Ozymandias

Question 1

This highlights Ozymandias’ arrogance and belief in his eternal power. The irony is that nothing remains of his kingdom, emphasizing the poem’s theme of human insignificance and the impermanence of power.

Answer 1

“Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

Question 2

This contrast between past grandeur and present ruin reinforces the poem’s message about the fleeting nature of human achievements.

Answer 2

“Nothing beside remains. Round the decay / Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare”

Question 3

The endless desert surrounding the fallen statue symbolizes time’s power over human ambition, showing how nature outlasts even the greatest rulers.

Answer 3

“The lone and level sands stretch far away.”