OZYMANDIAS BY PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY

The narrator meets a traveler from the ancient land. The ancient land referred to is Egypt. The traveler is talking to the narrator and telling him that there is a huge statue which is now crumbling down. The traveler says two huge and massive legs which were the remaining part of the once grand statue are still standing. The upper part or trunk of stone-statue is missing as it has crumbled and is lost over a period of time. The place is a sandy desert and half covered and sunken in the sand is a face of the stone statue. The traveler then goes on to describe the expression still reflected on the stone-face. Despite the fact that the kingdom had fallen with time and the king's glory had faded away; the stone face of the statue had expressions of arrogance. It had a frown, wrinkled up lips, scornful and hostile expression on face which showed an air of pride and arrogance. All this showed his insensitivity and disapproval belittling others. The sculptor had created this statue as he had seen the ruler ridiculing him. The sculptor skillfully interpreted the king's feelings on the statue's face. The king had no respect even for the sculptor whose hands had created his statue. It was the statue of a ruler of Egypt - the great king Ramesses. He was the great Pharoah of the nineteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt. His name was Ozymandias. The remains of the statue stood mounted on a stone based pedestal. There was an inscription engraved on it which read as "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings : Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" This shows the king was full of self-conceit, selfimportance, vanity which thinks of all others as very low in front of him. In his w}jrds he challenges the mighty and says if anyone tries to surpass his work or match up M him, the person will only end up in despair and frustration. The narrator then shows that 'despite his boastful inscription everything is conquered by nature and nothing is immortal. The once vast and great kingdom had now disappeared. Nothing is left of the vast kingdom and all that can be seen is sand as far as one can see. The great kingdom and its great king had fallen; the civilization had turned into a deserted wasteland. The poet has commented and shown sarcasm at a powerful statement by showing the insignificance of human beings to the. passage of time. Nothing is immortal.

About the Poet:

The Son of a Rich Tory Squire, Percy Bysshe Shelly was educated at Eton and then sent to Oxford. Shelley came under the influence of revolutionary ideas of the English Philosopher, William Godwin, whose daughter, Mary Godwin he ultimately married. In 1818, Shelley left for Italy, he drowned in the Bay of Spezia in 1822.

THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINERBY SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE An old sailor stopped one, (the three people passing by, who asked : "Old man, with your long grey beard and glittering eye, why are you stopping me? " He explains that bridegroom's festivities have begunand' I am-a--close relative of the groom. The guests^ have arrived and the feast has begun; now may I enjoy the merrymaking. The mariner holds the guest with his skinny hand and says - there was a ship. Keep aivay, take (I, your hands off me, you grey-bearded mad man. A t once his hands dropped and let go. He held the guest with his glittering eyes - The wedding-guest stood still and listened like a three year old child. The mariner had his way. The wedding-guest sat on a stone; he had no choice but to listen to the mariner. The manner IT / on speaking.

The ship sailed amidst cheers and the clear harbor. They sailed merrily and passed by the Dr. I hill and lighthouse. The sun came up from the left, it shined bright and then went down on their right side.
The wedding-guest beat his breast because he was not interested in his tale but was forced to as he heard the loud musical instrument. The bride had entered the hall. She was blushing red as a rose. She passed by the musicnodding her head. The wedding guest was getting irritated but he had no choice except for listening to an manner's tale. And the bright - eyed ancient mariner went on speaking. And now a strong and tyrannous storm started. The storm overtook them and chased fi southwards. The wind blew with such force that the ship pitched down in the surf as though it were fleeing u. enemy. We moved southwards. Then the sailors reached a calm patch of sea that was "wondrous cold full of snow and

glistening green icebergs as tall as the ship's mast. The snow was drifting all around and it was very depressing. The sailors were the only living things as no men or beasts were seen and only ice was there. Everywhere only ice was seen in this frightening, enclosed world where the ice made terrible groaning sounds that echoed all around. An Albatross emerged from the mist, and the sailors revered it as a sign of good luck, as though it were a "Christian soul" sent by God to save them. No sooner than the sailors fed the Albatross did the ice break apart, allowing the captain to steer out of the freezing world. The wind picked up again. All the while, the Albatross followed the ship, ate the food the sailors gave it, and played with them. This continued for nine days. It came every day for nine days despite mist surrounded the ship and all night through the white smoke of fog the white moon light shone and glimmered.

At this point, the Wedding Guest notices that the Ancient Manner looks at once grave and crazed. He exclaims: God save you, ancient Mariner from all that troubles you. The Ancient Marina responds that he shot the Albatross with his crossbow.

JULIUS CAESAR
JULIUS CAESAR is the story of a man's personal dilemma over moral action, set against a backdrop of strained political drama. Julius Caesar, an able general and a conqueror returns to Rome amidst immense popularity after defeating the sons of Pompey. The people celebrate his victorious return and Mark Antony offers him the Crown which he refuses. Jealous of Caesar's growing power and afraid he may one day become a dictator, Cassius instigates a conspiracy to murder Caesar. He realizes that to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the Romans, he must win over the noble Brutus to his side for Brutus is the most trusted and respected in Rome. Brutus, the ideal, joins the conspiracy feeling that everyone is driven by motives as honourable as his own. Ironically, Caesar is murdered at the foot of Pompey's statue.

Some Important Characters

Julius Caesar : The greatest and most powerful of the Romans. Assassinated by Brutus, Cassius and a band of conspirators who feel Caesar is very ambitious and wants the crown. Calpurnia Mark Antony Marcus Brutus : Caesar's wife : Caesar's most loyal friend : Caesar's great friend who joins the conspiracy because of his great love for Rome and for democracy. Cassius Decius Brutus : Inspirer and organizer of the conspiracy : Co-conspirator in Caesar's assassination

The play Julius Caesar can be performed on the stage. The first step would be a reading of the play as a whole class. Your teacher will then have an audition and assign you roles. Later the play can be put up on the stage. Given below are some suggestions and sites which may be visited for instructions regarding set-design, costumes and direction.

Act II Scene II
Caesar's house.
Thunder and lightning. Enter CAESAR in his night-gown CAESAR Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, 'Help, ho! they murder Caesar!' Who's within? Enter a servant SERVANT My lord? CAESAR Go bid the priest do present sacrifice and bring me their opinions of success.
Julius Caesar comments on the violent aspect of nature. He say that there has been no peace at neither heaven nor earth that night. He says that Calpurnia has cried three times in her sleep that night. Calpurnia is worried about the safety of her husband. She requests him not to move out that day. But Cassar is ready to go out. He boasts that he has never seen any danger that he was afraid to face. Calpurnia says that she has not paid too much attention to omens before. But today she is much afraid to them. She has seen a horrible dream that night. She has dreamt that a lioness has given birth to her young ones in the street. She has seen ghosts out of their graves. She also seen a fights in the sky and blood showered down on the Capitol. All these situations are evil omens. So Calpurnia prays her husband to stay at home that day. At last he is ready to do so.

Just then Decius Brutus who is expert in the art of flattery comes there. He is one of the conspirators. He comments on the dream of Calpurnia. He gives a favourable comment on her dream. He persuades Caesar to go out. At the same time, Brutus, Cassius and other conspirators reach Caesar's house. The conspirators are successful to take Caesar along with them to the Capitol.

Caesar enters the Capitol. He takes his seat surrounded by Cassius. Brutus and other conspirators. Metellus climber is put up before Caesar according to the plan of conspirators. Metellus's brother was banished by Caesar. So Metellus request Caesar to cancel the order of banishment. Caesar refused to do so. Other conspirators support the request. When Caesar refuses to consider it, they stab him. In this way, Caesar dies at the foot of Pompey's statue. Antony comes there. He makes friends with the conspirators. He wants to deliver a speech at the funeral of Caesar. Cassius is not in his favour. But Brutus agrees it on the condition. He says that Antony would not say anything against conspirators. He also says that Antony would speak first to the people. Antony agrees to do so. The conspirators leave Antony with Caesar's dead body and go away. Antony comes there. He makes friends with the conspirators. He wants to deliver a speech at the funeral of Caesar. Cassius is not in his favour. But Brutus agrees it on the condition. He says that Antony would- not say anything against conspirators. He also says that Antony would speak first to the people. Antony agrees to do so. The conspirators leave Antony with Caesar's dead body and go away. This is a famous soliloquy in which Antony expresses his grief for his friend, Caesar. He also expresses his plan to punish the murderers. He intends to excite the mob to revolt against the conspirators. He wants to do so by his art of oratory. The citizens of Rome are confused on the murder of Caesar. They want to know about murder. Brutus addresses the citizens. He tells that Caesar wanted to become the king of Rome, so he killed Caesar. He had intimate friendship with Caesar, but he had to kill Caesar for the welfare of Rome. The citizens listen to Brutus respectfully. They seem to be satisfied. After this Brutus asks the mob to listen to Antony about Caesar and leaves the place. Antony delivers a long speech cautiously. He says that he has come there to bury Caesar. He tells the people that Caesar was not ambitious at all because he had refused the crown thrice at the feast of the Lupercal. He also says that Caesar had also increased

the glory and wealth by his victories. Wizen the mob is doubtful about the justice of Caesar's murder. Antony deals the final blow to till conspirators by mentioning Caesar's will. He shows them the wounded body of Caesar. Then people are filled with great admiration for Caesar.

Antony tells them that they are Caesar's heirs. He wants to excite their greed. In his will, Caesar has left seventy-jive drachmas to every Roman citizen in his will. He has also left all his gardens for the use of common people of Rome. The mob is filled with fury against conspirators. They rush to kill them. They burn down their houses. The dead body of Caesar is taken to the holy place to burn. Antony feels satisfied with the changed situation.

About the Author

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is an English playwright and poet, recognized in much of the world as the greatest of all dramatists. Hundreds of editions of his plays have been published, including translations in all major languages. Scholars have written thousands of books and articles about his plot, characters, themes and language. He is the most widely quoted author in history and his plays have probably been performed more times than those of any other dramatist.