Ozymandias
About the poet
Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792-1822) was one of
the finest lyrical and philosophical poets of the eighteenth century. He
nurtured highly unusual social and political views The poem 'Ode to the West
Wind' and ‘To a Skylark’ are some of his most renowned works.
Glossary
Finest:
best, most excellent — श्रेष्ठ
Lyrical:
expressive of emotions in a beautiful way (especially in poetry) — गीतीय
Philosophical:
relating to the study of knowledge, existence, and ethics — दार्शनिक
Nurtured:
developed, encouraged growth — पाल- पोस कर बढ़ाना
Highly
unusual: very uncommon, rare — अत्यंत असामान्य
Social
and political views: opinions about society and governance — सामाजिक और राजनीतिक दृष्टिकोण
Renowned:
famous, well known — प्रसिद्ध
Summary
in English:
Percy Bysshe Shelley, who lived from 1792 to 1822, was one of the greatest
poets of the 18th century known for his expressive and thoughtful poetry. He
held very uncommon views on society and politics. Some of his most famous poems
are "Ode to the West Wind" and "To a Skylark."
Summary
in Hindi:
पर्सी बिश शेली (1792-1822) अठारहवीं सदी के सबसे श्रेष्ठ रचनात्मक और दार्शनिक कवियों में से एक थे। वे सामाजिक और राजनीतिक दृष्टिकोण में अत्यंत असामान्य थे। उनकी कुछ प्रसिद्ध कविताएँ "ओड टू द वेस्ट विंड" और "टू अ स्कायलार्क" हैं।
Before reading the poem:
Ozymandias was the Greek name of Ramesses II, an
Egyptian king, who statue is often considered to have been the inspiration for
this poem, this poem to see how the poet writes about a ruined statue to
illustrate the impermanence of life, and how even the mightiest must perish
with time
Glossary
Ozymandias:
The Greek name for Ramesses II, an ancient Egyptian king — ओजिमंडियास (ग्रीक नाम रैमसीस द्वितीय का)
Statue:
A carved or cast figure of a person or animal — मूर्ति
Inspiration:
A source of motivation or creativity — प्रेरणा
Ruined:
Broken down or destroyed — खंडहर
Impermanence:
The state of not lasting forever — अस्थिरता
Mightiest:
The strongest or most powerful — सर्वशक्तिमान
Perish:
To die or disappear — नष्ट
होना
Summary
in English:
Before reading the poem, it's important to know that Ozymandias was the Greek
name for Ramesses II, a famous Egyptian king. It is believed that a statue of
Ramesses II inspired this poem. The poem shows how the poet writes about a
broken statue to express that life is temporary and even the most powerful
people eventually die or disappear over time.
Summary
in Hindi:
कविता पढ़ने से पहले यह जानना जरूरी है कि ओजिमंडियास ग्रीक भाषा में रैमसीस द्वितीय नामक मिस्र के एक प्रसिद्ध राजा का नाम था। कहा जाता है कि उनकी एक मूर्ति से इस कविता को प्रेरणा मिली। यह कविता एक टूटी हुई मूर्ति के माध्यम से दर्शाती है कि जीवन अस्थायी है और सबसे शक्तिशाली लोग भी समय के साथ नष्ट हो जाते हैं।
The text of the poem
I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said— “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . .. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
Glossary
antique
— ancient, old (प्राचीन)
vast — huge, large (विशाल)
trunkless — without a torso or body (बिना धड़ के)
desert — wasteland, barren (रेगिस्तान)
visage — face (चेहरा)
frown — scowl, angry expression (भौंहें चढ़ाना)
wrinkled — creased, lined (झुर्रियों वाला)
sneer — mocking smile, look of contempt or disrespect (घृणा भरी मुस्कान)
command — order, authority (आज्ञा)
sculptor — carver, artist who makes statues (मूर्तिकार)
passions — emotions, feelings (भावनाएँ)
survive — continue to exist, endure (बचा रहना)
stamped — engraved, impressed (उकेरा गया)
mocked — imitated or ridiculed (मजाक उड़ाना)
pedestal — base of a statue (चबूतरा)
mighty — powerful kings (शक्तिशाली)
despair — hopelessness, gloom (निराशा)
decay — gradual destruction, broken state (क्षय)
colossal — huge, massive (विशाल)
wreck — ruins, remains (खंडहर)
boundless — endless, without limit (असीम)
bare — empty, stark (नीरस)
lone — solitary, the only one (अकेला)
level — flat (समतल
the
hand: (here) the sculptor — The artist who created the statue — मूर्तिकार
The
heart: (here, Ozymandias brought those expressions on his face) — The emotions
or feelings that inspired those expressions — दिल, जो भावनाएँ जताता है
Line-wise Summary in English:
The speaker meets a traveller from an ancient land who
tells him about a ruined statue.
The traveller describes two huge stone legs standing
in the desert, without the body.
Near the legs, a broken face lies half-buried in the
sand, with a frown, wrinkled lip, and sneer.
The sculptor captured the king's proud emotions on the
statue that still survive.
On the statue's pedestal is inscribed: "My name
is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Ironically, nothing remains around the ruins except
vast and empty sands stretching endlessly.
The poem shows that human pride and power are
temporary and eventually destroyed by time and nature.
Line-wise Summary in Hindi:
कवि एक प्राचीन देश के यात्री से मिलता है जो उसे एक टूटी हुई मूर्ति के बारे में बताता है।
यात्री बताता है कि रेगिस्तान में दो विशाल पत्थर की टाँगें खड़ी हैं,
पर धड़ नहीं है।
टाँगों के पास,
आधा धंसा हुआ टूटा हुआ चेहरा है जिसमें भौंह तनी हुई,
शिकन वाली होंठ और तिरछी हँसी है।
मूर्तिकार ने राजा की गर्व भरी भावनाओं को मूर्ति में उकेरा है जो अब भी जीवित हैं।
मूर्ति के आधार पर लिखा है:
"मेरा नाम ओजिमंडियास है,
राजाओं का राजा;
मेरी कृतियों को देखो,
हे शक्तिशाली,
और निराश हो जाओ!"
विडंबना यह है कि उसके चारों ओर कुछ भी नहीं बचा,
केवल अनंत रेतीले मैदान फैले हुए हैं।
यह कविता दिखाती है कि मानव गर्व और शक्ति अस्थायी हैं और अंततः समय और प्रकृति द्वारा नष्ट हो जाते हैं।
Reading comprehension of the poem:
A. Fill in the blanks to complete the
summary of the poem.
'Ozymandias' tells the story of a traveller who comes
across the ruins of a once-great statue in the desert. The statue is of a king
named (1)……….., who was very powerful and proud. The traveller describes how
the statue is (2) ………… and half-burned in sand. Only the legs remain standing,
while the face is shattered but still shows a (3) …………expression. On the base
of the statue, there is an (4) ………that boasts about Ozymandias' greatness and
challenges anyone to look upon his works and (5) ……….. at their own
insignificance.
However, the traveller points out that there is
nothing left of Ozymandias’ kingdom; the landscape is empty and (6) ………. . This
contrast highlights the message of the poem-no matter how powerful or important
someone may be, (7) ………. eventually erases all glory. The poem reminds us that
(8) ……….. can lead to downfall.
Answer: (1) Ozymandias, (2) broken, (3)
proud , (4) inscription , (5) despair, (6) barren, (7) time, (8) pride and
vanity
Glossary
Broken
— damaged or separated into pieces — टूटा हुआ
Proud
— feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction — गर्वित
Inscription
— words written or engraved on a surface — शिलालेख
Despair
— the complete loss or absence of hope — निराशा
Barren
— unable to produce vegetation or children; empty — उजाड़
Time
— the ongoing sequence of events taking place — समय
Pride
— a sense of one’s own worth or self-respect — गर्व
Summary of the passage in English:
The poem "Ozymandias" narrates the story of a traveller who finds the
ruins of a mighty king’s statue in the desert. Though the statue is in ruins,
it still reflects the king’s pride and power. The inscription on the statue
challenges viewers to compare their own achievements with the king’s. However,
the empty desert surrounding the ruins reminds us that no matter how great
someone is, time destroys all power and fame. The poem teaches that excessive
pride often leads to a person’s downfall.
Summary of the passage in Hindi:
कविता "ओजिमंडियास" एक यात्री की कहानी कहती है जो रेगिस्तान में एक शक्तिशाली राजा की मूर्ति के खंडहर देखता है। मूर्ति भले ही टूटी हुई हो,
पर राजा के गर्व और शक्ति को व्यक्त करती है। मूर्ति पर लिखा शिलालेख दर्शकों को अपने कामों की तुलना राजा के कृत्यों से करने की चुनौती देता है। लेकिन खंडहरों के चारों ओर का उजाड़ रेगिस्तान यह याद दिलाता है कि कोई भी कितना भी महान क्यों न हो,
समय सभी शक्ति और प्रसिद्धि को छीन लेता है। कविता यह सिखाती है कि अत्यधिक गर्व अक्सर पतन का कारण बनता है।
B. Read these lines from the poem and
answer the questions that follow.
Who said-Two vast and trunkless legs of
stone Stand in the desert... Near them, on the sand
1. Who says these words and to whom?
2. To whom do the ‘vast and trunkless legs of stone'
belong?
3. What lies near them on the sand? How does the poet
describe it?
Answers:
1. The words "Two vast and trunkless legs of
stone / Stand in the desert... Near them, on the sand" are said by a
traveller from an antique land to the speaker of the poem.
2. The "vast and trunkless legs of stone"
belong to the ruined statue of King Ozymandias.
3. Near the legs, on the sand, lies a shattered
(broken) face (visage), half-buried in the sand. The poet describes the face as
showing a frown, a wrinkled lip, and a sneer of cold command, which reflects
the emotions and pride of the king despite the ruin.
Thus, the traveller narrates the sight of the
fragmented statue in the desert to the poet.
C. Answer these questions in 30-40 words
each.
1. Where is the traveller from?
2. What do you understand by 'sneer of cold command?
3. What does the narrator say about the sculptor?
4. Describe the condition of the statue in your own
words.
5. How does this poem pay a tribute to the sculptor
even while reminding the reader that everything comes to an end?
Answers:
1. The traveller is from a very old, ancient land. He
has seen many ruins and historic places and tells the speaker about what he
saw.
2. "Sneer of cold command" means a proud and
harsh look on the statue’s face. It shows the king's power and his commanding
attitude.
3. The narrator says the sculptor was very skilled. He
showed the king’s proud feelings perfectly on the statue’s face.
4. The statue is broken and ruined. Only the huge legs
stand, and near them lies a broken face half-buried in the sand, still showing
pride.
5. The poem honours the sculptor for capturing the
feelings of Ozymandias in his art. It shows that even if statues break, art
keeps memories alive, though power fades with time.
D. Think and discuss.
1. Why do you think the poet has chosen a king's
statue as the of the poem?
2. What is the message conveyed in the poem? How
successful is the poet conveying this message?
Answers:
1. The poet chose a king's statue because it
represents power and pride. Kings are often seen as very strong and important,
so their statues symbolize their greatness. The ruined statue shows even great
power cannot last forever.
2. The poem's message is that all power and glory are
temporary. No matter how mighty someone is, time destroys everything. The poet
conveys this message successfully by describing the broken statue in the desert
and the ironic words on its base.
Vocabulary
Ozymandias’ belief that he is the greatest ruler, as
expressed in the inscription reflects his vain and arrogant
nature, suggesting an obsession with his own greatness. He embodies the traits
of a tyrannical ruler, exercising absolute, autocratic and
demanding respect.
Match the negative traits in Column A with
their meanings in Column B.
Column A.
1. supercilious
2. autocratic
3. dogmatic
4. peremptory
5. Imperious
Column B
a. ruling with complete power
b. expecting to be obeyed immediately without
questions
c. behaving as if one thinks one is better than
everyone else
d. treating people as if they are not important
e. one who believes what she/he says is always right
Answers:
1. Supercilious — c. behaving as if one thinks one is
better than everyone else
2. Autocratic — a. ruling with complete power
3. Dogmatic — e. one who believes what she/he says is
always right
4. Peremptory — b. expecting to be obeyed immediately
without questions
5. Imperious — d. treating people as if they are not
important
Taken from the Model test Paper 2
Read these excerpts and answer the
questions that follow:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my
Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
a. What do the words "King of Kings' signify? (1mark)
b. What is the meaning of the word 'despair? (1mark)
c. Whom does the speaker address as 'ye Mighty? Why
are they being asked to 'despair? (2 marks)
d. What is the message that the poet wishes to convey
through these lines? (2 marks)
Answers:
a. The words King of Kings mean that Ozymandias
considered himself the most powerful ruler above all other kings.
b. The word despair means to lose hope completely.
c. The speaker addresses other mighty rulers as ‘ye
Mighty’. They are asked to despair because they should feel hopeless compared
to Ozymandias' great works.
d. The poet's message through these lines is that no
matter how powerful or great someone is, his/her achievements will eventually
fade with time.
Appreciating
the poem
Synecdoche
Read
this line from the poem.
The
hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed
Here the poet refers to the sculptor and Ozymandias simply by referring to a part of them. ‘The hand’ is the sculptor's hand that has so skilfully captured the frown, the wrinkled lip and the commanding sneer in stone. However, instead of saying the sculptor, the poet simply says 'the hand’ to focus the reader's attention on the sculptor's hand that has carved the statue.
Similarly, ‘the heart' refers to Ozymandias' heart and to the unpleasant qualities in him which brought the frown and the cold sneer to his face. However, instead of saying 'Ozymandias', the poet simply says the heart to focus the reader's attention on the pride and coldness of the mighty Ozymandias.
This
poetic device is called Synecdoche (pronounced si-NEK-duh-kee) or part
for the whole. In synecdoche, a part of something stands for or represents the
whole. It is a powerful tool often used by poets.
Here
are some more examples:
1.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. ('the head' refers to the king
or the queen)
2.
The ship's captain yelled, 'All hands on deck!" ('hands' refers to
the crew members)
3. An honest heart has nothing to fear. ('an honest heart' stands for an honest person)
A. Explain the use of synecdoche in these sentences.
1.
I gave the wrong answer in class and thirty pairs of eyes stared at me.
2.
Hearing the sergeant's orders, a hundred boots began to march.
3.
The White House has not yet issued a statement about the attacks.
4.
Her mother worked hard to earn the bread for the family.
5.
My uncle never carries cash; he always pays everywhere with his plastic.
Answers:
1.
In “I gave the wrong answer in class and thirty pairs of eyes stared at
me,” eyes (a part) represent the students (the whole). Instead of
saying students, a part (eyes) is used to mean the whole.
2. In “Hearing the sergeant's orders, a hundred boots began to march,” boots stand for soldiers. The part (boots) represents the whole (soldiers).
“My uncle never carries cash; he always pays everywhere with his plastic” uses plastic to mean credit or debit cards. A part (plastic card) is used to refer to the whole (payment method).
*Corrections
3.
“The White House has not yet issued a statement about the attacks” uses
the White House stands for the U.S. government. Here, the container
‘the White House’ is used to mean contents ‘the U.S.
government’.
So this is an example of metonymy, not synecdoche.
4.
Her mother worked hard to earn the bread for the family.
Analysis
1:
It’s not an example of Synecdoche, but Metaphor because bread does
not literally mean “bread,” nor is bread a part of something
larger that it stands for.
Instead, bread is being used symbolically to mean ‘food or livelihood’ or ‘money needed to survive’.
Analysis
2:
If the sentence were: “Her mother worked hard to feed the stomachs.”,
“stomachs” (a part of the human body) would stand for the
whole people. Then, that would be a synecdoche (part representing the whole).
But
in the given sentence: “Her mother worked hard to earn the bread
for the family.”
Bread is not a part of “livelihood” or “income.”
So, it is a Metaphor, not Synecdoche) because bread is indirectly
compared to livelihood’ or ‘money needed to survive’.
5.
My uncle never carries cash; he always pays everywhere with his plastic.
Analysis:
In
the above sentence, the poetic device used is ‘Metonymy’, not ‘Synecdoche’
because here Plastic does not mean literally
plastic material, but it stands for credit/debit cards, which are
made of plastic. The name of a material is used to refer to the
object associated with it, so it’s a ‘Metonymy’ as in the following
example: ‘He drew his steel’, steel is the material used
for a weapon, which is an object associated with it
MCQs
(1)
1.
Who does the traveller meet in the poem?
A)
A king
B)
A sculptor
C)
A traveller from an antique land
D)
A mighty warrior
Answer: C
2.
What are described as “two vast and trunkless legs of stone”?
A)
Trees
B)
Statue's legs
C)
Mountains
D)
Buildings
Answer: B
3.
True or False: The shattered visage lies on solid rock.
A)
True
B)
False
Answer: B
4.
What expression does the shattered visage have?
A)
Smile
B)
Sneer of cold command
C)
Sadness
D)
Joy
Answer: B
5.
The word “wrinkled” in the poem most nearly means:
A)
Smooth
B)
Folded or creased
C)
Large
D)
Bright
Answer: B
6.
Which phrase best describes the mood of the poem?
A)
Joyful and hopeful
B)
Lonely and sombre
C)
Angry and rebellious
D)
Cheerful and lively
Answer: B
7.
The phrase “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” conveys:
A)
Pride and warning
B)
Sadness and regret
C)
Joy and welcome
D)
Confusion and doubt
Answer: A
8.
Which literary device is used in “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone”?
A)
Metaphor
B)
Hyperbole
C)
Personification
D)
Symbolism
Answer: A
9.
What does the poem suggest about Ozymandias’s works?
A)
They last forever
B)
They have disappeared over time
C)
They are still celebrated
D)
They were never built
Answer: B
10.
True or False: The “colossal Wreck” is still a place of activity.
A)
True
B)
False
Answer: B
11.
The word “antique” means:
A)
New
B)
Old and valuable
C)
Broken
D)
Tiny
Answer: B
12.
What is the “pedestal”?
A)
A type of stone
B)
The base of a statue
C)
The artist’s tool
D)
A temple
Answer: B
13.
Which is closest in meaning to “frown”?
A)
Smile
B)
Scowl
C)
Laugh
D)
Wink
Answer: B
14.
The theme of the poem primarily concerns:
A)
Nature’s beauty
B)
The passage of time and impermanence
C)
A love story
D)
A heroic battle
Answer: B
15.
The tone of the poem can best be described as:
A)
Mocking
B)
Reflective
C)
Excited
D)
Hopeful
Answer: B
16.
True or False: The sculptor could read the king’s passions well.
A)
True
B)
False
Answer: A
17.
“Heart that fed” is an example of:
A)
Simile
B)
Alliteration
C)
Personification
D)
Hyperbole
Answer: C
18.
The word “colossal” means:
A)
Tiny
B)
Large and impressive
C)
Broken
D)
Ancient
Answer: B
19.
What literary device is shown in “lone and level sands”?
A)
Irony
B)
Assonance
C)
Onomatopoeia
D)
Oxymoron
Answer: B
20.
The phrase “Nothing beside remains” implies:
A)
The statue is perfect
B)
The statue is lost and nothing else is left
C)
The desert is full of ruins
D)
The statue has treasures nearby
Answer: B
21.
The phrase “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” is an example of:
A)
Irony
B)
Simile
C)
Metonymy
D)
Oxymoron
Answer: A
22.
Which best describes the “sneer of cold command”?
A)
A kind look
B)
An expression of arrogance
C)
A smile of joy
D)
A look of confusion
Answer: B
23.
What does the traveller imply about the sculptor’s skill?
A)
The sculptor was careless
B)
The sculptor captured the king’s character well
C)
The sculptor hated the king
D)
The sculptor was unknown
Answer: B
24.
Which of these is the closest opposite of “vast”?
A)
Enormous
B)
Tiny
C)
Wide
D)
Long
Answer: B
25.
What does the “shattered visage” symbolize?
A)
The king’s power
B)
The ruin of human pride and power
C)
Nature’s beauty
D)
The sculptor’s talent
Answer: B
26.
The phrase “hand that mocked them” suggests:
A)
The sculptor ridiculed the king’s passions
B)
The sculptor admired the king
C)
The statue was well-preserved
D)
The sands mocked the statue
Answer: A
27.
The poem’s setting is most likely:
A)
A thriving city
B)
A deserted, empty landscape
C)
A palace
D)
A battlefield
Answer: B
28.
Which is a synonym for “wrinkled” in context?
A)
Smooth
B)
Creased
C)
Bright
D)
Powerful
Answer: B
29.
What kind of poem is “Ozymandias”?
A)
Narrative poem
B)
Lyrical poem
C)
Ode
D)
Sonnet
Answer: D
30.
The conclusion of the poem warns about:
A)
The eternal nature of art
B)
The fleeting nature of power and legacy
C)
The power of nature over humans
D)
The greatness of kings
Answer: B
MCQs
(2)
1.
Who is the poet of the poem?
a) John Keats
b) W. B Yeats
c) P. B Shelly
d) R. N Tagore
Ans: c) P. B Shelly
2. What is missing from the statue according to
the traveller?
a) Its arms
b) Its trunk
c) Its head
d) Its crown
Ans: b) Its trunk
3. Where is the shattered visage found?
a) On a mountain
b) In a river
c) On the sand, half-sunk
d) Inside a palace
Ans: c) On the sand, half-sunk
4. What expression is seen on the visage?
a) A happy smile
b) A look of confusion
c) A frown and a sneer
d) A sorrowful expression
Ans: c) A frown and a sneer
5. What appears on the pedestal of the statue?
a) A prayer
b) A warning
c) An inscription of pride
d) A poem
Ans: c) An inscription of pride
6. The poem describes a newly built statue.
a) True
b) False
Ans: b) False
7. The sculptor understood the king’s passions
well.
a) True
b) False
Ans: a) True
8. The desert around the statue is full of
vegetation.
a) True
b) False
Ans: b) False
9. Which of the following are present in the
poem? I. Desert II. Colossal wreck III. Thriving kingdom
a) Only I
b) I and II
c) II and III
d) I, II and III
Ans: b) I and II
10. Which of these emotions are attributed to the
shattered visage? I. Frown II. Wrinkled lip III. Sneer of cold command
a) Only I and II
b) Only II and III
c) I, II and III
d) None
Ans: c) I, II and III
11.
“Antique land” refers to—
a) A modern city
b) A very old place
c) A ruined palace
d) A mythological world
Ans: b) A very old place
12.
“Colossal Wreck” means—
a) A very large and ruined structure
b) A newly built palace
c) A destroyed village
d) A broken boat
Ans: a) A very large and ruined structure
13.
“Boundless and bare” describes—
a) The king’s power
b) The traveller’s emotions
c) The vast desert
d) The sculptor’s skill
Ans: c) The vast desert
14.
“Lifeless things” refers to—
a) The people
b) The sculptor’s tools
c) The ruins of the statue
d) The desert plants
Ans: c) The ruins of the statue
15.
“Cold command” suggests—
a) Kind leadership
b) Indifferent authority
c) Friendly behaviour
d) Honest rule
Ans: b) Indifferent authority
16.
The antonym of “vast” is—
a) Huge
b) Tiny
c) Endless
d) Boundless
Ans: b) Tiny
17.
The synonym of “shattered” is—
a) Whole
b) Broken
c) Soft
d) Plain
Ans: b) Broken
18.
The synonym of “decay” is—
a) Growth
b) Fragrance
c) Ruin
d) Honour
Ans: c) Ruin
19.
The antonym of “mighty” in the poem’s context is—
a) Weak
b) Powerful
c) Proud
d) Cold
Ans: a) Weak
20.
The synonym of “sneer” is—
a) Smile
b) Hug
c) Scornful expression
d) Friendly gesture
Ans: c) Scornful expression
21. The central theme of the poem is—
a) Eternal glory of kings
b) Futility of human pride
c) Beauty of deserts
d) Love between nations
Ans: b) Futility of human pride
22. The tone created by “boundless and bare” is—
a) Joyful
b) Mysterious
c) Lonely and desolate
d) Celebratory
Ans: c) Lonely and desolate
23. The mood evoked by the “colossal wreck” is—
a) Humorous
b) Tragic
c) Energetic
d) Hopeful
Ans: b) Tragic
24. The inscription suggests the king was—
a) Humble
b) Proud and boastful
c) Gentle
d) Wise
Ans: b) Proud and boastful
25.
The poem ultimately shows that—
a) Art is temporary
b) Nature is destructive
c) Power and glory fade over time
d) Sculptors should avoid kings
Ans: c) Power and glory fade over time
26.
“Lone and level sands stretch far away” is an example of—
a) Personification
b) Alliteration
c) Simile
d) Metaphor
Ans: b) Alliteration
27.
“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone” contains—
a) Hyperbole
b) Metaphor
c) Irony
d) Imagery
Ans: d) Imagery
28.
The inscription “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” is an example of—
a) Paradox
b) Irony
c) Simile
d) Allusion
Ans: b) Irony
29.
“Half-sunk, a shattered visage lies” is an example of—
a) Oxymoron
b) Imagery
c) Simile
d) Apostrophe
Ans: b) Imagery
30.
“The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed” shows—
a) Metonymy
b) Personification
c) Synecdoche
d) Allusion
Ans: c) Synecdoche
ONE-MARK
QUESTIONS
1.
Who
does the speaker meet in the poem?
Ans: A traveller
2. From where did the traveller come?
Ans: An antique land
3. What stood in the desert?
Ans: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
4. What was lying half-sunk near the legs?
Ans: A shattered visage
5. What expression did the visage show?
Ans: A frown and a sneer of cold command
6. Who understood the king’s passions well?
Ans: The sculptor
7. What had stamped the passions on the lifeless stone?
Ans: The sculptor’s skill
8. Whose hand "mocked" the passions?
Ans: The sculptor’s
9. Whose heart "fed" the passions?
Ans: Ozymandias’
10. What appears on the pedestal?
Ans: An inscription
11. What name does the inscription proclaim?
Ans: Ozymandias
12. What title does Ozymandias give himself?
Ans: King of Kings
13. What command does he give to the mighty?
Ans: “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and
despair!”
14. What remains around the statue?
Ans: Nothing beside remains
15. How is the wreck described?
Ans: Colossal wreck
16. How are the sands described?
Ans: Lone and level
17. What literary device is used in “lone and level”?
Ans: Alliteration
18. What is the theme of the poem?
Ans: The futility of human pride and power
19. Who is the poet of Ozymandias?
Ans: P. B. Shelley
20. What does the word “antique” mean?
Ans: Ancient/very old
21. What does “visage” mean?
Ans: Face
22. What does the desert symbolize?
Ans: The vastness of time / insignificance
of human power
23. What emotion does “cold command” convey?
Ans: Harsh, arrogant authority
24. What is ironic about the inscription?
Ans: The mighty works he boasts of have
vanished
25. What is the poem’s overall tone?
Ans: Reflective and ironic
TWO-MARK
QUESTIONS
1.
What
is ironic about the inscription on the pedestal of Ozymandias’ statue?
Answer: The inscription boasts about Ozymandias’s great power, but ironically,
all that remains of his works is a ruined statue in the desert.
2.
Who
does the ‘shattered visage’ belong to and why is it half sunk?
Answer: It belongs to King Ozymandias. It is half sunk because time and the
desert sands have worn and buried the statue.
3.
What
qualities of King Ozymandias does the poem reflect?
Answer: The poem shows that Ozymandias was powerful, proud, arrogant, and
despot-like, commanding all with his wishes.
4.
What
does the phrase “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone” describe?
Answer: It describes the broken statue's legs standing alone without a torso in
the desert.
5.
Explain
the meaning of “the hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed.”
Answer: It means the sculptor was skilled at capturing both the king’s
appearance and emotions, 'mocking' or imitating them artistically.
6.
What
is the central theme of the poem?
Answer: The central theme is the impermanence of human power and the inevitable
passage of time that destroys all glory.
7.
How
does the poem describe the expression on Ozymandias’s face?
Answer: The expression is a sneer of cold command showing arrogance and pride.
8.
What
does the “lone and level sands” symbolize?
Answer: They symbolize the emptiness and desolation left by the passage of
time, where once great empires have vanished.
9.
What
message does the poem convey about human arrogance?
Answer: The poem conveys that human pride and power are ultimately futile
against the power of time.
10.
What
does “Nothing beside remains” signify about Ozymandias’s empire?
Answer: It signifies that nothing of the once great empire survives except
ruins.
11.
Why
is the statue described as a “colossal wreck”?
Answer: Because the statue is huge but now broken and ruined due to the ravages
of time.
12.
What
kind of poem is "Ozymandias"?
Answer: It is a sonnet.
13.
What
role does the desert setting play in the poem?
Answer: The desert emphasizes isolation, decay, and life's transience.
14.
How
does the sculptor’s skill affect the message of the poem?
Answer: The sculptor's skill captures the king’s pride and emotions,
reinforcing the theme of human vanity.
15.
What
lesson about legacy does the poem teach?
Answer: The lesson is that no matter how powerful one is, time will erase all
achievements and legacies.
THREE-MARK
QUESTIONS
1. Describe the condition of the statue in the
poem.
Ans: The statue is
broken and ruined. Only two big stone legs stand in the desert, and the head
lies half-buried in the sand. The face is shattered but still shows a frown and
sneer, making it a “colossal wreck.”
2.
What do the expressions on the shattered face tell us about Ozymandias?
Ans: The frown and
sneer show that Ozymandias was proud, harsh, and arrogant. He believed in power
and ruled in a commanding way, expecting others to fear him.
3. How did the sculptor successfully capture the
king’s personality? Ans: The sculptor understood the king’s emotions
well. He carved the proud and cruel expressions—like the sneer and wrinkled
lip—so perfectly that they remain visible even after the statue is ruined.
4. What is written on the pedestal and why is it
ironic?
Ans: It says, “My name
is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” It is
ironic because nothing remains of his works now. His statue is broken, and the
desert is empty, making his boast meaningless.
5. How does the poem show the temporary nature
of human power?
Ans: Ozymandias was
once a mighty ruler, but time destroyed everything he built. His statue is
ruined and his kingdom has vanished. This shows that human power does not last
and time is stronger than kings.
6. Describe the desert setting and its effect on
the poem.
Ans: The desert is
described as “boundless and bare,” with “lone and level sands.” This empty
setting makes the ruins look even smaller and powerless, highlighting how
nature and time overpower human achievements.
7. What message does the traveller give through
his story?
Ans: The traveller’s
story shows that Ozymandias, once a great king, is now forgotten. Only ruins
remain. The message is that pride, power, and glory disappear, and nothing
lasts forever.
8. How does the poem use imagery to create a
strong picture?
Ans: The poem uses
vivid images like “trunkless legs,” “shattered visage,” and “lone and level
sands.” These details help readers imagine the broken statue and empty desert
clearly, making the scene powerful.
9. Explain the meaning of “The hand that mocked
them, and the heart that fed.”
Ans: The “hand” refers
to the sculptor, whose hands copied the king’s proud expressions. The “heart”
refers to Ozymandias, whose emotions—pride and cruelty—fed those expressions.
It shows how the sculptor captured the king’s true nature.
10. What is the central theme of Ozymandias?
Ans: The central theme
is the futility of human pride. Kings think their power will last forever, but
time destroys everything. Ozymandias wanted to be remembered, yet only ruins
remain.
Compiled
from different AI sources by Dr. Shankar D Mishra.
N.B.
To get free English coaching for this session from Dr. S. D Mishra, the
students of Std. 7, 8 and 9 can contact at the following numbers:
8270604524/8249297412.
Share
this to all your class mates. Thank you.
Answers
to Literature, Grammar, Essays, Letters, Applications, History, Geography, Science
and Solutions of School & board Exam Papers are available free of cost.
No comments:
Post a Comment