OZYMANDIAS

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem "Ozymandias" talks about how power does not last forever. It
tells the story of a traveller who finds a broken statue in the desert. The statue was built for a
great king named Ozymandias, who thought he was very powerful. But now, his empire is
gone, and only ruins remain. The poem shows that no matter how strong a ruler is, time will
eventually erase everything.

The traveller describes what he sees in the desert. The statue is broken, with only its legs
standing. The head is lying on the ground, half-buried in the sand. Even though the statue is
damaged, the face of the king still looks proud and powerful. This shows that the sculptor
was very skilled in capturing Ozymandias’ personality. However, the statue is now just a
forgotten ruin.

The most interesting part of the poem is the writing on the statue’s base. It says, "Look on
my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Ozymandias believed his kingdom would last forever.
He wanted others to see his greatness and feel small. But now, there is nothing left around the
statue except empty desert. This is ironic because his power has disappeared, and no one
fears him anymore.

The poem also shows that nature and time are stronger than human achievements. Even
though Ozymandias built a great empire, time has destroyed it. The sculptor’s work captured
his emotions, but the statue itself has fallen apart. This reminds us that no matter how
powerful someone is, nature and time will always win in the end.

In conclusion, "Ozymandias" teaches an important lesson about pride and power. It shows
that no ruler or kingdom can last forever. Shelley uses the image of the ruined statue to warn
people against arrogance. The poem reminds us that true greatness is not in monuments or
power, but in the impact we leave behind.

LOTTERY TICKEY

Anton Chekhov’s short story "The Lottery Ticket" explores human nature, greed, and how
money can affect relationships. The story is about a man named Ivan Dmitritch and his wife,
who start dreaming about what they would do if they won the lottery. At first, they feel happy
and excited, but as they think more about it, their thoughts take a negative turn. The story
shows how greed and unrealistic dreams can create problems.

The story begins with Ivan reading the newspaper and checking the lottery results. His wife
tells him to check their ticket number, and they both start imagining how their lives would
change if they won. They think about buying a big house, traveling, and living in luxury. At
this moment, they feel hopeful and excited.

As they keep thinking, their dreams turn into doubts and selfish thoughts. Ivan starts to feel
jealous, thinking that if they win, his wife will take all the money and not share it with him.
His wife, too, begins to feel distant from him, imagining a life without him. Instead of feeling
happy, they begin to resent each other.
In the end, when they check the final number, they realize they did not win. Instead of feeling
relieved, they feel disappointed and bitter. The dreams they had created in their minds have
already changed their feelings toward each other. Even though nothing has actually
happened, their relationship has been affected just by the thought of money.

In conclusion, The Lottery Ticket teaches an important lesson about human nature. It shows
how greed and unrealistic expectations can ruin happiness. Ivan and his wife had a normal
life before, but just thinking about money made them unhappy. Chekhov uses this story to
show that wealth does not always bring joy and can sometimes destroy relationships.

MY LAST DUCHESS

Robert Browning’s poem "My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue about power,
jealousy, and control. The speaker is a duke who is showing a portrait of his late wife to a
visitor. As he talks about the painting, he reveals details about his wife's personality and his
own controlling nature. The poem shows how pride and jealousy can lead to cruel actions.

The duke describes the portrait of his last duchess, painted by a famous artist. He says that
the painting captures her beauty and her lively expression. However, as he continues
speaking, it becomes clear that he was unhappy with her behaviour when she was alive. He
did not like that she smiled at everyone and was easily pleased by simple things.

The duke felt that his wife did not respect his high status enough. He wanted her to treat him
as more important than everything else in her life. Instead of talking to her about it, he "gave
commands," which suggests that he ordered her to be killed. Now, she only exists in the
painting, where he can control who looks at her.

At the end of the poem, the duke moves on to discuss his next marriage, as if his last duchess
was just another possession. He speaks about his new bride’s family wealth, showing that he
values power and money more than love. The way he casually moves on from the topic of his
wife’s death makes him seem cold and arrogant.

In conclusion, "My Last Duchess" is a poem about control and pride. The duke wanted
complete authority over his wife, and when she did not behave as he wished, he got rid of
her. Through the duke’s words, Browning reveals how power can be misused and how
obsession with control can destroy relationships. The poem serves as a warning about the
dangers of jealousy and arrogance.

THE DOLL’S HOUSE

Katherine Mansfield’s short story "The Doll’s House" is about social class differences and
the innocence of children. It follows the Burnell sisters, who receive a beautiful dollhouse as
a gift. While they are excited to show it to their friends, they are told not to share it with two
poor girls, the Kelvey sisters. The story highlights the unfairness of social divisions and the
kindness of children.

The Burnell children—Isabel, Lottie, and Kezia—receive a large, detailed dollhouse. It is

At school, Isabel, the eldest Burnell, enjoys showing off the dollhouse to her friends. One by
one, they get to see it, except for the Kelvey sisters, Lil and Else. The other children tease
them because their mother is a washerwoman and their father is rumoured to be in prison.
The Kelvey girls are used to being left out and do not expect to be invited.

However, Kezia, the youngest Burnell, feels sorry for the Kelvey sisters. One day, when no
adults are watching, she invites them to see the dollhouse. Lil is hesitant, afraid of breaking
the rules, but Else is curious. Just as they are admiring the house, Kezia’s aunt angrily chases
them away. Even though they are humiliated, Else is happy because she saw the little lamp
inside the dollhouse.

In conclusion, "The Doll’s House" shows how society unfairly separates people based on
wealth. The adults teach their children to treat the Kelveys as inferior, but Kezia, being
innocent and kind, does not follow these rules. The story suggests that kindness and fairness
should be more important than social status. Through the symbol of the little lamp, Mansfield
shows that even a small act of kindness can bring happiness to those who are ignored by
society.

HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS

Emily Dickinson’s poem "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" is about the power of hope
and how it helps people through difficult times. The poem compares hope to a small bird that
lives in the soul and sings sweetly, even in the hardest situations. Through this metaphor,
Dickinson shows that hope is always present, offering comfort and strength.

In the first stanza, the poet describes hope as a “thing with feathers” that sings without
stopping. This bird represents the feeling of hope, which is gentle yet strong. No matter what
happens, it keeps singing, just like hope continues to exist in a person’s heart, even in tough
times.

In the second stanza, Dickinson explains that hope is strongest during storms and hardships.
Even when people face difficulties, hope does not ask for anything in return. It keeps
providing comfort without expecting anything back. This shows how hope is selfless and
always there to support people.

In the final stanza, the poet reflects on her experiences. She says she has heard the song of
hope "in the chilliest land— / And on the strangest Sea." This means that hope has helped
her through the hardest and most unfamiliar situations. Despite everything, hope has never
demanded anything from her, proving its kindness and reliability.

In conclusion, "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" is a poem about the strength of hope.
Dickinson uses the image of a bird to show how hope remains with people, even in the worst
moments. The poem reminds readers that hope is always present, giving them the courage to
face life’s challenges.
PACKING

"Packing" is an excerpt from "Three Men in a Boat" by Jerome K. Jerome. It is a

The narrator, Jerome, takes pride in his packing skills and offers to do the job himself.
However, as he starts packing, he forgets things and has to reopen the bag multiple times. He
forgets to pack his boots, then realizes he has left his toothbrush out. He searches for the
toothbrush, making a mess, only to find it inside his boot. After finally packing everything,
he remembers that he forgot to pack his soap.

When Jerome finishes, George and Harris take over packing the food and other items.
However, they are clumsy and careless. They step on butter, squash tomatoes, and spill things
all over the place. They also keep forgetting where they put things, which makes the situation
even funnier. The more they try to organize, the worse the packing gets.

Even Montmorency, their mischievous dog, adds to the chaos. He gets in the way, sits on
things, and tries to put his nose in everything. At one point, he places his paw on the jam,
making a mess. Instead of being helpful, he seems to enjoy disturbing the process. His actions
make the packing even more difficult and amusing.

In conclusion, "Packing" is a light-hearted and funny story about the struggles of organizing
things. It shows how overconfidence, carelessness, and distractions can turn a simple task
into a disaster. Through humour and exaggeration, Jerome K. Jerome makes an ordinary
event entertaining, reminding readers that even everyday tasks can lead to unexpected
comedy.