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Year 10 - English

Understanding the connections between Romanticism and Shelley's 'Ozymandias'

'Power and Conflict'

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupis explore 12 of the 15 poems from the 'Power and Conflict' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. Pupils study the poems in three groups, and they pause after each group to compare how those poems present common themes.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how Shelley presents the values of Romanticism in 'Ozymandias'.

Key Notes

  • Shelley was a Romantic poet who rejected monarchy, religion and other powerful institutions.
  • 'Ozymandias' reflects Romanticism e.g. awe of nature, emotion, rejection of human power, fascination with the past.
  • The poem reflects the power of pharaonic Egypt, which seemed eternal but fell to ruin.
  • 'Ozymandias' can be read as a criticism of individuals and institutions that consider themselves invincible.
  • 'Ozymandias' can be read as an allegory for the ephemeral nature of human power.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Romantic: literature, popular in the late 18th and early 19th century that explored emotion and nature.
  • immortalise: to cause someone to be remembered for a long time.
  • ephemeral: lasting for only a short time.
  • pacifist: someone who is against war.
  • allegory: a piece of work in which the characters or events represent moral ideas.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Romantic literature is about love and romance.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Shelley was a Romantic poet who rejected monarchy, religion and other powerful institutions. 'Ozymandias' reflects Romanticism e.g. awe of nature, emotion, rejection of human power, fascination with the past.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Romantic'

literature, popular in the late 18th and early 19th century that explored emotion and nature.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Romantic literature is about love and romance. Correction: Romantic literature is concerned with human emotion but Romanticism was a movement that rejected the principles of the Enlightenment period.

More Lessons In This Unit

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