Ozymandius' Formalist ApproachWhen analyzing a poem, a reader notices many things, such as the rhyme scheme, word choice, different levels of a poem, and the structure of sentences. Each of these things is an ingredient of the four main components of the formalist approach to poetry. In the poem “Ozymandius” by PB Shelley, the structure, style, form, and imagery allow the reader to delve deeper into the poem. The reader must first examine the structure of the poem. However, the structure of Ozymandius is difficult to understand. Without a set pattern or rhyme scheme, you have to really study the poem to notice the particular elements that stand out. At first, we notice the randomness of the rhyme scheme, meaning that sometimes the lines rhyme and other times they don't. For example, the first word beginning the rhyme scheme is "earth." There are two other words that rhyme with earth in the rest of the poem: "sand" and "commandment." On the other hand, some words don't rhyme with anything, like "stone", "frown" and "appear". In many poems, the rhyme scheme is obvious and helps the poem flow while making it more interesting. Unfortunately, in "Ozymandius", as always interesting, there is no real pattern in the rhyme scheme and so it does not help the reader. Next, the reader identifies the different levels of a poem. Upon first examination of the poem, the reader simply sees the author “[meeting] a traveler from an ancient land” (line 1) at the first level. When these two strangers begin to speak, they offer new information about the poem and thus take the reader to a new and deeper level of the poem. A level that introduces the reader to a sculptor who represents the rule of Ozymandius t...... middle of paper ......gery in a poem, word choice. In “Ozymandius”, we notice words like “trunkless”, “lifeless” and “limitless”. Such words help the reader see that life was once present in the poem. Ozymandius once lived, but only his legs remain, with no body to support. While the words help build images in the reader's head throughout this poem, they also form the theme of this poem: The idea that everything is built on top is not always the strongest, and In the end, the foundation may be the only thing left. when everything else is gone. (David Jones) Throughout “Ozymandius,” the reader notices the four factors of the formalist approach to poetry. Each of these four parts comes out, and before the reader knows it, they are able to look at any poem in a formalistic way. It easily identifies structure, style, shape and imagery..