Final answer:
The poems 'Ozymandias' and 'My Last Duchess' explore human power in different contexts but converge on the idea that power is fleeting. 'Ozymandias' suggests that power is impermanent and even the mightiest rulers will be forgotten, while 'My Last Duchess' displays the Duke's tyrannical power over his Duchess, leading to her tragic end. Option B
Step-by-step explanation:
The poems Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley and My Last Duchess by Robert Browning both engage with the theme of human power, albeit in distinct ways. In Ozymandias, Shelley portrays power as impermanent, highlighting the hubris of a ruler who believed his empire would last forever, only for it to decay into ruins.
By contrast, My Last Duchess centers on the Duke's abuse of power and his ruthless control over his Duchess, ultimately leading to her demise. Both poems suggest that no matter how absolute power may seem, it is ultimately subject to the forces of time and the consequences of one's actions.
None of the options presented in the question accurately describe the way the poems present human power. However, if forced to choose the closest match, option B would be suggested as both poems depict human power as fleeting and susceptible to the erosion of time. Shelley's poem does not celebrate benevolent power, but the inevitable fall of even the greatest of rulers, as symbolized by the crumbling statue.
Browning's narrative doesn't suggest power can be challenged; instead, it exhibits the Duke's authoritarian and oppressive power over the Duchess and how it remains unchallenged within the societal context of the poem. Option B