Question

The Ozymandias statue declares that Ramses II is "King of Kings," when in reality he died 2,000 years previously. The literary device used here is what?

a) Irony
b) Hyperbole
c) Simile
d) Symbolism

Answer 1

The description of the Ozymandias statue exhibiting Ramses II as "King of Kings" despite his death 2,000 years ago uses irony to highlight the impermanence of power.

Step-by-step explanation:

The literary device used in the description of the Ozymandias statue where it declares that Ramses II is "King of Kings" is known as irony. The irony lies in the fact that the grandiose statement is contrasted by the reality that Ramses II had already been dead for 2,000 years, highlighting the temporal nature of power and glory. This contrast creates a poignant comment on the eventual decline of even the greatest rulers and empires.