ozymandias

• "and wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command"

  'sneer'

  • implies arrogance and dominance

   

  'cold'

  • adds a chilling quality to the expression, implying a lack of compassion or warmth

   'wrinkled lip'

  • suggests that the statue’s lips are drawn back in a disdainful or contemptuous manner
• "and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command"


  • The sculptor skillfully captured these features, revealing Ozymandias’s character and temperament.
  • The phrase underscores the ruler’s hubris and the belief that his power was absolute.
  • Despite the statue’s decay, the sneering expression endures, serving as a powerful reminder of the impermanence of human achievements.
• "the hand that mocked them"


  'mocked' - double meaning

  • refers to the sculptor’s skill in creating a lifelike representation of Ozymandias’s face.
  • The sculptor skilfully captured the ruler’s emotions and expressions. Perhaps the sculptor conveyed the ruler’s arrogance or pride in a way that subtly mocked him.
• "the heart that fed"


  • The “heart” symbolizes Ozymandias’s inner desires, ambitions, and emotions.
  • The phrase “fed” suggests that Ozymandias’s heart fueled his actions and aspirations. It implies that his ambitions were insatiable, driving him to build grand monuments and seek eternal fame.