Question 1: Briefly explain the historical context of 'Ozymandias' and how this influences its themes.

Answer: The poem reflects on the fleeting nature of power, inspired by the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, highlighting the impermanence of human achievements.

Question 2: Identify two key themes in 'Ozymandias' and explain how Shelley presents them through language.

Answer: Themes include the impermanence of power and the transience of human achievements, shown through imagery of decay and broken sculpture.

Question 1: Quote Explosion: 'Sneer of cold command'. Analyze the connotations of 'sneer' and 'cold command' and discuss how they reveal Ozymandias' personality.

Answer: The word 'sneer' suggests arrogance and contempt, while 'cold command' implies ruthless authority. Together, they depict Ozymandias as a proud, dismissive ruler whose power is devoid of warmth, emphasizing the harshness of tyranny.

Question 2: Identify and explain the effect of the metaphor in the line: 'Two vast and trunkless legs of stone'.

Answer: The metaphor highlights the remains of a once-mighty statue, symbolizing the fallen power of Ozymandias and the impermanence of human greatness.

Question 3: Examine the imagery in the phrase: 'Round the decay of that colossal Wreck'. What does this suggest about the poem’s message?

Answer: It suggests the inevitable decline of even the greatest monuments, emphasizing the transient nature of human achievements and the power of time.

Question 4: Quote Explosion: 'Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!'. Analyze how this quote reveals Ozymandias' attitude towards his own power and its irony.

Answer: The boastful tone shows Ozymandias' arrogance and desire for eternal fame. The irony lies in the fact that the ruined statue contradicts his claim, highlighting the futility of such hubris.

Question 1: Discuss how the theme of power is conveyed through the poem. Use specific examples.

Answer: Shelley presents power as transient, using images of decay and ruined sculpture to show that even the mightiest rulers are subject to time. The boastful inscription contrasts with the ruins, emphasizing the futility of earthly power.

Question 2: How does Shelley use imagery to comment on the impermanence of human achievements?

Answer: Through descriptions of decayed statues and ruined monuments, Shelley illustrates that all human achievements are temporary and ultimately succumb to time.

Question 1: Identify one key similarity and one key difference in how Shelley and Browning depict power.

Answer: Both depict power as transient and ultimately doomed, but Shelley emphasizes decay and ruins, while Browning focuses on control and possession.

Question 2: Outline points for a paragraph comparing the tone used in 'Ozymandias' and 'My Last Duchess'.

Answer: Shelley's tone is reflective and somewhat ironic, emphasizing the futility of power, while Browning's tone in 'My Last Duchess' is possessive and boastful, revealing arrogance and control.