Who is being compared to whom in “Sonnet 18”? William Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) “Sonnet 18” (1609) is one of his most famous poems....Continue
Write a Summary of the Poem “Ozymandias”.
Write a summary of the poem “Ozymandias”.
“Ozymandias” (1822) is a famous poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822). It tells the story of a broken statue in the desert, which reminds us of the power of time. The poem teaches us how all great things, no matter how powerful, can fade away.
The speaker meets a traveler from an ancient land. The traveler describes a huge statue in the desert. The statue has two large, broken legs. Near the legs, there is a head that is half-buried in the sand. The face shows a look of anger and pride. It seems the sculptor understood the king’s strong emotions well.
The statue has an inscription that reads: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” These words show that the king was proud of his greatness. He wanted everyone to see how powerful he was. But now, all around the statue is only emptiness. There is nothing left of his great empire.
The desert stretches far and wide, and all that remains of Ozymandias’s power is this broken statue. It shows how time can destroy even the mightiest rulers. In the end, the poem reminds us that power and glory do not last forever. Everything will eventually fade away, just like the once-great king and his kingdom.