Poetry Analysis - Comparing Ozymandias to Khubla Khan

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Christopher Lawrence 10S Comparing ‘Ozymandias’ by Shelley and ‘Kubla Khan’ by Coleridge. Both poems describe rulers although it is easy to distinguish that their reigns were contrasting in method, and severity. Some suggestions of their differences are portrayed in appearance. Ozymandias bears a ‘sneer of cold command’ hinting that his chief concerns involved ordering his inferiors, and seizing power. A ‘frown’ and ‘wrinkled lip’ give the impression of a cruel and despised dictator, and reveal his age. So in a way, Ozymandias lives on in his statue and has become ‘ancient’ with the civilisation. Kubla however is not extensively described, possibly suggesting that his physical
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existence was unimportant –as unlike the self-centred depiction of Ozymandias – Khubla lived through his wonderful creations rather than his personal greatness. The works of each king depict their personalities somewhat. Kubla decrees a ‘dome of pleasure’, which in my opinion demonstrates confidence in his rule (where the image in ‘Ozymandias’ is one of paranoia, shown by his conflict with ‘ye mighty’) and has a more relaxed aura about him.  A semantic field of movement insinuates an action of constantly progressing.  This word chain includes ‘ceaseless’, ‘swift’, ‘flung’, ‘vaulted’ and ‘flail’.  The use of language here coincides with the depiction ...

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