Question 1: Briefly explain who Ozymandias was and why Percy Shelley might have chosen to write about him.

Answer: Ozymandias was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, symbolizing power and hubris. Shelley used him to explore themes of pride, impermanence, and the decline of empires.

Question 2: What was the political or social message Shelley might be conveying through this poem?

Answer: Shelley criticizes the fleeting nature of power and warns against arrogance, emphasizing that all human achievements are temporary.

Question 1: Read the line: 'Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!' What is the speaker's tone here, and what might Shelley be suggesting about rulers?

Answer: The tone is boastful and commanding, highlighting Ozymandias's arrogance. Shelley suggests that such pride is ultimately futile, as all power is temporary.

Question 2: Interpret the significance of the ruined statue in the context of the poem's message about impermanence.

Answer: The ruined statue symbolizes the inevitable decline of even the greatest empires and the transient nature of human achievements.

Question 1: Quote: 'Sneer of cold command.' Identify the device and discuss its effect.

Answer: Device: Alliteration ('Sneer of cold command'). It emphasizes the harshness and arrogance of Ozymandias's authority, creating a chilling tone.

Question 2: Quote: 'Boundless and bare the lone and level sands.' Analyze the imagery and its impact.

Answer: Imagery: Desolate, endless sands symbolize the erasure of Ozymandias's empire, conveying themes of impermanence and the power of nature over human constructs.

Question 1: How does Shelley portray the theme of power and its limitations?

Answer: Shelley shows that power is temporary. The ruined statue and desolate sands illustrate that even the greatest rulers eventually fall.

Question 2: In what ways does the poem comment on the transient nature of human achievements?

Answer: The poem highlights that all human accomplishments, no matter how magnificent, are subject to decay and oblivion over time.

Question 1: Identify key similarities and differences in how power is portrayed in both poems.

Answer: Both poems explore the destructive nature of power. 'Ozymandias' depicts the downfall of a ruler through imagery and tone, emphasizing impermanence. 'My Last Duchess' reveals a ruler's control and pride through dialogue and tone, hinting at potential violence or repression. Both highlight the corrupting influence of power but differ in their focus: one on decline, the other on control.

Question 1: Using specific quotes and analysis, plan or write an extended paragraph on the theme of impermanence in Ozymandias.

Answer: Shelley emphasizes impermanence through vivid imagery such as 'the decay of the colossal wreck,' illustrating that even the mightiest monuments crumble over time. The inscription 'Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!' reveals Ozymandias's arrogance, which ultimately contrasts with the ruined state of his empire, suggesting that pride and power are fleeting. The desolate sands symbolize nature's dominance over human constructs, reinforcing the idea that all achievements are temporary.