Question

'Ozymandias' and 'Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments' are based on the theme of Time. Compare the two sonnets in terms of the manner in which Time is treated by the poets. Write your answer in about 150 words.

Answer 1

Shakespeare in his sonnet ‘Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments’ written on time expresses that monuments are made for the wealthy to keep the memory of someone alive. Stone can be altered by the immortalities of time.

This poem will leave behind the material things of life but his poem shall survive longer than any gold plated monument. It will be portrayed for all time and his subject will shine when devastating wars of time shall overturn statues. The cause of war (Mars) nor the effects of war (fire) shall destroy the loving memory.

In ‘Ozymandias’ the poet has treated time in a different manner. He says with the passage of time everything is destroyed, be it king, property or monument. The king who was so terrified and those who commanded no longer have any power. Poet comments on temporal nature of the things humans strive for but with time everything vanishes. Ozymandias’ empire ceased to exist. His statue will also expire. Only sand will remain.

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