OZYMANDIAS
Percy Bysshe Shelley
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
half sunk, a shatter’d visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamp’d on these lifeless things,
The hand that mock’d them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
“My name is Ozymandas, king of kings:
Look on my works, Ye Mighty, and despair!’
Theme:
The famous sonnet, based on Greek history, ‘Ozymandias’, a symbol of futile power that fails the test of time has been named after the main figure in the poem. The poem having a melancholic tone bears an autocratic rule that turned into a huge heap of ruins lying pitifully in a lonely vast desert. The presentation of hard truth implying dislikes for the despotic rulers, and exceptional rhyme and a matching diction suggest the irony power of earth.
Paraphrasing
"I met a traveller from an antique land"
I met a traveler who had come from an ancient place, far in the past.
"Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone"
The traveler told me about two huge stone legs, which were all that remained of a statue, with no body or arms left.
"Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand, half sunk, a shatter’d visage lies"
The stone legs stand in a desert, and nearby, partly buried in the sand, there is the broken face of the statue.
"Whose frown and wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command"
The face has an expression of anger, with a frown, a twisted lip, and a sneer that shows arrogance and authority.
"Tell that its sculptor well those passions read"
The sculptor clearly understood and captured the emotions of power and pride that the statue's face expresses.
"Which yet survive, stamp’d on these lifeless things"
These emotions still live on, engraved in the remains of the statue, even though it is now broken and lifeless.
"The hand that mock’d them and the heart that fed"
The sculptor’s hand created the statue, and the ruler's heart once fueled the emotions of power and pride.
"And on the pedestal these words appear:"
On the base of the statue, there are inscriptions that say:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:"
The inscription reads: "I am Ozymandias, the most powerful ruler."
"Look on my works, Ye Mighty, and despair!"
It warns other powerful rulers or mighty people to look at what Ozymandias has achieved and feel despair, suggesting that his power is unmatched.
Short Answer Questions
Who is the speaker in the poem?
The speaker in the poem is a person who recounts a story told by a traveler from an ancient land. This traveler describes the remnants of a once-great statue of Ozymandias that he encountered in the desert. The speaker is indirectly telling the reader about the story through the traveler’s eyes.
What does the traveler describe in the poem?
The traveler describes the remains of a large statue in the desert. Only two huge, broken legs stand tall in the sand, and a shattered face lies nearby, partly buried. The face shows an expression of arrogance, with a sneer and a frown that suggests a cold command. The traveler emphasizes how the statue once represented a great ruler but is now in ruins.
What is the inscription on the pedestal of the statue?
The inscription on the pedestal of the statue reads: “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, Ye Mighty, and despair!” This inscription reveals the arrogance and pride of Ozymandias, who believed his empire and achievements were so great that they would cause future rulers to feel hopeless and inferior. However, the irony is that nothing remains of his works, only ruins.
What emotions are shown in the statue's face?
The statue’s face conveys a strong emotion of arrogance and pride. It has a frown, a wrinkled lip, and a sneer of cold command, which suggests that Ozymandias was a ruler who viewed himself as powerful and superior to others. The facial expression symbolizes his belief that he was invincible, yet the statue now lies broken in the desert, a symbol of his faded power.
What is the significance of the statue's condition?
The broken condition of the statue signifies the passage of time and the eventual decay of all human achievements, including the most powerful empires. The statue once symbolized Ozymandias’ greatness, but now, it is a mere shadow of its former glory. This serves as a reminder that no matter how powerful a ruler or empire may seem, time erodes everything, and nothing lasts forever.
What does the phrase "Look on my works, Ye Mighty, and despair" suggest?
The phrase on the pedestal suggests that Ozymandias believed his empire and accomplishments were unmatched and would intimidate or demoralize other rulers. He saw himself as an unrivaled king whose works would stand as a testament to his greatness. However, the irony is that all that remains of his works are ruins, and instead of inspiring fear or awe, they show the impermanence of power.
How does the poem comment on the idea of power and time?
The poem illustrates the fleeting nature of power by contrasting Ozymandias' grandiose claim with the reality of the shattered statue in the desert. Despite Ozymandias’ boastful inscription, his empire has crumbled, and only the ruins of his monument remain. The poem emphasizes that time, no matter how powerful or significant a ruler may be, eventually leads to decay, and all empires, no matter how mighty, are destined to fade.
What does the line "half sunk, a shattered visage lies" mean?
This line refers to the broken face of the statue, which is partly buried in the sand. The term “shattered visage” suggests that the statue’s once-proud face is now broken and incomplete, symbolizing the collapse of Ozymandias’ power. The fact that the face is “half sunk” into the sand implies that the once-grand figure is now slowly being consumed by time and nature, further emphasizing the theme of decay.
What does the line "The hand that mock’d them and the heart that fed" mean?
This line refers to the sculptor who created the statue. The sculptor was able to capture Ozymandias’ pride and arrogance in the expression on the statue’s face. "The hand that mock’d them" refers to the sculptor’s ability to mimic the king’s emotions through art, while "the heart that fed" refers to the king’s own pride and ambition, which inspired the creation of the statue. The line suggests that the sculptor understood the king’s personality, and the statue reflects both the artist’s skill and the king’s hubris.
What is the ultimate message of the poem?
The ultimate message of the poem is the impermanence of human power and achievement. Despite Ozymandias’ proud claims and belief that his works would endure forever, time has erased everything except the ruins of his statue. The poem serves as a reminder that no matter how powerful one may be in the present, all things fade with time, and even the greatest empires and individuals are ultimately forgotten. The ruins of Ozymandias’ statue are a symbol of the inevitable decline of all human creations.
Multiple-choice questions based on the text:
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
What does the traveler describe in the poem?
A) A battle between kings
B) A broken statue in the desert
C) A fallen city
D) A lost treasure
Answer: B) A broken statue in the desert
Who is the statue of in the poem?
A) A great general
B) Ozymandias, the king
C) The sculptor
D) A nameless ruler
Answer: B) Ozymandias, the king
What are the emotions depicted in the statue’s face?
A) Joy and peace
B) Anger and arrogance
C) Sadness and grief
D) Surprise and fear
Answer: B) Anger and arrogance
What does the inscription on the pedestal say?
A) "My name is Ozymandias, the greatest of kings."
B) "Look at my works, ye mighty, and despair."
C) "I am the ruler of the world."
D) "My name is unknown, but my works are eternal."
Answer: B) "Look at my works, ye mighty, and despair."
What does the broken statue represent?
A) The fall of a great civilization
B) The eternal power of Ozymandias
C) A tribute to a great leader
D) The journey of the traveler
Answer: A) The fall of a great civilization
What is the setting of the poem?
A) A bustling city
B) A desert with the ruins of a statue
C) A palace
D) A garden
Answer: B) A desert with the ruins of a statue
Who is the speaker in the poem?
A) Ozymandias
B) The sculptor
C) A traveler who met someone else
D) A king
Answer: C) A traveler who met someone else
What does the phrase "look on my works, ye mighty, and despair" mean?
A) Ozymandias was welcoming visitors.
B) Ozymandias believed his empire was so great that other rulers would feel hopeless.
C) Ozymandias was warning others about his power.
D) Ozymandias thought his empire would last forever.
Answer: B) Ozymandias believed his empire was so great that other rulers would feel hopeless.
What is the poem’s theme?
A) The triumph of power
B) The transience of power and human achievements
C) The importance of art and sculpture
D) The beauty of nature
Answer: B) The transience of power and human achievements
What is the condition of Ozymandias’ statue?
A) Perfect and untouched
B) In ruins and partially buried in sand
C) Completely intact
D) Only the pedestal remains
Answer: B) In ruins and partially buried in sand
Detailed Summary of "Ozymandias"
The poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley tells the story of a traveler who recounts seeing the remains of a grand statue in the desert. The traveler describes the scene: two enormous, broken legs of stone stand in the sand, while a shattered face lies nearby. The face has a sneer and a frown, suggesting the arrogance of the ruler it once depicted. The expression on the face shows that the sculptor captured the ruler’s cold and commanding demeanor.
On the pedestal of the statue, there is an inscription that reads: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, Ye Mighty, and despair!" This message reflects the pride of Ozymandias, who believed that his achievements were so great that they would make future rulers feel insignificant. However, the irony is clear—the only thing left of Ozymandias’s great empire is a ruined statue in the desert, far from the powerful civilization it once represented.
The poem explores the idea that time erodes all things, even the greatest of empires. Ozymandias's boastful declaration is made hollow by the fact that all that remains of his works are broken pieces of stone, scattered in the sands. The traveler’s story serves as a reminder that no matter how powerful a ruler may be, time and nature will ultimately destroy all traces of their power.
Short Theme
The theme of Ozymandias is the transient nature of power. It emphasizes that even the mightiest of rulers and empires are subject to the passage of time and decay. The poem conveys the idea that human achievements, no matter how grand, are temporary and will eventually fade, leaving only remnants to tell their story.
Bangla Translation (Summary)
পার্সি বাইশে শেলির লেখা "ওজিমান্ডিয়াস" কবিতাটি একজন ভ্রমণকারীর গল্প বলে, যিনি মরুভূমিতে একটি বিশাল মূর্তির ধ্বংসাবশেষ দেখার কথা বর্ণনা করেন। ভ্রমণকারী দৃশ্যটি বর্ণনা করেন: পাথরের দুটি বিশাল, ভাঙা পা বালির মধ্যে দাঁড়িয়ে আছে, আর পাশেই একটি ছিন্নভিন্ন মুখ। মুখের উপর একটি উপহাস এবং ভ্রুকুটি রয়েছে, যা একসময় চিত্রিত শাসকের অহংকারকে ইঙ্গিত করে। মুখের অভিব্যক্তি দেখায় যে ভাস্কর শাসকের ঠান্ডা এবং কর্তৃত্বপূর্ণ আচরণকে ধারণ করেছেন।
মূর্তির পাদদেশে একটি শিলালিপি রয়েছে যেখানে লেখা আছে: "আমার নাম ওজিমান্ডিয়াস, রাজাদের রাজা: আমার কাজগুলি দেখুন, হে পরাক্রমশালী, এবং হতাশা!" এই বার্তাটি ওজিমান্ডিয়াসের গর্বকে প্রতিফলিত করে, যিনি বিশ্বাস করতেন যে তার অর্জনগুলি এত দুর্দান্ত যে ভবিষ্যতের শাসকদের তা তুচ্ছ মনে হবে। যাইহোক, বিদ্রূপ স্পষ্ট - ওজিমান্ডিয়াসের মহান সাম্রাজ্যের একমাত্র অবশিষ্ট জিনিস হল মরুভূমিতে একটি ধ্বংসপ্রাপ্ত মূর্তি, যা একসময় এটি যে শক্তিশালী সভ্যতার প্রতিনিধিত্ব করেছিল তা থেকে অনেক দূরে।
কবিতাটি এই ধারণাটি অন্বেষণ করে যে সময় সবকিছুকে ধ্বংস করে দেয়, এমনকি সর্বশ্রেষ্ঠ সাম্রাজ্যকেও। ওজিমান্ডিয়াসের গর্বিত ঘোষণাটি এই সত্য দ্বারা ফাঁকা প্রমাণিত হয় যে তার কাজের অবশিষ্টাংশগুলি বালিতে ছড়িয়ে ছিটিয়ে থাকা ভাঙা পাথরের টুকরো। ভ্রমণকারীর গল্পটি আমাদের মনে করিয়ে দেয় যে একজন শাসক যতই শক্তিশালী হোক না কেন, সময় এবং প্রকৃতি শেষ পর্যন্ত তাদের ক্ষমতার সমস্ত চিহ্ন ধ্বংস করে দেবে।
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Vocabulary words from the poem Ozymandias along with their meanings and example sentences:
Vocabulary Word | English Meaning | Bangla Meaning | Example Sentence |
Traveller | A person who travels from one place to another. | পথচারী | The traveller shared fascinating stories from his journeys. |
Antique | Very old, often with historical value. | প্রাচীন | I found an antique chair in my grandmother's house. |
Vast | Very large in size, extent, or quantity. | বিশাল | The vast desert stretched as far as the eye could see. |
Trunkless | Without a body or main part. | মূলোহীন | The trunkless legs of the statue were all that remained. |
Visage | A person's face or facial expression. | মুখাবয়ব | The visage of the statue was cracked and weathered. |
Frown | A facial expression of disapproval or displeasure. | ভ্রুকুটি | He gave a frown when he saw the broken statue. |
Wrinkled | Having wrinkles, typically from age. | বলিরেখা | The wrinkled face of the statue showed signs of wear. |
Sneer | A facial expression of contempt or scorn. | তাচ্ছিল্যপূর্ণ হাসি | His sneer showed that he thought he was better than others. |
Cold command | A stern, harsh authority. | শীতল আদেশ | His cold command made everyone fear him. |
Sculptor | A person who makes sculptures or statues. | ভাস্কর | The sculptor carefully shaped the statue's features. |
Passions | Strong emotions or feelings. | আবেগ | The sculptor captured the passions of the king in the statue. |
Lifeless | Lacking life; dead. | অজীব | The lifeless statue lay broken in the desert. |
Mocked | To make fun of or treat with contempt. | উপহাস করা | The sculptor mocked the ruler's arrogance through his work. |
Pedestal | A base or support on which something stands. | স্তম্ভ | The statue once stood proudly on a pedestal. |
Inscription | Words written or carved on a surface. | খোদিত লেখা | The inscription on the statue read, "Look on my works, Ye Mighty." |
Boastful | Showing excessive pride in oneself. | গর্বিত | Ozymandias was boastful, thinking his empire would last forever. |
Irony | A situation where the opposite of what is expected happens. | হাস্যকর পরিস্থিতি | The irony of the statue's inscription was that nothing of Ozymandias's empire remained. |
Decay | The process of rotting or deteriorating. | ক্ষয় | The statue had decayed over time, leaving only remnants. |
Empires | Large, powerful political states or kingdoms. | সাম্রাজ্য | Ozymandias once ruled one of the greatest empires in the world. |
Remains | The parts left after something is gone or destroyed. | অবশেষ | The remains of the statue were all that was left of Ozymandias's rule. |
Ruined | Destroyed or severely damaged. | ধ্বংসপ্রাপ্ত | The ruined statue was a symbol of the empire's fall. |
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