The British library says of this 19th-C. man, “one of his most famous poems… is a warning about the arrogance of great leaders”
Find out everything that you need to know about today’s Jeopardy episode, including the Final Jeopardy, clues and answers, and the contestants plus who won tonight!
CATEGORY: Literature
CLUE: The British library says of this 19th-C. man, “one of his most famous poems… is a warning about the arrogance of great leaders”
ANSWER: Percy Bysshe Shelley
About Today’s Final Jeopardy – Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “Ozymandias” stands out as a seminal work in the canon of Romantic poetry, primarily for its profound meditation on the impermanence of power and the inevitable decline of all tyrannical figures. Written in 1818, the poem encapsulates the Romantic era’s fascination with ancient civilizations, particularly those of Egypt, which were being rediscovered and studied with great enthusiasm at the time. Shelley was inspired to write this poem following the British Museum’s acquisition of a massive statue of the pharaoh Ramesses II, referred to as Ozymandias in Greek. The sonnet skillfully uses the image of a colossal but shattered statue lying deserted in the sands to underscore the futility of human pride and the vanity of authoritarian rulers who believe their power to be invincible and their legacies everlasting. The irony in the inscription that demands the mighty to despair, while nothing remains of the once-great king’s works, eloquently illustrates the central theme of decay and destruction that all despots eventually face.
Shelley’s choice to portray Ozymandias’s statue as fragmented and eroded by time serves not only as a critique of the egotism and cruelty often associated with absolute power but also reflects the Romantic poets’ broader concerns with mortality, legacy, and the forces of nature. Unlike the neoclassical poets who preceded them, Romantics like Shelley emphasized the emotional and sublime aspects of confronting ruins and the vestiges of the past, suggesting a humble recognition of human limitations in the face of time and nature. This poem, therefore, resonates not just as a political statement about the folly of despotism, but as a philosophical reflection on the broader human condition. The image of the desolate, decaying statue in the vast desert evokes a sense of melancholic awe and introspection, urging the reader to consider the transient nature of all human endeavors. In this way, “Ozymandias” encapsulates the essence of Romantic poetry, blending intense emotion with profound intellectual and cultural critique.
Who Won Jeopardy Tonight? – Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy tonight? Scroll down below to find out everyone’s final scores, as well as the scores after the Single Jeopardy and Double Jeopardy rounds!
| Returning Champion | Contestant | Contestant |
|---|---|---|
| Drew Basile Birmingham, Michigan Graduate Student 6 Day Winnings of $91,283 Winning Score: $20,318 Round 2 Score: $20,200 Round 1 Score: $5,000 | Natalie Miliano Portland, Maine Manufacturing Engineering Manager Final Score: $4,700 Round 2 Score: $6,200 Round 1 Score: $2,200 | Maryl Harris Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Study Operations Manager Final Score: $6,201 Round 2 Score: $10,000 Round 1 Score: $4,800 |
Final Jeopardy Video – Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Watch all the videos from today’s Jeopardy episode below, including highlights, behind the scenes outtakes and full episodes.
Final Jeopardy is the final round of the popular American television game show Jeopardy!, in which participants test their knowledge in numerous areas by answering questions. In Final Jeopardy, participants are given a single clue and must wager a percentage of their existing earnings based on their confidence in their ability to successfully respond.
Each contestant surreptitiously writes down their wager during the commercial break. The Final Jeopardy clue is presented when the programme resumes, and participants have 30 seconds to write down their solution in the form of a question (e.g., “What is…?”). When the timer runs out, the host, reveals each contestant’s response and wager in ascending order of their pre-Final Jeopardy scores. The scores of contestants are adjusted based on whether their response is correct or incorrect, as well as the amount wagered. At the end of the round, the contestant with the highest score is proclaimed the winner.