Question 1: Describe the overall structure of 'Ozymandias'. How many stanzas does it have, and what is their length?

Answer: The poem consists of two main stanzas, with a varying rhyme scheme and no fixed stanza length, contributing to its narrative flow.

Question 2: How does the shift between the first and second stanzas affect the reader’s understanding of the poem?

Answer: The shift from a description of the statue to the narrator's reflection emphasizes the transient nature of power and fame.

Question 1: Analyze the line: 'Two vast and trunkless legs of stone' — what does its structure suggest about the statue’s remains?

Answer: The simple, direct structure highlights the incomplete, ruined state, emphasizing decay and the passage of time.

Question 2: How does Shelley use enjambment in lines like 'Round the decay / Of that colossal Wreck' to influence the poem’s rhythm?

Answer: Enjambment creates a flowing rhythm that mirrors the ongoing passage of time and the unstoppable decay.

Question 1: Find a metaphor in the poem that reflects the theme of power. Explain how its placement enhances this theme.

Answer: The 'colossal Wreck' metaphor symbolizes the fleeting nature of power, placed at the poem’s end to leave a lasting impression of decay.

Question 2: Identify a rhyme scheme in the poem and discuss how it contributes to the poem’s tone.

Answer: The irregular rhyme scheme creates a sense of unpredictability and chaos, reflecting the unpredictability of power and its decline.

Question 1: How does the structure of the poem reinforce the theme of the impermanence of power?

Answer: The contrast between the detailed description of the statue and the reflection on its ruin underscores the transient nature of human achievements.

Question 2: Discuss how the poem’s structure helps portray the idea of memory and legacy.

Answer: The fragmented structure and imagery evoke the idea that legacy is fragile and subject to decay over time.

Question 1: Identify key structural features of 'My Last Duchess' that you would compare with 'Ozymandias'.

Answer: The use of a dramatic monologue, the controlled rhyme scheme, and the shift in focus from the Duchess to the Duke’s character.

Question 2: Explain how comparing these structures can deepen your understanding of how poets explore power dynamics.

Answer: Both poems use structured forms to control the narrative—'Ozymandias' with its fragmented imagery and 'My Last Duchess' with its monologue—highlighting how form reflects themes of control, pride, and decay.

Question 1: Analyze the quote: 'Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!' Focus on the implications of its placement and tone.

Answer: This commanding quote, placed at the height of Ozymandias’ pride, is ironically undercut by the ruined statue, highlighting the transient nature of power and the futility of arrogance.

Question 1: Outline your main points for an essay on how structure and form contribute to the poem’s message. Include references to specific structural features discussed in this worksheet.

Answer: Students should discuss the fragmented structure, imagery, rhyme scheme, and placement of key quotes, explaining how these elements work together to emphasize the ephemerality of power and the inevitable decay of human achievements.