# The Poet Concludes explained — Metamorphoses

> Chapter companion for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

## What happens

Ovid concludes his work with a triumphant declaration of its immortality, asserting that his fame will transcend time, destruction, and death, and that his name will be celebrated wherever Roman power extends.

## Themes in this chapter

### Art and Creativity

Ovid celebrates the creative work as an immortal achievement, immune to destruction and time.

### Mortality and Immortality

The poet contrasts the decay of his mortal body with the eternal fame of his poetic creation.

## Key lines

> The work is finish’d, which nor dreads the rage Of tempests, fire, or war, or wasting age;

The poem is complete and will not be harmed by storms, fire, war, or the passage of time.

_Ovid asserts the invulnerability of his art to physical destruction._

> My nobler part, my fame, shall reach the skies, And to late times with blooming honours rise:

My higher self—my reputation—will ascend to the heavens and flourish with honor in future ages.

_The poet claims that his fame will achieve celestial and eternal recognition._

> If ’tis allow’d to poets to divine. One half of round eternity is mine.

If poets are permitted to foresee the future, then half of all endless time belongs to me.

_Ovid boldly claims a share of eternity for his poetic legacy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/the-poet-concludes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters