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Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 6 Ozymandias of Egypt
–Percy Bysshe Shelley
About the Poet
Percy Bysshe Shelley was a famous English Romantic poet, born on 4 August 1792 in Sussex, England. He was the son of a wealthy family and received his early education at Eton College. Later, he joined the University of Oxford but was expelled for writing a pamphlet that questioned religious beliefs.
Shelley was known for his rebellious ideas, strong belief in freedom, and criticism of social and political injustice. His poetry reflects his imaginative power and deep concern for humanity. Some of his most well-known works include Ozymandias, Ode to the West Wind, and To a Skylark.
He was married to Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Shelley spent much of his later life in Italy, where he continued writing and associating with other literary figures.
He died at a young age of 29 in 1822 when he drowned in a boating accident. Despite his short life, Shelley left a lasting impact on English literature through his powerful and visionary poetry.
Word Notes
Sonnet: A fourteen-line poem with a fixed rhyme scheme.
Traveller: A person who narrates the story of the ruined statue.
Desert: A vast, empty landscape where the statue stands.
Statue: A monument built to represent a powerful ruler.
Ruins: Remains of something that has been destroyed over time.
Visage: The face or expression of the statue.
Sculptor: The artist who carved the statue.
Pedestal: The base on which the statue stands.
Inscription: Words engraved on the pedestal.
Arrogance: Excessive pride shown by Ozymandias.
Power: Authority and control possessed by the king.
Impermanence: The temporary nature of human achievements.
Irony: Contrast between the king’s boast and the ruined reality.
Decay: Gradual destruction over time.
Time: The force that destroys all human creations.
Nature: The desert that outlasts the king’s empire.
Legacy: What remains after a person’s death.
Authority: The commanding nature of the ruler.
Pride: The king’s belief in his greatness.
Transience: The idea that nothing lasts forever.
Summary
Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley is a powerful sonnet that reflects on the impermanence of human power and the inevitable decline of even the greatest empires. The poem is presented through a layered narration, where the poet recounts the story told by a traveller who has seen the ruins of a once magnificent statue in a desert.
The traveller describes the shattered remains of the statue of Ozymandias, a mighty king of ancient Egypt. Only fragments of the statue survive, including the broken face, which still bears expressions of pride, arrogance, and authority. These features reveal the ruler’s commanding personality, skillfully captured by the sculptor.
At the base of the statue is an inscription in which Ozymandias proclaims himself the “King of Kings” and challenges others to look upon his works and despair. However, this declaration stands in stark contrast to the surrounding scene of emptiness and ruin. Nothing remains of his great empire, and the vast desert stretches endlessly around the broken monument.
The poem is deeply ironic, as the king’s proud words are rendered meaningless by time. His attempt to immortalize his greatness has instead highlighted his insignificance. Shelley uses this contrast to emphasize the theme that power, glory, and human achievements are temporary.
Critically, the poem also suggests that while political power fades, art has a longer-lasting impact. The sculptor’s work has preserved the expression of the king’s character, even when the empire itself has disappeared. At the same time, nature proves to be more enduring than human creations, as the desert has outlasted the ruler’s legacy.
In conclusion, Ozymandias is a profound meditation on the limits of human ambition and the passage of time. Through vivid imagery and irony, Shelley delivers a timeless message about the fleeting nature of power and the ultimate dominance of time and nature.
Comprehension: Textual Question-Answers
A. Answer the Questions in One or Two Words.
1. Which king is referred to in the poem ‘Ozymandias of Egypt’?
Ans: Ozymandias (Ramesses II).
2. What type of poem is ‘Ozymandias of Egypt’?
Ans: A sonnet.
3. Who is the speaker in the poem?
Ans: The poet himself.
4. Who tells the poet about the shattered statue?
Ans: A traveller.
5. Name the collection of poetry in which ‘Ozymandias of Egypt’ got first published.
Ans: Rosalind and Helen.
B. Answer in a few words.
1. What is the rhyme scheme of ‘Ozymandias of Egypt’?
Ans: The poem follows the pattern ABABACDCEDEFEF.
2. What is ironic about the inscription on the pedestal of Ozymandias’s statue?
Ans: The words proudly ask others to admire his greatness, yet nothing of his achievements survives, making the statement meaningless.
3. What is the only thing remaining in the vast desert?
Ans: Only the broken statue and endless stretches of sand remain.
4. Who was Ozymandias?
Ans: He was the Greek name for the Egyptian ruler Ramesses II.
5. What quality of Ozymandias does the narrator represent?
Ans: The narrator highlights his pride, arrogance, and harsh authority.
C. Answer briefly in your own words.
1. Write a brief note on the theme of ‘transience of power’ as discussed in the poem.
Ans: The poem conveys that power and glory do not last forever. Even a mighty ruler like Ozymandias, who once dominated others, is now remembered only through ruins, showing that time eventually destroys all human achievements.
2. ‘The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed’. Whose hand and heart has the poet referred to in this line?
Ans: The “hand” refers to the sculptor who carved the statue by capturing the king’s expressions, while the “heart” refers to Ozymandias, whose inner feelings shaped those expressions.
3. How does the poet describe the expression on Ozymandias’s face?
Ans: The face is shown with a stern and commanding look, marked by a frown, a tightened lip, and a cold, authoritative expression, revealing his harsh nature.
D. Answer in detail.
1. Bring out the central idea contained in the poem ‘Ozymandias of Egypt’ by P. B. Shelley.
Ans: The poem presents the idea that human power and pride are temporary and cannot withstand the passage of time. Ozymandias, who once considered himself supreme and
unmatched, built a grand statue to display his authority. However, with time, his empire disappeared, and only the ruins of his statue remain in an empty desert. This creates a strong contrast between his proud claim and the reality of destruction. The poem also shows that while political power fades away, art and nature endure longer. The sculptor’s work still reveals the king’s personality, and nature has reclaimed the land. Thus, the poem serves as a warning against arrogance and reminds us that all worldly glory is short-lived.
2. Identify the figures of speech in the poem.
Ans: The poem makes use of several figures of speech to enhance its meaning. Alliteration is seen in phrases like “cold command” and “lone and level,” creating a rhythmic effect. Synecdoche is used where “hand” stands for the sculptor and “heart” represents the king. Irony is the most striking device, as the king’s proud message contrasts sharply with the ruined state of his statue. Personification appears when human emotions are attributed to lifeless stone. Enjambment is also used, where lines continue without pause, giving the poem a smooth and flowing structure.
Additional Questions and Answers
A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who is the author of “Ozymandias”?
(a) John Keats
(b) William Wordsworth
(c) Percy Bysshe Shelley
(d) Lord Byron
Ans: (c)
2. What type of poem is “Ozymandias”?
(a) Ode
(b) Sonnet
(c) Ballad
(d) Epic
Ans: (b)
3. Who narrates the story in the poem?
(a) A king
(b) A traveller
(c) The poet
(d) A soldier
Ans: (c)
4. From whom does the poet hear the story?
(a) A king
(b) A traveller
(c) A merchant
(d) A friend
Ans: (b)
5. What is found in the desert?
(a) A palace
(b) A temple
(c) A broken statue
(d) A city
Ans: (c)
6. What part of the statue is described in the poem?
(a) The crown
(b) The legs
(c) The face
(d) The hands
Ans: (c)
7. What expression is seen on the statue’s face?
(a) Joy
(b) Kindness
(c) Anger and pride
(d) Fear
Ans: (c)
8. Who carved the statue?
(a) A king
(b) A soldier
(c) A sculptor
(d) A poet
Ans: (c)
9. What does the word “visage” mean?
(a) Statue
(b) Face
(c) Crown
(d) Body
Ans: (b)
10. What is written on the pedestal of the statue?
(a) A prayer
(b) A warning
(c) A boastful message
(d) A story
Ans: (c)
11. What does Ozymandias call himself?
(a) King of Kings
(b) Lord of Lords
(c) Emperor of Earth
(d) Ruler of Desert
Ans: (a)
12. What surrounds the ruins of the statue?
(a) Forests
(b) Mountains
(c) Endless sands
(d) Rivers
Ans: (c)
13. What is the central theme of the poem?
(a) Love
(b) Nature
(c) Power and its permanence
(d) The temporary nature of power
Ans: (d)
14. What literary device is mainly used in the poem?
(a) Simile
(b) Irony
(c) Metaphor
(d) Hyperbole
Ans: (b)
15. Where was the poem first published?
(a) Lyrical Ballads
(b) Rosalind and Helen
(c) The Prelude
(d) Paradise Lost
Ans: (b) 0 0 0
