Ozymandias Flashcards
Who is the author of the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
Percy Bysshe Shelley
What is the main theme of ‘Ozymandias’?
The transience of power and the inevitable decline of all leaders and empires.
Fill in the blank: ‘Look on my works, ye mighty, and ______.’
despair!
True or False: Ozymandias is portrayed as a humble ruler in the poem.
False
What does the statue of Ozymandias symbolize?
The arrogance and hubris of power.
Which line describes the ‘vast and trunkless legs of stone’?
The poem begins with a description of the ruins of the statue.
What does the phrase ‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings’ imply?
It implies Ozymandias’s belief in his own greatness and superiority over others.
What remains around the statue in the poem?
A vast, empty desert.
What literary device is primarily used in the line ‘The lone and level sands stretch far away’?
Imagery
What is the significance of the ‘shattered visage’?
It represents the decay of Ozymandias’s power and legacy.
True or False: The poem suggests that art can immortalize a ruler’s legacy.
True
What attitude does the traveler describe towards the ruins?
A sense of awe mixed with pity.
Which two themes are juxtaposed in ‘Ozymandias’?
Pride and the impermanence of human achievements.
What does the term ‘colossal’ in the poem refer to?
The size of the statue of Ozymandias.
Fill in the blank: ‘Round the decay of that ______.’
colossal wreck
What does the poem suggest about the fate of tyrants?
They will ultimately be forgotten and their power will fade.
What is the tone of the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
Solemn and reflective.
Who recounts the story of Ozymandias to the speaker?
A traveler from an antique land.
What is the irony present in ‘Ozymandias’?
Ozymandias’s grand claims of power contrast with the desolation surrounding his statue.
What does Ozymandias’s command to ‘Look on my works’ reveal about his character?
His arrogance and belief in his own greatness.
What is the structure of the poem ‘Ozymandias’?
It is a sonnet.
How does Shelley convey the idea of time in ‘Ozymandias’?
By illustrating the decay and erosion of the statue over time.
True or False: The poem ends on a note of hope.
False
What does the desert symbolize in the poem?
The emptiness and futility of Ozymandias’s ambition.
