On the vanity of earthly greatness

The poem On the Vanity of the Earthy Greatness by Arthur Guiterman presents the vanity of earthly greatness on earth. People are proud of the things they have which never last long to the time they expect.

               

The poet has talked about the mighty tusks of mastodons which are play things now. The sword of Charlemagne was powerful once, but it is rusty and useless at present. All people were afraid of the fierce brown bear but its skin and hair is used to make blankets. Even the great Roman King Caesar's bust is used as a decorative material on the shelf.

               

The lines of the poem tell us that nothing is strong and eternal forever. Even powerful persons or animals come under the control of time. 

·         How is human vanity laughed at in the poem ‘On the Vanity of Earthly Greatness’?

·         What are the different examples used by the poet to show the vanity of earthly greatness?

Ans. The human vanity is laughed at in the poem by showing its perishing nature. One’s feeling of greatness rots away along the course of time. Once powerful mastodons, Charlemagne the Just, grizzly bear and Caesar are all in the history today.