A Thing of beauty

             

A THING OF BEAUTY

(Q.) List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

The things of beauty are the sun, the moon, old and new trees, daffodils, clear rills, musk

roses that bloom among the thick forest ferns.

(Q.) List the things that cause suffering and pain.

The things that cause suffering are dark phases of our life, adverse circumstances, gloomy

days, death of noble people and bad health.

(Q.) What does the line ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to

earth’ suggest?

As a result of all the beautiful things around us, every morning we are weaving a flowery

wreath to bind us to the beauties of the earth despite all the sadness.

(Q.) What makes human beings love life in spite of all troubles?

In spite of all the sufferings, a beautiful thing helps us to remove the cover of gloom or

darkness from our lives.

(Q.) Why is grandeur associated with the ‘mighty dead’?

Grandeur is associated with the ‘mighty dead’ because they will always be remembered for

their noble and splendid deeds and creations. They have left behind a legacy for us to enjoy.

(Q.) Do we experience things of beauty only for a short time?

No, these things of beauty have lasting impression on us. It never passes into nothingness.

(Q.) What image does the poet uses to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?

The poet draws out the image of ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink’ that poursjoy on us

from the brink of heaven. These are the beautiful things in nature or man-made objects that

he calls ‘immortal drink’.

(Q.) How does a thing of beauty provide us shelter and comfort?

John Keats is a great Romantic poet. He creates images that soothe our senses. Nature

bestows us with things of rare beauty. It keeps the shade of trees ready for us to be

comfortable and peaceful in it. Beautiful things also provide peace and security so that

wecan enjoy sound sleep. We are able to enjoy sweet dreams, good health because of

them.

(Q.) What spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it

removed?

Man makes his life miserable and full of suffering because of his own actions. The pall of

despondence is the sadness that is a result ofone's own actions. A thing of beauty works

wonders for man and removes the cover of gloom from his dampened spirits.

(Q.) What is the message of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’?

Keats, an ardent lover of nature, in his poem refers to the powers of nature. He urges

mankind to realise these powers and make his life enjoyable and worth living. He tells us

how a thing of beauty providesperennial joy to us.

(Q.) How do the ‘daffodils’ and ‘clear rills’ enrich our environment?

Daffodils are lovely white flowers that bloom in green surroundings. The ‘clear rills’ or clear

streams of water create cooling comfort or passage for themselves as they pass through the

thick bushes and ward away the heat of the sun.

(Q.) What is the ‘grandeur of the dooms’ and ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’?

The ‘grandeur of the dooms’ is a reference to our mighty and dead ancestors who have

created beautiful objects for us. On the other hand, the ‘endless fountain’ is the everlasting

joy provided to us by the bounties of nature in the form of nectar pouring on us from

heaven.

(Q.) What makes human beings love life in spite of all troubles and sufferings?

Human beings love life because nature is the best healer and brings beauty and joy to our

life. The memory of beautiful experiences helps us to bear our sorrows.

Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow:

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Its loveliness increases, it will never

Pass into nothingness; but will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

a) Name the poem and the poet.

b) How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

c) What do you understand by a ‘bower’?

d) What kind of a sleep does it provide?

(a) The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and the poet is John Keats.

(b) A thing of beauty provides everlasting joy. Its beauty never decreases but continues to

increase with the passage of time. It never fades away.

(c) ‘Bower’ is the shelter under the shade of trees. It provides protection from the harsh

rays of the sun.

(d) It provides a sound sleep, full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful breathing.

Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing

A flowery band to bind us to the earth,

Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth

Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,

Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways

Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,

a) What are we doing every day?

b) Which evil things do we possess and suffer from?

c) Explain ‘in spite of all’.

d) Find words from the passage which mean

i) Malice

ii) Disappointment

 (a) Every morning, we are weaving a flowery wreath which binds us to the beauties of the

earth.

(b) Human beings possess qualities of malice, hatred and disappointment. There is a

shortage of noble qualities and men continue to be evil and unhealthy.

(c) In spite of all evils mentioned by the poet.

(d) i) Spite; ii) Despondence

Some shape of beauty moves away the pall

From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,

Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon.

For simple sheep;

…….

a) What removes the pall from our dark spirits?

b) What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how?

c) Find words from the passage that mean

i) Covering

ii) Blessing

d) Name the poem and the poet.

(a) A thing of beauty removes the pall from our dark spirits.

(b) The old and young trees sprout branches to provide shade and shelter to sheep. It is a

blessing for the sheep against the harsh sun.

(c) i) Pall; ii) Boon

(d) The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and the poet is ‘John Keats’.

. …and such are daffodils

With the green world they live in; and clear rills

That for themselves a cooling covert make

‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,

Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;

a) How do ‘daffodils’ and ‘rills’ enrich the environment?

b) What makes the mid forest brake rich?

c) Find words in the passage which mean:

i) Small streams

ii) Shelter of thickets

d) Cooling covert is a

i) Simile

ii) Metaphor

iii) Personification

iv) Alliteration

 (a) The daffodils bloom and are surrounded by the green surroundings. The clear streams of

water create a cooling shelter for themselves against the heat of the sun.

(b) The beautiful musk-roses help to make the beautiful forest rich in beauty.

(c) i) Clear ‘rills’; ii) Covert

(d) Alliteration

And sun too is the grandeur of the dooms

We have imagined for the mighty dead;

All lovely tales that we have heard or read;

An endless fountain of immortal drink,

Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink

a) Explain ‘the grandeur of the doom’.

b) What is implied by ‘all lovely tales that we have heard or read’?

c) What is the source of the ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’?

 (a) The magnificence that we associate with our ancestors and the beautiful things created

by them.

(b) All the beautiful stories that have been read or heard by us are also surpassed in beauty

by the beauties of nature.

(c) The source of the endless fountain of immortal drink is ‘the brink of heaven’.