Sands of Time

Worksheet Description

This worksheet is centered on the poem “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley, a staple in English literature. It asks students to read the poem and mark the lines that end in enjambment. The activity directs students to focus on the structure of the poem and the flow of thought from one line to the next, identifying where the poet has chosen not to end a line with punctuation. The aim is for students to engage with the text and gain a deeper understanding of how enjambment contributes to the poem’s overall impact.

The worksheet is teaching students to identify and understand enjambment as a literary device in poetry. By examining “Ozymandias,” students learn how Shelley uses enjambment to maintain the natural flow of the poem, despite the constraints of its formal structure. This exercise allows students to develop their analytical reading skills, enabling them to notice subtle details in poetic composition. Furthermore, it introduces them to the thematic richness of Shelley’s work, enhanced by the technique of enjambment, which mirrors the enduring and pervasive nature of the poem’s subject.