1. 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 shattered visage lies, whose frown,
5. And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
10. My name is Ozymandias*, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
Group discussion questions:
1. Read over the poem again
2. What is the theme or the controlling idea? What specifically in the text led you to that conclusion?
3. Irony: The definition of irony as a literary device is a situation in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality. For example, the difference between what something appears to mean versus its literal meaning.
What irony do you observe in Ozymandius?
Be prepared to share :)
Independent work below. Copy the following questions on a google doc and share, as usual:
(don't forget to give me editing rights!)
Part 1:
Highlight the correct response
Irony
1. What does the traveler describe to the speaker?
A. A tall forest in a desert
B. A broken statue in sand
C. Smashed glass in the sand
D. A desert with abandoned techniques
2. How does the traveler describe the expression on the statue?
A. as compassionate
B. as frightened
C. as thoughtful
D. as arrogant
3. What does the traveler describe to the speaker?
A. A tall forest standing in a desert
B.A broken statue lying in sand
C. Smashed glass sunken in the sand
D. A desert with abandoned antiques
4. Part A: Which statment best expresses the theme of this poem?
A. Ancient rules are an important part of history
B. People are easily corrupted by pride
C. Be wary of the stories travellers tell
D. Power and greatness will not last forever
5. Part B:
Which selection from the text best develops the theme in Part A.
A. I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert.
B. And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
C. And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias*, King of Kings;
D. Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
6. What is the effect of the speaker hearing about this statue from someone else, as oppossed to seeing it with his own eyes?
A. It helps emphasize how the story has been passed on and the reader should doubt the reliabilty of the description
B. It emphasizes how powerful the king was and how much his legend continues to impact culture.
C. It helps emphasize how the story is a tale that is being passed on to the reader, indicating that there is a message to be heeded.
D. It demonstrates the readers susceptability to the influences of others.
7. For what reason did the author include the inscription on the statue:"Look on my works ye Mighty and despair!"
A. It lets the reader know that Ozymandius was a cruel leader.
B. It emphasizes the contrast between the king's arrogance and the ruin his statue has become.
C. It demonstrates the negative attitude the sculptor had about the king.
D. It compares Ozymandius to other famous kings by alluding to the classic Arthurian legend.
