Question

in the poem ozymandias the poet says the hand that mocked them and the heart that fed. how does the hand mock them

Answer 1

Well funny you should ask that, because I happen to know the true story 
behind the poem: 

TRAVELLER: Hello.  I'm a traveller from an antique land.  What do you do? 
SHELLEY: I'm a poet. 
TRAVELLER: Really?  You know I've never spoken to a poet before.  They don't 
have a lot of them in antique lands, you know.  Do you want to hear one of 
my poems? 
SHELLEY: Well, I do have a rather pressing engagement... 
TRAVELLER: Trust me, it's a good one, but there's something missing and I 
can't quite get it right.  Oh, and I haven't got a title either.  See what 
you think. 
SHELLEY (sighing): I suppose I can give you five minutes. 
TRAVELLER (clears throat, long pause): 

Two vast and trunkless legs of stone 

Stand in the desert.  Near them, on the sand... 
[ten more lines] 
...the lone and level sands stretch far away. 
SHELLEY: You know, that really isn't bad.  It's almost a perfect sonnet. 
TRAVELLER: No it's not.  It's only got thirteen lines.  And the first one's 
shorter than the others. 
SHELLEY: I know, but all you need to do is add an extra couple of syllables 
to the first line and stick an extra line on the front, and you're there. 
TRAVELLER: I've tried to, but I couldn't think of anything.  Have you got 
any ideas? 
SHELLEY: No, not really.  But you never know - it might just have given me 
the inspiration for my next work. 
TRAVELLER: Really?  What do you think you'll call it? 
SHELLEY: I thought "Ozymandias".  And I'll definitely give you a credit. 
TRAVELLER: I am greatly honoured, Sir!  Wait till I tell them all about this 
back in the antique land. 
SHELLEY: Well, this has been a most productive meeting.  Goodbye. 
TRAVELLER: Goodbye and the best of luck. 

(The traveller departs) 

SHELLEY (to himself): There's one born every minute. 

-- 
Guy Barry