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Both The Magpies by Denis Glover and Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley explore the theme of man's immortality. The Magpies emphasizes this theme through the comparison of Elizabeth and Tom's enduring legacy with nature's ability to regenerate constantly. In contrast, Ozymandias depicts a king whose statue, much like himself, is abandoned and forgotten in the desert. Techniques such as structure, language choice, imagery, movement, and tone are employed to convey the theme of immortality in both poems. The Magpies follows a structured format with six four-line stanzas where the sounds of the magpies are described in the last two lines, while the first two lines focus on Tom and Elizabeth.
The rhyme scheme also links the second line of each stanza to "The magpies said," as seen in the first stanza with "The bracken made their bed."
By linking the lines about Tom and Elizabeth with “the magpies said,” the text connects the two characters and suggests that the magpies are observing them.
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“ Amazing as always, gave her a week to finish a big assignment and came through way ahead of time. ”
The structure of the final two lines, which focus on the magpies, reinforces their constant presence over time. In Ozymandias, the iambic pentameter and irregular rhyming pattern work together to unify the poem and create a rhythmic flow. Unlike The Magpies, Ozymandias is presented as a sonnet with an octet and sestet. The octet poses a question about the statue's identity in a desert, described as having “trunkless legs of stone” and a “shatter’d visage.”
The sestet of "Ozymandias" provides an answer to the question by quoting the words on the plaque on the statue's pedestal, "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings." This poem's structure stands out, as it mentions in line six that "its sculptor well those passions read," and finally names the man depicted in the statue in line ten.
This arrangement suggests that despite Ozymandias claiming ownership of the statue's creation, it is actually the unnamed sculptor who deserves credit for its enduring legacy. In contrast, "The Magpies" employs simple and straightforward language with contradictions like stating "Elizabeth is dead now" and euphemizing Tom's declining mental state as "Old Tom went light in the head."
The use of the onomatopoeia of the magpies calls, “and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle” enhances the irritability of the magpie’s calls and highlights the repetitive nature of their presence. Despite this constant refrain, the final line, “the magpies say,” suggests a continuation of their presence on the farm long after Tom and Elizabeth have departed, reflecting on man’s mortality in contrast to nature's eternal existence. In comparison, the poem Ozymandias employs more elaborate and poetic language, describing the traveller's land as "an antique land," implying a deep and storied past.
In the poem Ozymandias, the broken face of the statue is called a "shatter'd visage" to show its shattered state. Alliteration, like in the phrase "a sneer of cold command", portrays Ozymandias as a stern ruler who ruled with power and little compassion. This poetic technique is also seen in describing the barren desert as "boundless and bare" and "lone and level", underscoring the statue's solitude and the expansive, uninhabited landscape around it. The words "vast" and "colossal" used for the statue highlight its irony, as its grandeur fades next to the vastness of the deserted desert.
Both Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" and Denis Glover's "The Magpies" center on the themes of mortality and immortality. The lasting presence of Ozymandias' statue serves as a stark contrast to the forgotten memory of the man, emphasizing human perception and the transient nature of power. Through different structural and language techniques, both poems delve into the concept of immortality, showcasing the authors' unique viewpoints on this enduring subject.
In The Magpies, the author conveys the theme of human mortality by comparing the lifespans of Elizabeth and Tom with the eternal presence of the magpies. On the other hand, Ozymandias is structured as a sonnet to maintain the flow of the poem despite its irregular rhyme scheme. Both works employ language techniques to emphasize the theme of immortality. In The Magpies, the use of onomatopoeia in the magpies' call remains constant throughout, highlighting the idea that nature outlasts human lives despite attempts to control it.
The use of alliteration in Ozymandias emphasizes the statue's solitude and neglect, underscoring the idea that despite Ozymandias' intentions to immortalize himself and create a lasting legacy, it is actually the creations of an unknown artist that endure. These poems illustrate the futility of seeking perfection or everlasting fame, proposing instead that individuals acknowledge their constraints and concentrate on making a beneficial influence during their limited time on this planet.
Themes of Immortality in The Magpies and Ozymandias. (2017, Jan 18). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/comparison-of-poems-the-magpies-and-ozymandias-essay
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