't have any Studylists yet.
• Information

Poetry comparison - ozymandias and london

Literature in english, bolton sixth form college - bolton, recommended for you, students also viewed.

• Potential questions - a taste of honey
• LOTF - Lord of the flies class notes
• Handmaids Tale and Feminine Gospels Comparison
• Emigree VS COMH Esssay - Amazing
• AN Inspector Calls Revision PACK
• Lot F Ch. 7 Comprehension Activities

Related documents

• Mona Lisa - notes
• Year 11 - Week 2 - step 4 - English Language Paper 2 - models and practice papers.
• Y11 HW Spring 2 Booklet Mixed Revision
• [137056 ]War Photographer analysis
• English - words about inspector calls
• Kingship-Essay-Plan - good notes

Related Studylists

Preview text.

Poetry comparison: Ozymandias and London

Ozymandias:

 Someone is walking when they find a statue.  Gets to know the story behind this statue.  This statue is a Pharaoh, and he is a tyrannical leader.  The statue was supposed to be a symbol of his power.  The poem shows the irony as the statue is no more which can show how his power is also no more  Is used to show how nature trumps all and that power is nothing against time.

 Wants to expose the horror of everyday existence.  The author is disgusted with the social divide – shows how humans are considered a waste of life.  The people who govern London have lost their way.  The author (Blake) believed in Noble Savage – The idea that human beings are naturally virtuous, but the rules and society corrupts them

Context of Ozymandias:

 Written by Shelly  He grew up with nobles and went to Oxford.  Wanted to show that no matter what man does, nature is going to outlast them and that man is powerless against time.  Died at sea aged 29.  Married the author of Frankenstein.

Context of London:

 Written by Blake  He believed in Nobel Savage  The French revolution had taken place a few years prior to the poem and politicians put down new laws to make sure that the same did not happen in England.  Blake did not like this and the change that it presented and wanted to do something to change it  He wrote the poem to show the suffering of the people and that the people that govern London have lost there way

COMPARISON:

Similarities: Both speak about nature and how humans want to dominate it

Both show how even when humans try to dominate over nature, they still are not able to, and nature will always prevail.

Both authors are trying to expose the horrors of people that have done wrong

Differences:

Whilst Ozymandias shows how power is not permanent, London wants to show the abuse of power.

Ozymandias wants to warn people of the consequences of what happens when they abuse the power, they are intrusted with

(of that colossal wreck – shows how even though his achievements are great, they are insignificant to time)

And London wants to show how there is a need for social reform.

(Mind forged manacles – man is trapped by its own limitations and that makes them have to concede to someone else’s rules)

Language/Structure techniques: Powerful imagery: Both poems make sure that the reader has a powerful image of what is being spoken about

Ozymandias: “Vast” “Trunkless” “Stone” – all are words used to create an image of the statue.

London "Chartered Thames does flow” “Every black’ning church”.

Ozymandias is in the rhyme scheme of ABABACDCEDDF, and London is in the rhyme scheme of ABAB. The rhyme scheme of Ozymandias is transitory just like the power and the rhyme scheme of London is used to show the relentless suffering of people.

• Multiple Choice

Subject : Literature in English

• More from: Literature in English GCSE Year 1 999+   Documents Go to course
• More from: english by daria chiric 23 23 documents Go to Studylist

• TOP CATEGORIES
• AS and A Level
• University Degree
• International Baccalaureate
• Uncategorised
• 5 Star Essays
• Study Tools
• Study Guides
• Meet the Team
• English Literature
• William Blake

A Comparison of London by William Blake and Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

A comparison of “london” by william blake and “ozymandias” by percy bysshe shelley, essay by ozhan o’sullivan.

This essay compares two poems, “London” by William Blake, and “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Both writers were very romantic, heavily influenced by the revolutionary ideas and rapidly changing social and political values of the late 18 th  and early 19 th  century.

Similarities

A theme of Mortality lives in both poems. In “London” Blake talks about the death and suffering of people, and in “Ozymandias” Shelley talks about the death of a civilisation.

         A sense of someone dominating, someone with greater power occurs in both poems. In “London” the rich have this upper hand against the poor, in “Ozymandias” this great leader is said to have this strength over his enemies and his own people.

         In “Ozymandias” Shelley writes about a fallen empire, a civilisation that must have gone down hill because now there is no sign of it. In “London” Blake tells us that the poorer people of this city are going through a bad time, their empire has fallen like Ozymandias’s empire, but in this case London has not collapsed. Blake writes about how London had drifted to a time of poverty and disease.

This is a preview of the whole essay

        The two poems, both give a feeling of depression and melancholy to the reader. Shelley uses different words to create this effect, while Blake writes how everyone is sad and weak.

        Great arrogance is shown in both poems. In “Ozymandias” the king shows that he is arrogant, he describes himself on the pedestal, he talks about how great and powerful ruler he is. In “London” the arrogance of the church compares to this.

        In “London” the rich betray the poor, because they have put their name on everything. In        “Ozymandias” the sculptor betrays the king when the statue is being made.

Both poems have phonological techniques like alliteration, rhyme and onomatopoeia. They are both concisely written and although short in length are packed with layers of meaning and content.

Strong modifiers are used throughout both poems, which creates tension. Good adjectives also help with imagery give a clear mental picture; for example when Ozymandias’s face is described, with its sneer and frown.

Differences

In “Ozymandias” Shelley writes about an ancient civilisation. The poem is written in past tense. Blake writes about the London he is witnessing; “London” is written in the present tense.

An obvious difference is that Blake writes about a civilisation, which is in existence while Shelley writes about a civilisation that has been disintegrated.

        The strength of authority is maintained in “London” while in “Ozymandias” it has dissipated.

        “Ozymandias” fills you with mystery about where the traveller came from, and what happened to Ozymandias’s great civilisation, while in “London” Blake makes the poem mundane and bleak.

        “Ozymandias” is a very optimistic poem; Shelley writes about how great the leader is, while in “London” Blake expresses the city as a place of unhappiness, he does not write about any good things about London, only bad, the poem is left pessimistic.

        Shelley writes “Ozymandias” in an archaic language, while Blake’s “London” is more modern.

Shelley’s “Ozymandias” is a sonnet, while “London” uses repeating stanzas that help to keep the rhythm, and to separate the different points made.

Document Details

• Word Count 553
• Page Count 2
• Subject English

Related Essays

A comparison between 'westminster bridge' by william wordsworth and 'london..., comparison of poems about london by william wordsworth and william blake., a comparison of 'london' by william blake and 'composed upon wesminster bri..., comparison between, composed upon westminster bridge by william wordsworth....

• International
• Education Jobs
• Schools directory
• Resources Education Jobs Schools directory News Search

COMPARISON Essay RESPONSE - London & Ozymandias - 9-1 EDUQAS GCSE ENG LIT NEW SPEC

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

29 April 2023

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

This resource is a model essay answering the following question: Compare the presentation of power in ‘London’ to ‘Ozymandias.’

The essay response in this resource covers all aspects needed for a grade 8/9 answer. More specifically, AO1 (Textual References), AO2 (Language, Form & Structure) and AO3 (Context).

It is a 25 Mark Comparison Essay and is targeted at students sitting the 9-1 EDUQAS GCSE English Literature Exam. Teachers are encouraged to purchase this resource so that they can show their students an exemplar answer to analyse and obtain ideas from.

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 38%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

EDUQAS POETRY Comparison ALL ESSAYS 9-1 GCSE NEW SPEC

This bundle resource includes essays answering the following questions: * Compare the presentation of war in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ to ‘Mametz Wood.’ * Compare the presentation of war in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ to ‘The Soldier.’ * Compare the presentation of war in ‘The Manhunt’ to ‘A Wife in London.’ * Compare the presentation of power in ‘Hawk Roosting’ to ‘Ozymandias.’ * Compare the presentation of power in ‘London’ to ‘Ozymandias.’ * Compare the presentation of love and relationships in ‘Sonnet 43’ to ‘Valentine.’ * Compare the presentation of love and relationships in ‘She Walks in Beauty’ to ‘Cozy Apologia.’ * Compare the presentation of nature in ‘Hawk Roosting’ to ‘Death of a Naturalist.’ * Compare the presentation of living conditions/suffering in ‘London’ to ‘Living Space.’ Each essay is worth 25 marks and this resource is targeted at students sitting the 9-1 EDUQAS GCSE English Literature Exam. Teachers are encouraged to purchase this resource so that they can show their students an exemplar answer to analyse and obtain ideas from. All essay responses in this resource cover all aspects needed for a grade 8/9 answer. More specifically, AO1 (Textual References), AO2 (Language, Form & Structure) and AO3 (Context).

POWER Comparison ESSAYS (2) EDUQAS 9-1 GCSE NEW SPEC

This bundle resource includes essays answering the following questions: * Compare the presentation of power in ‘Hawk Roosting’ to ‘Ozymandias.’ * Compare the presentation of power in 'London' to 'Ozymandias.'

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

This resource hasn't been reviewed yet

To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource: