English Chapter-10: Ozymandias

4. Answer the following questions by ticking the correct options.

(a) The poem is set in ____________________________________________
i. the wilderness
ii. an ancient land
iii. a palace
iv. a desert

Answer: iv. a desert

(b) The expression on the face of the statue is one of ____________________
i. admiration
ii. anger
iii. despair
iv. contempt

Answer: iv. contempt

(c) This poem throws light on the _________________ nature of Ozymandias.
i. cruel
ii. arrogant
iii. boastful
iv. aggressive

Answer: iii. boastful

(d) The sculptor was able to understand Ozymandias' ___________________
i. words
ii. expression
iii. feelings
iv. ambition

Answer: ii. expression

(e) The tone of the poem is ________________________________________
i. mocking
ii. nostalgic
iii. gloomy
iv. gloating

Answer: iv. gloating

5. 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?

The hand is the sculptor's hand who made the statue and the heart of the King Ozymandias which fed on the passions of his people.

(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.

Ozymandias is the mighty king who has defeated almost all the kings and their empires around him. He is proud of his glory and power. So, he calls himself ‘King of Kings’. This statement shows that the king must be very proud of his achievements. He is a real snob.

(c) "Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Who is Ozymandias referring to when he speaks of ye Mighty? Why should they despair?

Ozymandias refers to all the other rulers to come after his reign. They should despair, because according to him, they can’t surpass his glory and power.

(d) Bring out the irony in the poem.

Ozymandias was very powerful ruler. No ruler in that time withstand against him. He was all high and mighty king. But now, his statue is present in broken pieces and has mixed with the dust and sand. Here is irony.

(e) 'Nothing beside remains.' What does the narrator mean when he says these words?

When the narrator says these words, he emphasises on the fact that human life is time bound. The power and popularity of the ruler descended with the descent of the ruler. Nothing is immortal and immutable in this world.

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

Ozymandias was a great powerful king as he had defeated almost every king in his empire. His achievements could be seen throughout the empire. But his boastful nature, his arrogance, and his nature of showing others down make him a weak person.

(g) What message is conveyed through this poem?

Through this poem a very important message is conveyed that time is all powerful. No king or his power can defeat time. All the achievement, in the end, leads to grave as nothing lives in the world forever. So, the pride and the showcase of power are useless. The greatness of a man is known by his good deeds.