Which line conveys the sense that nothing remains around the ruin?

• A. Look on my works, ye mighty
• B. King of Kings
• C. Nothing beside remains
• D. Round the decay of that colossal wreck

Answer: (C)

That line expresses a stark absence around the ruin. Saying “Nothing beside remains” makes the scene feel empty and desolate, as if all signs of life, power, or civilization have vanished except the ruin itself. It sharpens the theme that even colossal ambitions fade with time, leaving only emptiness where once there was grandeur. The other lines either point to the boast carved on the pedestal or describe the surrounding landscape, but they don’t convey that absolute emptiness in the same direct way.