Question 1: What does Shelley suggest about the nature of human power through the description of the ruined statue?

Answer: Shelley suggests that human power is temporary and ultimately doomed to decay, as even the greatest empires fall into ruin.

Question 2: How does Shelley use imagery to convey the idea of impermanence in the poem?

Answer: He uses vivid imagery of the shattered statue and barren desert to symbolize decay and the fleeting nature of power.

Question 1: Quote: 'Two vast and trunkless legs of stone / Stand in the desert...' How does Shelley’s imagery here emphasize the theme of decay?

Answer: The imagery of 'trunkless legs' highlights the remnants of a once-great statue, emphasizing the theme of decay and loss of power over time.

Question 2: Identify and analyze the metaphor in the line: 'The decay of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare / The lone and level sands stretch far away.'

Answer: The 'colossal Wreck' is a metaphor for the ruined empire of Ozymandias, symbolizing the inevitable decline of all human achievements. The 'lone and level sands' suggest vastness and the erasure of power.

Question 3: How does Shelley personify the 'sneer of cold command' in the statue’s face, and what is its effect?

Answer: Personifying the 'sneer' as a 'cold command' emphasizes Ozymandias’s arrogance and ruthless authority, which ironically contrasts with the statue’s ruined state, underscoring the futility of tyranny.

Question 1: Discuss how the poem explores the theme of the impermanence of power. Use specific imagery or language from the poem in your answer.

Answer: Shelley shows that even the greatest rulers, like Ozymandias, are powerless against time. The imagery of the 'colossal Wreck' and the 'lone and level sands' symbolize the inevitable decay of all human achievements, emphasizing that power is temporary and ultimately forgotten.

Question 2: How does Shelley’s use of irony in the poem comment on leadership and legacy?

Answer: Shelley employs irony by contrasting Ozymandias’s boastful inscription with the ruined state of his statue, suggesting that pride and tyranny are ultimately futile, and that true legacy is fleeting.

Question 1: Identify key themes in both poems related to power and pride. How do the poets' use of language and imagery reflect these themes?

Answer: Both poems explore the corrupting influence of power and pride. Shelley uses imagery of decay and ruins to show impermanence, while Browning’s dramatic monologue reveals pride through tone and control, highlighting different aspects of authority.

Question 2: Write a brief plan for comparing the portrayal of leadership in Ozymandias and My Last Duchess.

Answer: Introduction to themes of power, followed by analysis of imagery and tone in each poem. Discuss how Shelley presents power as fleeting, while Browning presents pride as possessive and controlling. Conclude with the poets’ intentions behind their portrayals.

Question 1: Using specific quotes, plan an essay paragraph that discusses how Shelley’s language and imagery depict the decline of power.

Answer: Begin with a topic sentence about the theme of impermanence. Use quotes like 'boundless and bare / The lone and level sands' to analyze imagery of emptiness and decay. Discuss how the 'colossal Wreck' symbolizes fallen greatness. Conclude by linking this to Shelley’s overall message about the futility of human pride.