What does the decay of that colossal wreck mean in Ozymandias?

What does the decay of that colossal wreck mean in Ozymandias?

The desolation of the boundless and bare desert setting provides a new context for the statue’s inscription. The “colossal wreck” refers to the fallen statue of Ozymandias, the once-great ruler of Egypt who commissioned an image of himself so that the mighty should look on his works and despair.

What does the colossal wreck suggest to the Traveller?

The poet wrote the phrase ‘Colossal wreck’ to denote the decay of the statue of Ozymandias and falling of it. He was a great ruler of Egypt once but then the pride of his enormous ego increased and he used to think that the almighty will look at his works and despair.

What does the symbol of the ruined statue represent in Ozymandias?

The broken statue of Ozymandias symbolizes the false power a tyrant holds. Ozymandias had a huge ego and thought he was magnificent and great. He also thought that the empire he built would last forever.

What does the phrase half sunk a shattered visage lies mean?

face
Near them on the sand, Half sunk, a shatter’d visage lies… “Visage” means face; a face implies a head, so we are being told that the head belonging to this sculpture is partially buried in the sand, near the legs. It is also, like the whole statue, “shatter’d.”

What does colossal wreck mean?

Colossal means very huge and wreck means something that’s badly damaged. In the poem Ozymandias, colossal wreck refers to the badly damaged statue of the king (Ozymandias) Hope this helps you.

What does Round the decay Of that colossal wreck boundless and bare suggest?

The line signifies that neither glory nor the power of the king is forever. All his vanity and achievements have gone to oblivion.It means there is nothing but sand around the decay of that huge statue. It lies all in ruins surrounded by barren sand of the desert.

What else remained there beside the broken statue What does it signify?

Ans. Nothing else remains beside the ruins of the statue. The pedestal bore the inscription that the mighty should look on his works and despair. As far as the eye can see, there is only sand near the ruins of the broken statue in the desert.

What does pedestal mean in Ozymandias?

Expert Answers The words on the pedestal imply that Ozymandias was a great ruler who believed his reign to be important to the history of man. The words read: “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” Ozymandias thought the great statues built in his honor…

How does the phrase colossal wreck line 13 serve the meaning of the poem?

Phrase “the decay of that colossal wreck” – the ruined statue shows how human achievements are insignificant compared to the passing of time.

Who is Ozymandias addressing as ye mighty?

Answer: Ozymandias is referring to all other powerful kings of his time when he speaks of ye Mighty. They should despair because Ozymandias is superior to them and they stand nowhere when Ozymandias’s victories, achievements and works are compared with theirs. (d) Bring out the irony in the poem.

How does Shelley use diction in round the decay?

Round the decay The lone and level sands stretch far away. These are powerful lines, and the traveler almost seems to be mocking the ruler. Shelley’s diction here is important. He uses words such as decay and bare to show just how powerless this once-mighty pharaoh has become.

What does the word Ozymandias mean in the first line?

word exudes power, prestige, and boastfulness. “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” The first thing he does is state his name, reminding his subjects and informing every traveller who passes by that the immense statue and empire

Why does Ozymandias say Look on my works ye mighty and despair?

His fate is not unlike Ozymandias’. When Ozymandias orders “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!” he meant to cause his rivals despair over his incredible power, but he may have only caused them despair when they realized their ignominious end was as inevitable as his.

What happened to Napoleon in Ozymandias?

At the time the poem was written, Napoleon had recently fallen from power and was living in exile, after years of ruling and invading much of Europe. His fate is not unlike Ozymandias’. When Ozymandias orders “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!”