Introduction
The poem “Ozymandias” is one of the most famous creations of P.B. Shelly. This is a poem about the time-bound ness of humanity. a traveler tells the story of a stone statue that he interacted with in the desert. The statue was of the famous king Ozymandias. He was the most powerful king of his time. This poem shows that no matter how powerful a person is or how magnificent a statue is, it all will eventually fall but the stories and art will live forever.
Ozymandias
Summary
The poet encounters an old-world traveler. Travelers tell poet about their travels. He describes a desert-found stone statue. Just the statue’s legs survived. He spotted the statue’s face far from the legs. The statue was somewhere in the desert. . The statue was of Ozymandias, according to the inscription. The inscription calls him king of kings and mighty. The inscriptions addressed all subsequent rulers and stated that none could match Ozymandias’ magnificence. The traveler found that hard to accept because nature destroyed the statue and all the beauty of that enormous country. Only ruins supported Ozymandias’ assertions.
The traveler praises the sculptor for perfectly depicting the king’s egoistic and haughty features. The sculpture’s engravings were meaningless. Nature destroyed Ozymandias’ inscriptions.
Poet contemplates irony. They etched the monument to demonstrate his majesty and strength to other rulers. The only remnants are the engravings.
This proves that time destroys everything but art and tales.
Conclusion
The above poem is written by P.B Shelly. In this poem, the author has tried to show that no matter how powerful a person becomes and no matter how much wealth and glory he acquires. He cannot become immortal and that glory will not last forever. Nature is the true enemy of monuments and glorious statues. The author tries to convey that only one thing which can be saved from the brute force of nature is art. Arts in forms of stories and tradition will flourish for generations.
Textbook Questions and Answers
Q.1 “The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed.” Whose hand and heart has the poet referred to in this line?
Ans: The heart refers to the King’s heart whose sculpture was made. The hand refers to the hand of the sculpture.
Q.2 “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:” Why does Ozymandias refer to himself as King of Kings? What quality of the king is revealed through this statement?
Ans: Ozymandias refers to himself as the king of kings because he was the most powerful king of his time, and it shows the powerful and arrogant nature of the king.
Q.3 “Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” Who is Ozymandias referring to when he speaks of ye Mighty? Why should they despair?
Ans: Ozymandias is talking to other rulers who came after him. He is telling them to despair because they cannot be as great as he was.
Q.4 Bring out the irony in the poem.
Ans: The poem shows the irony of Ozymandias and other rulers like him, but it also shows the irony of time-bound humanity. The sculptor and Ozymandias thought of his creation to last forever but it was the story and tales of the travelers that lasted longer.
Q.5 ‘Nothing beside remains.’ What does the narrator mean when he says these words?
Ans: The narrator wants to say that humanity is time bound and every life and every creation will finish one day.
Q.6 What is your impression of Ozymandias as a king?
Ans: Ozymandias was a very powerful, boastful and arrogant ruler. he was the most powerful king of his time.
Q.7 What message is conveyed through this poem?
Ans: This poem explains the ultimate truth of human lives, that nothing is permanent. Everything in this world is time-bound and not immortal. However, the poet also conveys the power of art, which can outlive its creators and becomes immortal.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the significance of the statue in the poem?
Ans: The statue of Ozymandias in the poem is a symbol of his power and glory. However, the statue is now ruined and forgotten, serving as a reminder that even the most powerful rulers are ultimately subject to the ravages of time.
2. What is the theme of “Ozymandias”?
Ans: The theme of “Ozymandias” is the transience of power and the fleeting nature of human achievements. The poem reflects on the impermanence of even the mightiest empires and serves as a warning against arrogance and hubris.
3. Why the poet praises the sculptor?
Ans: The poet praised the sculptor because he depicted the minutest details and every wrinkle of the king’s face in the sculpture perfectly. The sculpture shows the true expression of the king.