Ozymandias of Egypt
A. Answer in one or two words
1. Which king is referred to in the poem ‘Ozymandias of Egypt’?
Ans: Ramesses II
2. What type of poem is ‘Ozymandias of Egypt’?
Ans: Sonnet
3. Who is the speaker in the poem?
Ans: Traveller
4. Who tells the poet about the shattered statue?
Ans: Traveller
5. Name the collection where the poem was first published.
Ans: The Examiner
B. Answer in a few words
1. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Ans: ABABACDCEDEFEF
2. What is ironic about the inscription?
Ans: The inscription proudly shows the king’s power, but the ruined statue proves that his power did not last.
3. What remains in the desert?
Ans: Broken statue, trunkless legs, shattered face, and pedestal inscription
4. Who was Ozymandias?
Ans: A proud and powerful Egyptian king
5. What quality of Ozymandias is shown?
Ans: Pride and arrogance
C. Answer briefly
1. Theme of ‘transience of power’.
Ans: The poem shows that power and glory do not last forever. Ozymandias believed his empire would remain eternal, but time has destroyed everything. It teaches that human achievements are temporary.
2. Explain “The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed”.
Ans: The “hand” refers to the sculptor who created the statue, and the “heart” refers to the king whose emotions and pride are shown in it.
3. Describe the expression on Ozymandias’s face.
Ans: The face shows anger, pride, and arrogance. Even in ruins, it reflects his harsh and commanding nature.
D. Answer in detail
1. Central idea of the poem.
Ans: The poem highlights the temporary nature of power and human achievements. Ozymandias, a mighty king, built a grand statue to display his greatness. However, with time, his empire disappeared and the statue became a ruin in the desert.
This contrast between his proud words and the present condition shows that no power can last forever. The poem teaches that pride and arrogance are meaningless before time, and all human achievements eventually fade away.
2. Figures of speech used in the poem.
Ans:
Irony: The inscription boasts of greatness, but the statue is destroyed.
Alliteration: Repetition of sounds (e.g., “lone and level sands”).
Metaphor: The broken statue represents fallen power.
Imagery: Creates vivid pictures of the ruined statue and desert.
Enjambment: Lines continue without pause, maintaining flow.