Poem 8: Ozymandias :Book 3

 

Poem 8:  Ozymandias

Word	Meaning	Synonym
1.      Antique	belonging to ancient times.	Old, ancient, historical, primitive
2.      Vast	of very great extent or quantity	Huge, large
3.      Frown	a facial expression indicating disapproval,	The angry, look of hatred
4.      Wrinkled	having creases or crumples	Lined skin, creased, folded
5.      Sneer	a contemptuous or mocking smile	Mock, scorn, ridicule

 

Reference:

These lines have been taken from “Ozymandias” written by “P.B. Shelley”

Context:

This poem conveys to us the message that “Pride hath a fall” and no one has the power to conquer either nature or time. This poem is about the king who was very proud and arrogant who calls himself “the king of kings.”

Explanation:

I these lines, the poet tells us that time leaves everything. Nothing can survive before time. A king of pas becomes the beggar of today. One who was once all in all is now in the feet of a  common man. Ozymandias who was a mighty king with a kingdom is now decayed. The poet wants to convey the message that everything in this universe will come to an end at last.

Short Questions

Q.1: What kind of feelings does the poem create in the reader’s mind?

ANS: The poem teaches that nothing is immortal. Everything ends in time. It teaches that we should not be proud of our great deeds.

Q.2: What did the traveler see in the desert? OR In what condition was the statue of Ozymandias standing in the desert?

ANS: The poet saw a statue. Its vast legs were standing in the desert. Its head was lying on the sand. It was completely broken.

Q.3: What is the theme/central idea of the poem?

ANS: The theme of the poem is the morality of humans. Worldly power and glory are short-lived. Everything ends over time. Even, the memorials do not live long.

Q.4: Who was Ozymandias? Would you like to have a ruler like him?

ANS: Ozymandias was an ancient Egyptian king. In my democratic time, I would not like to have a ruler like Ozymandias.