A Thing of Beauty Class 12 English(Flamingo) Complete Notes Based on AHSEC

A Thing of Beauty

John Keats

A Thing of Beautiful (www.hikha.in)
A Thing of Beautiful (www.hikha.in)
 

IMPORTANT STANZAS FOR COMPREHENSION

 

1. 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.

 

Questions:

i) Name the poem and the poet of these lines.

Ans: The name of the poem of these lines is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and the poet is John Keats.

 

ii) How is a thing of beauty a joy for ever?

Ans: A thing of beauty is the source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on increasing. It will never pass into nothingness.

 

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

Ans: A bower is a pleasant place in the shade under a tree. It protects persons/animals from the hot rays of the sun.

 

iv) What kind of sleep does it provide?

Ans: It provides us a sound sleep, full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful breathing.

 

v) Find out the words from these lines which means:

  (a) Of no value (b) A shady Place (c) still

Ans: (a) Nothingness means of no value

         (b) Bower means a shady place

          (c) Quiet means still (silent)

 

2. 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,

Some shape of beauty moves away the pall

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

 

Questions:

i) Why are we despondent?

Ans: We possess the evil qualities of malice and disappointment. We suffer from the lack of A Thing of Beauty noble qualities. That is why we feel despondent.

 

ii) What are we doing every day?

Ans: We are weaving a flowery wreath to bind us to the beauties of the earth.

 

iii) What removes the pall from our dark spirits?

Ans: Some beautiful shapes or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or spirits.

 

iv) Describe the bad and evil things that we possess in us?

Ans: We suffer from disappointment, lack of noble qualities and unhealthy and evil ways. These are the bad and evil things that we possess in us.

 

v) ‘In spite of all’ explain.

Ans: It means In spite of all these evil things mentioned in the poem.

 

vi) What are the flowery bonds that bind us to the earth?

Ans:  The beautiful things of the earth fascinate man. The sun, the moon, hills and streams, plants and flowers weave flowery bonds. These beautiful things weave wreath and bind us the earth.

 

vii) Find out the words which means: (a) Malice (b) Gloomy (c) Covering

Ans: (a) Spite means malice.

         (b) Sad means gloomy.

         (c) Pall means covering.

 

3. 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;

 

Questions:

i) What removes the pall from our dark spirits?

Ans: Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or spirits.

 

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

Ans: Old and young trees sprout to make a green covering. It proves a blessing for simple sheep as it serves them as a shelter.

 

iii) How do ‘daffodils’ and ‘rills’ enrich the environment

Or

     Describe the role of daffodils and clear rills enriching the environment.

Ans: Daffodils bloom among the green surroundings. The small streams or rills with clear water make a cooling shelter for themselves against hot season. So, both of them have a great role in enriching the environment.

 

iv) What makes the mid-forest brake rich?

Ans: The mid forest brake is made rich by the blooming of beautiful musk-roses.

 

v) Find out the word which means: (a) Appearing new trees (b) Small streams (c) Shelter of thickets

Ans: (a) Sprouting means Appearing new trees.

         (b) Rills means small streams.

         (c) Covert means shelter of thickets.

 

 

4.And such 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

 

Questions:

i) Explain: ‘the grandeur of the dooms’.

Ans: The magnificence that we imagine for our mighty dead forefathers on the dooms day.

 

ii) What is the thing of beauty mentioned in these lines’?

Ans: The lovely tales of mighty men are mentioned in these lines.

 

iii) What is the lovelier than all the lovely tales we have heard or read?

Ans: The beauty of daffodils, rills and musk roses is more enchanting than all the lovely tales we have heard or read.

 

iv) What image does the poet use in these lines?

Ans: The poet uses the image of ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink’ to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. The earth has bestowed us with sun, moon, flowers, rivers, greenery etc.

 

v) What is the effect of that immortal drink on us?

Ans: The immortal drink that nature’s endless fountain pours into our hearts in a source of immense joy for us.

 

vi) Find out the word which means:

(a)  Magnificence

(b)  Stories

(c)   That never dies.

(d)  Corner

Ans: a) Grandeur means magnificence.

         b) Tales means stories.

        c) Immortal means that never dies.

        d) Brink means corner.

 

 

QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED

 

Q1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

Ans: Every little or big thing of nature is a thing of beauty and a source of pleasure. The sun, the moon, old and young trees, daffodils flowers, small streams with clear water, mass of ferns and the blooming musk-roses. . All of them are things of beauty. They are a constant source of joy and pleasure.

 

Q2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

Ans: There are many things that cause us suffering and pain. Malice and disappointment are “the biggest source of our suffering. Another one is the lack of noble qualities. Our unhealthy and evil ways also give birth to so many troubles and sufferings. They dampen our spirits. They act as a pall of sadness on our lives.

 

Q3. What does the line, ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest to you?

Ans: Keats is a lover of beauty. He employs his senses to discover beauty. The link of man with nature is eternal. The things of beauty are like wreaths of beautiful flowers. We seem to weave a flowery band everyday. It keeps us attached to the beauties of this earth.

 

Q4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?

Ans: There are so many things in this world that bring troubles and sufferings to human beings. They depress our spirits in our lives. However, ‘some shape of beauty brings love and happiness in our lives in spite of such unpleasant things. A thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness and sufferings from our lives for which people love life in spite of troubles and sufferings.  It makes human beings love one another.

 

Q5. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’?

Ans: The romantic poet mentioned in the poem that the ‘mighty dead’ were the forefathers who were powerful and dominating in their own times. They were able to achieve their target. The achievement made them ‘mighty’ and great. Their works inspire us and dazzled our eyes. We wished that they would be rewarded on the ‘Day of the judgement’. So, the poet says that ‘grandeur’ is associated with the ‘mighty dead’.

 

Q6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on us?

Ans: We feel happy by coming into contact with things of beauty. They make a lasting impression on us. Keats makes it clear at the outset. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. It is a constant source of joy and pleasure. Its beauty never declines or diminishes. Its loveliness goes on increasing every moment. Its value remains undiminished. It never passes into nothingness. It removes the pall of sadness that covers our dark spirits.

 

Q7. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?

Ans: John Keats uses a very beautiful image to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. It is the endless fountain of immortal drink. It pours constantly into our hearts from heaven. Thus, the beautiful bounty of the earth is called “an endless fountain of immortal drink”.

 

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SOLVED

 

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

Ans: According to John Keats a thing of beauty is a joy of forever. It is a constant source of happiness and pleasure. Its loveliness increases every moment. It will never pass into nothingness. In other words, a thing of beauty is never devalued.

 

2) What are the things that cause miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man?

Ans: Man himself is the root cause of all his sufferings. We suffer from malice and distress because we lack human qualities that makes us inhuman. Our life becomes gloomy. We cultivate unhealthy and evil ways. All such things bring miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man.

 

3) What is the source of the ‘endless fountain’ and what is its effect?

Ans: A fountain of eternal joy’ and immortality pours into the heart and soul of man. It flows right from the heavens brink and pours into the human heart. It is like an immortal nectar. The immortal drink that nature’s endless fountain pours into our hearts is a source of immense joy for us.

 

 


Post a Comment

Post a Comment (0)

Previous Post Next Post