Final answer:
The iambic pentameter in poetry like 'Ozymandias' is disrupted to accommodate natural speech, to emphasize certain text elements, and to maintain the flow. This is done through techniques such as inverted syntax and alterations in rhythm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disruption of iambic pentameter in 'Ozymandias' and the works of playwrights like Shakespeare is a result of efforts to conform to the strictures of meter while still capturing natural speech patterns and enhancing the meaning of the text. Poets use inverted syntax, where the grammatical order of words is rearranged, to keep within the structure of iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter consists of five sets of iambs, providing a rhythm that can be easily disrupted with an additional syllable or unexpected stress to draw attention to certain parts of the text or to maintain the natural flow of the language.
When encountering verses that seem confusing, especially due to inverted syntax, one may need to re-order the words to the familiar subject-verb-object sequence to grasp the full meaning. Differentiating finer points like enjambment or end-stopped lines, poets can manipulate the readers' focus or evoke certain emotions or pace by altering the customary flow of the lines. Disruptions in poetry are often intentional and poetically significant, serving to underscore themes, mood shifts, or character distinctions.