Ozymandias

1. Which of the following best describes the poem’s central theme?

• The joy of discovering ancient treasures

• The eternal triumph of powerful rulers

• The inevitable decline of human achievements

• The importance of obedience to authority

2. 2. In the poem, how is the story of Ozymandias primarily introduced?

• Through the king’s own first-person narration

• By a sculptor narrating the story of the statue

• Through a traveler recounting what he saw

• By a historian describing events of the past

3. “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” is an example of:

• Hyperbole that praises the enduring nature of Ozymandias’ empire

• Metaphor that compares Ozymandias’ works to a natural force

• Situational irony, since the works are now in ruins

• Personification of the desert as a mocking presence

4. Which phrase in the poem best emphasizes nature’s power over human accomplishments?

• “Wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command”

• “King of Kings”

• “The hand that mocked them”

• “The lone and level sands stretch far away”

5. The “shattered visage” primarily symbolizes:

• The king’s generosity and kindness toward his subjects
  

• The artistic flaw in the sculptor’s workmanship
  

• The broken power and vanity of a once-mighty ruler

• A hidden treasure waiting to be excavated

6. Which literary device is most evident in the phrase “sneer of cold command”?

• Onomatopoeia

• Personification

• Oxymoron

• Alliteration

7. How does the poem convey the “art and immortality” theme?

• By praising the empire’s military conquests

• By showing that Ozymandias’ written laws still govern the land

• By depicting the sculptor’s skill in capturing the ruler’s emotions, which outlast the ruler’s power

• By focusing on the wealth stored beneath the statue

8. Why does the line “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings” ring with irony?

• The poem never actually reveals the king’s real name.

• The traveler insists that Ozymandias was not a true king.

• The king’s empire is still flourishing and wealthy.

• The proclamation of supreme power contrasts with the statue’s ruined state.

9. In the context of the poem, the phrase “boundless and bare” mainly emphasizes:

• The rich natural resources of the desert

• The sense of infinite possibility in Ozymandias’ kingdom

• The emptiness and vastness of the surrounding landscape

• The comforting solitude of the natural world

10. Overall, which emotional journey does Ozymandias most strongly evoke?

• From excitement about a new kingdom to relief at its downfall

• From curiosity and awe to melancholy and reflection on the passage of time

• From curiosity and awe to melancholy and reflection on the passage of time

• From confusion about the statue’s origin to anger at the sculptor’s skill