A Thing Of Beauty

(Q.) List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem. (2 Marks) (Ans)

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.
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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.) What is the cause of our gloomy days and dark spirits?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

Our own acts of unkindness, cruelty and malice towards others, make our days sad and gloomy. We also get disappointed due to the lack of human values and nobility around us. (Q.) How does a thing of beauty provide us shelter and comfort?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

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. (Q.) Keats feels that Nature binds us to the Earth. How does he justify this?
(2 Marks) (Ans)

Keats feels that man has a strong bonding with nature. Despite the gloom and suffering, man is connected to the earth. A flowery band ties us to the earth. This band is of flowers, whichis pleasing and brings joy. There is affinity between things of beauty in nature and mankind. (Q.) Explain Lines 1-5 of the poem A Thing of Beauty by John Keats 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.

(3 Marks) (Ans)

According to the poet, John Keats, a thing of beauty is a source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on increasing.It will never fade and pass into nothingness. A bower is a peaceful and pleasant place in the shade of a tree. It provides shelter or protection from the hot rays of the sun. A beautiful thing also gives us sound sleep, full of pleasant dreams, health and peaceful breathing. Beauty, hence does not lead to inertia but a constant battle to guard our nature/earth. (Q.) Explain Lines 6-13 of the poem A Thing of beauty by John keats. 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 oer-darkened ways Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
(3 Marks) (Ans)

As a result of this every morning we are weaving a flowery wreath to bind us to the beauties of the earth despite the sadness and the feeling of depression. We all possess evil qualities of hatred and disappointed. We suffer from lack of noble qualities and unhealthy evil ways. In spite of all this a beautiful thing helps to remove the cover of gloom or darkness from our lives. It makes us love life despite the things that make us sad and dampen our spirits.
(Q.) Explain Lines 14-20 of the poem A Thing of beauty by John Keats.

Such the sun, the moon, Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep; 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
(3 Marks) (Ans)

The sun, the moon, trees old and young are all sources of happiness for us. The trees sprout and spread their branches to provide shelter within their green covering for the simple sheep. The daffodils bloom within the green surroundings in which they grow. The clear and small streams of water make a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season. The thick mass of ferns looks grand with their beautiful musk roses. (Q.) Explain Lines 21-25 of the poem A Thing of beauty by John Keats. 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 heavens brink

(3 Marks) (Ans)

The mighty dead people whose achievements made them great and powerful inspire us through their sagas of their noble works. Their legends and stories enthuse us and we imagine their magnificence. A beautiful thing is also a source of joy just as the lovely tales we have heard or read give us profound happiness. A fountain of immortality pours its sacred and immortal drink into the heart and soul of man. This immortal drink gushing out from natures endless fountain is a source of immense joy for us.
(Q.)

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?

(4 Marks) (Ans)

(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. (Q.) 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 oer-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
(4 Marks) (Ans)

(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 (Q.) 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.
(4 Marks) (Ans)

(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. (Q.) . 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
(4 Marks) (Ans)

(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 (Q.) 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 heavens 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?
(4 Marks) (Ans) (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.