In Shelley’s “Ozymandias” the form of the poem directly links to the meaning. It is clearly a sonnet with its 14 lines and iambic pentameter, but the rhyme scheme is broken in multiple places, and there are many lines that starts with trochees or have them embedded within them. Lines 2, 4, and 9 have no rhyming lines, and lines 3, 6, and 11 start with trochees. I find this very interesting because “Ozymandias” is about the statue of a once-mighty king who has been forgotten by time. There is a large statue that was clearly once grand, but all that remains are the legs and face in the sand, and the legacy of its sculptor. The sonnet form is a very old one that can be very restrictive, like an ancient tyrant. But the form isn’t what matters – those who use it are what is remembered. In the poem, the traveler praises the sculptor for his brilliant work on the statue, even though it is broken and lying in the sand. Even though Shelley has broken the traditional form, his work can still be beautiful, and will be remembered beyond its context.