Page 58 - English Expedition Class 6

C. Answer the following questions.
1. From whom does the narrator of the poem hear the description of the statue?

2. Was the sculptor able to portray the character of Ozymandias along with his physical
features? How?

3. How does the spirit of the sculptor survive through the statue? Quote from the poem to
support your answer.
4. Quote the words which are inscribed on the pedestal of the statue.

D. Refl ect and answer.

1. Why do you think the ‘cold command’ on the face of Ozymandias was accompanied by a
‘sneer’?
2. What kind of relationship do you think the sculptor had with Ozymandias, the subject of his
work? Give reasons for your answer.
3. Write an alternative title for the poem and state why you think it is appropriate.

Appreciation

A. The poem shows us the ruined state in which the once-magnifi cent statue of Ozymandias lies
in the vast, barren desert. We are also shown the arrogance of Ozymandias and his belief that
he was the mightiest ruler of all. The supreme arrogance with which the statue had been built,
and the shattered ruin that it later becomes, presents an interesting contrast for the reader.
This situation is called an irony, where the reader is aware of the unexpected consequences
of a character’s words or actions while the character remains in the dark. Contrasting words or
situations often create an ironic tone through a twist which can be funny or tragic.

Read the poem and quote the lines which depict irony. Explain briefl y why you think these
lines are ironic. Also fi nd words from the poem which you think create an ironic tone and
write them down.

B. A sonnet is a particular type of poem which consists of fourteen lines and has a fi xed pattern of
rhyme. The rhyme varies in each sonnet. A typical sonnet can be divided into two distinct parts:
the octave (fi rst eight lines of the poem) and the sestet (last six lines of the poem).

Read the poem aloud, paying attention to the pauses. Count the number of lines in it. Is it a
sonnet? What is its rhyme scheme?

C. Find three examples of alliteration from the poem and write them in your notebook.

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