Short Answer Questions (with Solutions) - Ozymandias

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow :

1. The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
 And on the pedestal these words appear:
 My name is Ozymandias, king of kings

(a) Whom does the hand and heart refer to?

Ans : 'The hand and heart' refer to Ozymandias himself - the sculpted hand and heart represent the ruler's actions and feelings as captured by the artist.

(b) How did the king look after his people?

Ans : He provided for their material needs but showed no real concern for their welfare or happiness; his rule was harsh and proud rather than kindly or compassionate.

(c) What quality of Ozymandias is revealed in the last line?

Ans : He is revealed as arrogant and conceited, intoxicated with power and convinced of his own supreme might; he also displays a cruel pride.

 2. Look upon my works, ye mighty and despair!

(a) Whom does the poet refer to as mighty?

Ans : He refers to other rulers or people who consider themselves powerful or supreme - those who pride themselves on their achievements.

(b) How does he challenge the mighty?

Ans : Ozymandias challenges them to compare their deeds with his own, daring them to claim superiority only if they can surpass his works and achievements.

(c) What message is conveyed in the poem Ozymandias?

Ans : All human pride, grandeur and great works are temporary; civilisations and achievements decay with time, so one should not be over-conceited about power or fame.

3. Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
 And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command
 Tell that its sculptor well those passions read..

(a) What lies in the sand and how?

Ans : Two vast stone legs stand with no torso, and a massive, shattered stone head lies nearby, half-sunk in the sand and crumbling with age.

(b) How does the shattered visage look?

Ans : The shattered visage bears a bitter, cruel expression - a wrinkled lip and a sneer of cold command that suggest arrogance and disdain.

(c) What does the face tell us about the sculptor?

Ans : The face shows that the sculptor had understood Ozymandias's character well and skilfully captured his passions - the arrogance, cruelty and commanding nature of the ruler.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. How did the poet come to know about the broken statue of Ozymandias?

Ans : The poet was told about the broken statue by a speaker who had met a traveller from an ancient land. The traveller's account, passed on by word of mouth, gives the description a sense of distance and mystery.

2. In what condition was the statue found?    [C.B.S.E., 2012 (T-2)]

Ans : The statue lay in a remote desert. Two vast stone legs remained standing without a body, while the head was broken and half-sunk in the sand. The features still show a harsh, commanding expression despite the ruin.

3. Who had written the inscription on the pedestal below the statue ? What did it indicate? [C.B.S.E., 2012 (T-2)]

Ans : The inscription on the pedestal proclaims, "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings," and invites others to compare their works with his. It indicates the king's arrogance and pride, and his belief that his achievements made him supreme.

4. Describe the surroundings of the statue of Ozymandias?

Ans : The statue stood alone amid vast stretches of sand and desolation. The empty desert and scattered ruins show that the king's works and civilisation have crumbled, emphasising the transitory nature of power.

5. Do you believe Ozymandias was justified in persisting in the belief of his supremacy? Why/ Why not?

Ans : No. His belief was not justified because time and fate reduced his achievements to ruins. His boast of supremacy is shown to be hollow when his empire and monuments have been destroyed and forgotten.

6. What does the partially destroyed statue of Ozymandias symbolise? [C.B.S.E., 2012 (T-2)]

Ans : The partially destroyed statue symbolises that nothing lasts for ever; human pride, power and civilisations decay with time. It stands as evidence that time is the great leveller.