SRI SRI RAVISHANKAR VIDYA MANDIR, PUNE ENGLISH

AY: 2024-25
CLASS: __10
Topic: OZYMANDIAS

Name: ____________ Div.: ____ Roll No.: _____

MIND MAP
1) The poet met a traveller.
2) Broken statue of a man in the dessert.
3) Two huge legs on a pedestal, no trunk.
4) Face half sunk in sand, frown and wrinkled lips.
5) The art of the sculptor.
6) He has studied very intelligently and carved them.
7) Writing on the pedestal.
8) My name is Ozymandias.
9) Nothing remains powerful
10)Time is powerful.

Word Meaning

Antique: Ancient; old and valuable due to age

Vast : Very great in size, number, or amount

Trunkless: Without a torso or main body (here, of a statue)

Visage: A person’s face, especially with reference to expression

Sneer : A mocking or scornful smile or remark

Wrinkled lip: A curled lip that expresses disdain or arrogance

Mocked : To imitate or ridicule in a contemptuous way

Pedestal: A base or support for a statue or monument

Colossal : Extremely large or massive

Decay: The process of decomposition or decline over time

5 Related Idioms (with meanings)

Pride comes before a fall

– Excessive pride or arrogance often leads to one's downfall.

Built on sand
– Something that is not built on a strong foundation…

…Ozymandias Summary of the lesson

This is a sonnet (a poem of fourteen lines – the first eight form an octave and the next six form
a sestet).
It is about a ruined statue which has become so with the passage of time and here, we can
correlate it with Shakespeare’s sonnet ‘Not marble, nor the gilded monuments.
The title ‘Ozymandias’ is the throne name of Egyptian king Ramesses 2. The poem talks about
his foolish desire to immortalize himself by erecting a statue.
The poet meets a person who has been to an ancient place in the deserts, Egypt. He tells the
poet about the ruined statue of the great powerful king, Ozymandias. It had been destroyed
with the passage of time.
There were only the two legs which stood on a platform and the upper part of the body was
nowhere to be seen. The face of the statue lay buried in the sand. He praises the talent of the
artist as the minutest expressions and wrinkles had been perfectly copied by him.
The engraving on the platform reflects the pride and arrogance of Ozymandias. As the statue
is now destroyed, the engraving is a mockery at the pride and ego of the king.
Today, after the passage of so many centuries, finally there is no trace of the king’s
accomplishment in the vast stretch of the desert.

Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) “The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed.” Whose hand and heart has the
poet referred to in this line?
A. The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed.”
In this line the hand referred to is the hand of the sculptor who has carved the statue. He has
copied the exact expressions of the king’s face, thus, making a perfect replica. The heart refers
to the heart of king Ozymandias which is the source of these expressions of anger, hatred and
pride.

(b) “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:” Why does Ozymandias refer to himself as King
of Kings? What quality of the king is revealed through this statement.
A. “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:“
This verse shows that Ozymandias was very proud of his power, position and glory. He
considered himself to be the mightiest of all kings which shows that he was overblown and
high headed.

(c) “Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” Who is Ozymandias referring to when he
speaks of ye Mighty? Why should they despair?
A. ‘Ye Mighty’ refers to the king’s fellow kings who consider themselves to be mighty and
powerful.
He feels that they will be in despair as their accomplishments and achievements are nothing in
comparison to the magnitude of his greatness. This will make the feel ashamed and sad.

(d) Bring out the irony in the poem.

A. In the poem the poet highlights that the pride and exaggeration of the powerful kings
makes them short sighted. In their desperation to establish glory and name for all times to
come, they forget that nothing is permanent in this world.
The huge statue built by king Ozymandias in order to establish his greatness for all times to
come has been ruined by the all-pervasive time. The words engraved on the platform of his
statue “Look upon my works, Ye mighty and despair” are an irony. Today there is no such
great work seen around it.
All around this platform are the scattered remains of his statue. The inscription on the huge
platform with the two legs standing on it and his face half buried in sand is a mockery of his
claim of being the mightiest and the most powerful ruler.

(e) ‘Nothing beside remains.’ What does the narrator mean when he says these words?
A. The poet wants to say in this line that although the inscription on the platform reads out to
all the mighty rulers to look at his works, there is nothing else to see around over there other
than this platform. All that remains is the ruined scattered pieces of his statue lying half buried
in the vast desert. So, the inscription is a mockery made by king Ozymandias of himself. His
being the mightiest of the mighty kings has failed in front of the powerful element of time
which destroys everything.

(f) What is your impression of Ozymandias as a king?

A. Ozymandias was a scornful, proud king. He was short tempered and egoist. He desperately
sought to establish his supremacy over other powerful rulers. In his desperation, he turned a
blind eye towards the reality of life. His approach to get eternal name and fame by erecting a
statue fails as he is unable to foresee the might of the all-pervasive time.

(g) What message is conveyed through this poem?

A. In this poem the poet wants to tell us that we are mortals and remain in the world for a
short time. We must not try to immortalize ourselves by acts of constructing huge statues and
monuments. These things are also timely, and the mighty time destroys everything.
The pride and vanity which accompanies these accomplishments does not even let us remain
good human beings. So, rather than aiming for endless name and fame, we must lead a
humble and generous life.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
What lesson about pride and arrogance does the poem "Ozymandias" convey? How can students
apply this in their daily life?

Answer:

The poem "Ozymandias" highlights the futility of pride and arrogance. Ozymandias, once a powerful
king, believed his glory would last forever, yet all that remains of his empire is a shattered statue in
the desert. This teaches us that no matter how powerful or wealthy we are, time spares no one. In
daily life, students can apply this lesson by staying humble and respectful toward others.
Achievements are temporary, but humility and kindness make a lasting impact. Instead of boasting,
one should focus on values, relationships, and meaningful contributions to society.